Chapter 12 in the Mr. Basketball series. All characters involved in sexual activity are 18 and older.
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"Welcome to Duke University," the coach said as we entered her office.
"It's more like welcome back for me," I said offering Taylor a seat after we shook hands.
"Oh?" she asked curiously.
"I played three seasons for coach K before I was injured and I had to give up playing."
"Welcome back then," she smiled.
"So, Taylor," she said changing gears. "I hear you are interested in coming to college at our wonderful facility."
"I am very interested," she smiled.
"That is very good to hear," she smiled back at her. "Mr. Tillman wouldn't have anything to do with that would he?"
"Some," she giggled a little. "My goal is to get a good education and play for a team that coaches the very best."
"You've come to the right place then," she said looking my way.
Yeah, I coached her a little but this was where she had her heart set to play so I wanted to give her every advantage I possibly could.
"Well, we've seen your tapes and I like what I've seen so far," she continued. "You actually caught the attention of the scout when you were a freshman. We were at the state championship game to do some scouting on another prospect. You played very well for a freshman so we have been keeping up with you for a few years now."
"Wow," Taylor smiled again. "I didn't know that."
"You've improved a lot since then and we are interested in having you come to Duke," she said.
Taylor couldn't contain her smile as she said this to her.
"So tell me about yourself Ms. Tilly."
Taylor started talking about her life outside of basketball. I listened in but zoned out a little as they both went back and forth doing a question and answer thing. They talked for about twenty minutes before she asked if we wanted to take a walk around the campus and see the sights.
"I would love that," Taylor smiled.
We left the office and headed out to tour the campus. It was still rather quiet since they were still on winter break and a lot of the students had gone home for the holidays. As we walked around and saw the sights it all started to come back to me. I remembered the place like it was yesterday as we walked and talked.
The smell of the gym made me remember my time spent here. I saw the spot where I blew my knee out and cringed as we went into the locker room to look around inside. We went back out into the gym and they talked some more as I looked around. I remembered the place full of people screaming and cheering as we played. I couldn't help but wonder what it would have been like to play all four years here and where I would be if it didn't happen.
Taylor taking my hand brought me back to the present as the dreams of days gone by vanished.
"So?" coach asked. "Is this your significant other?"
"We are just dating at the moment," I answered.
"Oh," she said with a little concern in her voice.
"It won't affect her decision if she decides to attend in the fall," I said. "I can always move."
Taylor glanced up at me and smiled a little.
"That's great," coach said. "It's very hard for a freshman to be out on her own so having something to keep her stable will only benefit her."
"Trust me, I know," I laughed. "I almost failed out my first semester when I got here. I had no idea what it was like to be on my own. She's a great kid though. She won't let the freedom get in the way of her studies and her basketball."
"That's good to hear," she smiled.
She turned right back to Taylor and started talking to her again about this and that. I knew from my visit that this was going well. There were a few things that she wasn't too keen on but you get that with everyone that you see. We ended up leaving the gym and headed to a restaurant to get dinner.
We talked more as she really tried to get a feel for Taylor. She asked me a lot more at dinner about my life and my time here. It was nice to be able to relate to the campus with someone who had spent a lot of time here.
"Before we go," coach started. "I need to ask you something I forgot about. How many other offers do you currently have?"
"From division one schools or all of them?" Taylor questioned.
"Big schools," she answered. "I can't see you committing to a smaller school with offers from division one schools."
"I have three so far," she smiled shyly.
"And have you visited them?"
"Not yet."
"The reason I ask is I like to know what I am up against. I really enjoyed our time and I really like your ability. I want to make you an offer to come play for us in the fall but I don't want you to make up your mind until you have been to the other schools. Unless you don't want to, then I want you here."
"This is where my heart is at," she smiled. "I plan to see what else is out there but I really want to come here."
"I can't sign you yet but I can offer you a spot if you want it. I want to have you come back for an official visit in a few weeks."
"I would love to come back," she cheered.
"Then consider this my verbal offer to give you a full ride to Duke. Don't give me an answer until you make your other visits. I know you will be back here when you see what else is out there."
"Thank you, thank you, thank you," Taylor almost cried.
"We would love to have you here. Tomorrow the gym will be open at nine for a shoot around with the team. I won't be there until ten so you can go in and join them if you would like to but you have to be out of there by ten."
"I would love that," Taylor cheered again.
"We will definitely be in contact over the next few weeks. It's just so I can keep up with you and see how things are going until you come back for your official visit."
