Foul Trouble

Terrell’s conversations with his true friends in these final chapters show his progression in the difficult art of Valuing True Friends over Fair-Weather Friends, and these lessons extend to his broader search for the appropriate college to attend. As he considers the potential repercussions of sustaining a permanent injury, however, he nearly falls prey to The Power of Temptation as he considers how the colleges’ various offers—morally ambiguous though they may be—would affect his life and his mother’s prospects. Terrell does not want to accept any of the offers from the schools or from Athena because he understands the long-term consequences of letting such entities control him. However, Terrell also wants the money and benefits that such offers would bring, such as insurance and a house for his mom. Thus, Terrell is caught between his ambitions and goals and his ongoing desire to do the right thing and honor his true friends. The later conversations between Terrell and Danny about Terrell’s choice to accept the University of Atlanta offer are designed to illustrate the fact that even the strongest friendships have their breaking point. Although Danny understands and even sympathizes with Terrell’s motivations for accepting a questionable deal, he is still disappointed and wonders if Terrell is the same person he has always known. When Terrell decides not to take the offer, he chooses to preserve his integrity and honor his existing connections with his authentic friends.

While the offers from the various representatives illustrate the stresses that athletes face beyond the court, the basketball game in Chapter 29 is likewise designed to show the stress that the players feel in the face of everyone’s expectations, for losing this game would cost Danny’s team the ability to play for the rest of the season. This game also shows that a single player’s skill is not enough to win a game. Terrell may be an amazing shot, but he cannot carry his team to victory against a team that is using tactics that thwart his abilities. This game is therefore one of the few in which Danny’s skills become more critical than Terrell’s. Danny’s ability to assess tactics and make changes on the fly gives him a competitive advantage. His adaptability also lets him make the winning shot, an honor that has typically been afforded to Terrell.

Likewise, Terrell refrains from making the winning shot in Chapter 34 and instead gives the opportunity to a younger player. This decision indicates a new level of maturity in Terrell—he knows his time as the high school team star is over. Now that he has decided to attend Harvard and reject the unscrupulous offers of other representatives, he knows that his relationship with basketball will never fully define who he is. By handing the shot to someone else, Terrell demonstrates that he has accepted the necessity of moving on. He will still play basketball, but he no longer wants or needs to be the star on the court.

Terrell and Swanson’s decision to attend Harvard serves as the resolution of all the pressure that both boys have faced as top players. Swanson’s choice also shows how much he has grown since the summer camp, when he was eagerly accepting offers and deals despite the ethical issues involved. Swanson’s character arc symbolizes the importance of remaining true to himself, and he shows considerable growth when he ultimately rejects The Unfairness of Subjective Value Judgments that have been put upon him and other athletes. Swanson no longer believes that he should receive special treatment just because he can throw a basketball.

While Terrell also chooses Harvard, his reasons differ from Swanson’s; he has successfully rejected The Power of Temptation and has instead embraced the opportunity to simply have fun playing basketball without the pressure from brands or college obligations, and he also remains true to his friendship with Danny, who will also attend Harvard. Terrell has learned that nothing is more important than his true friends, and the bond he and Danny have formed on the court will outlive their skill on the court. Because Harvard is not a prominent basketball school, the addition of three expert players will enhance their team and lead to an increase in Harvard’s position in the world of college basketball. With his choice to attend Harvard, Terrell will play basketball on his terms and as part of a team, not as a self-involved star.