Never before has one high school basketball player drawn a crowd as big as Stanley Johnson does every time he leaves his house. His barber cuts out news paper clippings of him in the USA Today, as he sometimes headlines the sports section. Everybody in Stanley’s church knows who he is. “How you doin’ Stanley?” they would ask, “Know where you’re playing ball at next year?” And Stanley would look the lady or gentleman in the eyes and give a firm handshake while smiling ear to ear, and say, “Not yet, we all will find out on Nation Signing Day.” However, Stanley knows where he was going to play ball. Standing 6’7” high, and weighing in at 230 lbs, Stanley was everything a college coach wanted: size, strength, speed, and awareness. While growing up in Virginia and attending the state’s basketball powerhouse Oak Hill Academy, Stanley has been All-State 3 years in a row, has 2 State Championships, has been the Virginia Player of the State twice, and as a senior was invited to the McDonald’s All American game in New York City. Because of his outstanding high school excellence, Stanley has received full scholarships to play ball from almost everywhere across the country, some of which include: Kentucky, North Carolina, Duke, and his home state University of Virginia. While no one knows it, Stanley had made the decision in his mind to attend Duke University, even though his mother, Veronica, wants nothing more than him to play at Virginia. Veronica has been Stanley’s number one fan all her life. She has never missed a game in her life, and is always the loudest one in the parent section, making sure if the refs made a bad call they heard it from her. She is equally as popular around the town as Stanley is, probably because they did everything together. Veronica was Stanley’s grade school basketball coach, and only stopped coaching her son because Oak Hill wouldn’t let her be an assistant on the team. Veronica woke Stanley up early before school at 5 am, and the two of them rode their bikes to the local YMCA where she rebounded and Stanley put on shot after shot. The two of them would shower; Stanley would go on to school and Veronica took the bus to Uof V Hospital where she worked as a nurse. Then they both would meet at home, and she would make a dinner while they watched basketball on TV.
“Stan, you know I support any college decision you make,” Veronica told her son while they were both watching the primetime game of the Lakers vs the Celtics.
“I know,” Stanley responded.
“Virginia is right at home though, I wouldn’t miss a game in your career. If you go to Duke or Kentucky, I would have to watch the games on the TV.”
“Yea I know. Mom, I really don’t want to talk about this right now.”
“And Virginia is an amazing school to get a degree at! I always wish I could have attended that school. You know your grandfather and great grandfather both went there?”
“I’ll be in my room.” And with that Stanley got up and went to his room on the other side of the house. Stanley jumped on top of his bed, and laid on his back, and shot his favorite Wilson basketball into the air with perfect form. “Oh man, what should I do?” he thought to himself.

Stanley’s phone rang, and he saw it was Mike McClain, a teammate of Stanleys. “What’s up Mike?”
“Yo Stan, Wayne and I are going to get some pizza downtown. Want to come with?”
“Yea for sure, when should I meet you?”
“Meet there in 30 minutes.”
“See ya there.” Stanley hung up and went back into the TV room where his mom was still eating her spaghetti and watching the game. “Mom, I'm heading over to Nat’s Pizza downtown to meet Mike and Wayne. I’ll be back before 11.”
“Okay, be home before 11. I am going to run to the market, we need some Gatorade and power bars before out workout tomorrow.”
“See you later, Mom. I love you.” and Mike took off out the front door. Stanley didn't have a car so he walked or biked everywhere he went. He preferred walking, he said it gave him time to think. This walk to the pizza joint was going to be spot on for him to just think about college. He still really loved Duke, but his mom is starting to influence him. Stanley was starting to think maybe he should stay in the state so he can be with his mom, and make her indescribable proud.
“Whats up guys,” Stanley said as he approached Mike and Wayne while giving each a fist bump and a bro hug. The three of them ordered some pizza by the slice, and sat down and starting eating. Mike and Wayne were always the loud and talkative ones, so Stanley did a lot of listening while with them.
“So Stanley, man, where you goin’ to college?” Mike asked.
“I don’t know dude, I’m so stressed out.”
“You don’t need to be though. You’re playing D1 basketball anywhere you want. You’re the best basketball player in the state, and a top prospect in the country. I would love to be you!”
“It’s not that easy.”
“Well, what are you thinking?” Wayne chipped in.
“My mom has been chewing my ear off about going to Virginia, but for the past 3 weeks I told myself I was going to Duke.”
“Both are incredibly great schools, you can’t go wrong with either.” Mike said.
“I know, but I just don’t know. I think it is still going to be Duke, but I don’t decide until Friday, so I have a couple of days.”
“On Live TV, I have to go to school and all the cameras are going to be there, coaches, teachers, my mom. What if I make a wrong choice?”
“You Won’t, because you can’t. You’ll love it no matter where you go.”
“I just don’t want to disappoint my mom.”
“I understand. Alright, let’s get out of here. Too much negativity for me right now, it makes me shiver.” Wayne said.
The three boys gathered up their trash, and exited the pizza parlor. They started on their way back towards the Ben & Jerry’s, as it always happens that after they eat pizza they all just start craving some ice cream. Mike and Wayne kept yapping about this new girl that came to school this week, and how they claim she is “an angel.” Stanley kept quiet, just listening hen suddenly his phone rings with an unfamiliar phone number.
“Hello?” Stanley asked into the phone.
“Stanley is this you?” the person responded.
“Yes, who is this?”
“This is your Aunt Wanda, your mom has been in an accident. How soon can you get home?”
“What kind of accident, is she okay? I can be home in 5 minutes.”
“I’ll explain when you get home, I am at your house right now.” Stanley hung up the phone and took off running without hesitation. Completely forgot about his two friends that he was walking with, he bolted as fast as he could home, cutting through yards and hopping over fences.  Bolting in through the front door, Stanley sees his Aunt Wanda.
“Where is she?” Stanley asks furiously.
“She is at the hospital going through emergency surgery to try to stop internal bleeding. She was hit by a car on her way to the bus stop, the car didn't even stop.” Wanda starts to break down into tears, “Stan, they don’t know if she is gonna be okay.”
“Take me to the hospital right now.” Wanda and Stanley hopped into Wanda’s station wagon, and they darted to the UofV hospital. Rushing through the doors, Stanley asked where Veronica Johnson is, and the receptionist said that she is in surgery still on the 2nd floor and that all he can do is wait in the waiting room.
Stanley waited in that lobby all night. His phone as blowing up with texts and calls from people who have started to hear rumors of what happened. Stanley ignored all alerts, and wide eyed, straight faced, almost not blinking, Stanley sat in the lobby chair until 5 a.m., when a surgeon came into the room and confronted Stanley.
“Where is my mom?” Stanley asked the surgeon.
“Mr. Johnson, I am real sorry, your mom…” and Stanley cut him off. Stanley already knew what he was going to say, he was dreading hearing that sentence from the moment he got the call from his aunt. “I’m sorry, Stanley.”
The next week was the worst week of Stanley’s life. The funeral and wake took place, there was a assembly at school to remember Veronica, and to top it off Stanley has to make his college decision. It is finally Friday, which means Stanley has to make his decision. It is just after school on Friday, and the ESPN cameras have just arrived. There are representatives from all of the top 5 schools on Stanley’s list in attendance. There is a table set up, and a chair for Stanley to sit. On the table are 5 hats, each with the logo of the 5 options of schooling. The ESPN commentator tells Stanley what he is going to ask, so he has a few minutes to prepare what he is going to say. Once it is all set up, the camera man counts down from 5 to 1, meaning they were live. “I’m here with 5 star recruit Stanley Johnson from Oak Hill Academy here in Virginia, where he he is about to make his college decision. So Stanley, where will you be playing college basketball next year?”
Stanley could’t help but to start to get emotional, because he knew how much his mom would love to be here with him. “I want to thank all the coaches that have helped me along the way, and to everyone who has made me who I am. I want to thank my friends and family, and all the help I have received along the way. But today, I have a decision to make. This one is for you mom.” Stanley picked up the Virginia hat infant of him, and put it on his head. Turned around, and hugged his Aunt Wanda. “You did so good,” Wanda whispered into Stanley’s ear.
“This one is for her.”