What says March for young male athletes like the Final Four
college basketball competition? Indeed, basketball fans will find plenty of
action in this young adult novel. Volponi obviously knows his way around the
court. He pits the favored Michigan State Spartans against the underdog Trojans
from the much smaller Troy University.
This is an “epic” battle on more than one level. The star Spartan,
Malcolm McBride is a conceited, selfish and brash freshman who cuts classes and
is only putting in the time so he can ascend to the NBA. He is not a team
player and accuses Michigan State of unfairly profiting off its college
athletes. On the other side of the court is a team that plays well together.
Its star players are Roko Bacic, an émigré from Crotia and Crispin Rice, a
senior with romance problems. Roko left his country after his favorite uncle, a
reporter was gunned down because of his political beliefs. Malcolm also has a
close connection to death by gun. His older sister was the accidental victim in
a drive-by shooting. Crispin after making an impossible shot and winning a
previous play-off proposes marriage to his cheerleader girlfriend on camera in front
of the world. The proposal might have been a bit premature since he doesn’t
have a job or means to support a wife much less buy an engagement ring. Obviously,
a lot more is going on than just basketball. Readers will get caught up in the
personalities and the drama. The ending is a bit of a letdown, but believable nonetheless.
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