Summer Ball by Mike Lupica, Vocabulary List Chapters 1-3

to say usually in an unwilling way that you accept or do not deny the truth or existence of (something)

He was scared even though he'd never come out and admit that to his parents.

very old

"Smartest team ever, even though they're like ancient history now," he said.

to try to do, accomplish, or complete

He was past Will now, going hard to the right of the basket, planting his left foot, getting ready to attempt the kind of shot he always did when he was in the tall trees, one that was half scoop, half hook.

a small, thin book or magazine that usually has many pictures and information about a product, a place, etc.

The elevens and twelves went into one league, Danny knew from the brochure; the older kids into another.

a group meeting for teaching a certain skill and working on individual problems

But in either session, Right Way was all basketball, all the time-clinics and instructions in the mornings, games in the afternoon and at night.

not intelligent : slow in understanding

"Which happens to be the problem," Will said, "even if you are too terminally dense to see that."

without being prevented by (something) — used to say that something happens or is true even though there is something that might prevent it from happening or being true

"And despite being the size that I am, I still managed to be All-State at Middletown High, get a scholarship out of here to Syracuse, get to be All-America there and become a lottery pick in the NBA"

to become a member : JOIN

So the family had moved north and his parents had enrolled Scott for second semester at St. Patrick's.

to take (a shot)

The next thing just came out of him, like a dumb, dumb shot you knew you shouldn't have taken the second you hoisted it up.

a particular way of thinking : OUTLOOK

"I guess that's what passes for shooter's mentality."

a happening believed to be a sign or warning of a future event

Danny watched it and thought, well that's not a very good omen.

an unusually talented child

He had moved to Middletown halfway through the school year from Tampa, where he'd been about half a tennis prodigy at the Harry Hopman Tennis Academy.

strictly accurate : CORRECT

Richie would yell "stop!" and make him shoot with the proper motion from the same spot, hands in front of him.

to repeat (someone else's words) exactly

Danny, quoting his dad, said "You gotta keep taking it to the next level, or you never leave the one you're at."

to persuade (someone) to join you in some activity or to help you

It had become such a big deal that college scouts would come up to Maine every July and even start looking at seventh and eighth graders they might want to think about recruiting someday.

money given a student to help pay for further education

"And despite being the size that I am, I still managed to be All-State at Middletown High, get a scholarship out of here to Syracuse, get to be All-America there and become a lottery pick in the NBA"

a person whose job is to search for talented performers, athletes, etc.

It had become such a big deal that college scouts would come up to Maine every July and even start looking at seventh and eighth graders they might want to think about recruiting someday.

a brief burst of increased effort, activity, or development

"You know that growth spurt you guys have been promising me my whole life? When does that kick in, exactly?"

to make (a basketball shot) so that the ball falls through the rim without touching it

This one swished, then he kept his right hand in the air, holding the pose.

very bad or severe

"Which happens to be the problem," Will said, "even if you are too terminally dense to see that."

to move from one person or place to another

Ty had done his transfer thing so he could come play with Danny and Will and a lot of the other Warriors who were already attending St. Patrick's.