Can Reg catch a break . . . getting close to decision time

If you know, you know:  SKIP TO 'CURRENT TIMES' IF YOU DON'T NEED A REFRESHER ON REG'S MEMORY LOSS, LAWSUIT, ETC.  *I feel like most of this might be review, but I ended up writing the background, because to me the early stuff impacts the present stuff. 

Reg dreams of playing college basketball. He's good enough. No doubt. Maybe low level D1, but definitely a D2 program. We've supported his dream. We want him to be happy. 

Recently we've said:  Basketball is one aspect of college. There are others to consider. I don't want you to choose a college because of basketball and then get there and realize, OH CRAP. THIS PLACE SUCKS. 

But, we also want him to realize his dream. Have no regrets. Etc. *sigh*

Reg.

Background:  He's epileptic. A few miserable adults in high school failed him, and crossed a line. We sued the school. One was fired and one wasn't. Long ass story. As a result of the nonsense, that should NEVER have happened - Reg encountered mini-seizures that meds weren't able to control. He was in several AP classes and honors courses, and complained that he couldn't memorize stuff, couldn't study. 

Huh?

We learned, in March '24 after a neuropsych eval, that he was operating off of 5% of his verbal memory. The mini seizures, that he calls deja vu, damaged his verbal memory. 

He took a gap year, and worked with a speech therapist, specializing in cognitive
issues. He thinks his memory has improved, but is unsure till he's in academic classes. We paid hard-earned money for him to play with a post-grad basketball program in Indiana, believing that he'd be connected to a college team. 

CURRENT TIMES:  Dave, the head guy, concentrating on finding a D1 offer for the one strong D1 prospect 'Hank' on the post-grad team. Big 10 schools, who weren't interested in Reg or most of his teammates, came to scout Hank. The others? Most went D3, or accepted walk on spots. Dave expected Reg to jump at the chance to play D3. 

Reg told Dave:  I could've played D3 without paying for your help. You agreed to find me a spot at the next level. (It's hard to be seen outside the portal. Dave didn't do much to attract schools at Reg's level). 

A 6'7" player from Croatia, who was one of Reg's roomies and his good buddy, did get an offer to play at a D1 Catholic school in Corpus Christi, Texas. Recently Dave asked Reg if he wanted to walk-on there. Reg said no. He'd rather go to a great school like Creighton vs paying more to attend that lesser known/further from home school. (We're thrilled with the $$ he's gotten from Creighton.) 

Coach and I are disappointed. We feel we had the wool pulled over our eyes. Dave made every effort to get Hank a deal, which is good marketing for his program. He left the other kids scrambling, waiting till the last minute. Other parents are also frustrated. 

Several months ago, I asked Dave for Reg's highlight reel, so we could share it with a coach. Dave sent me a few 10 second clips. Hardly a highlight film. Reg and I pieced together what we could by recording bits of the team's YouTube videos on his phone, because we couldn't edit YouTube content. 

It's been stressful and  frustrating. A few weeks ago, Dave told him to come to an open gym with Purdue Northwest, D2. Reg caddied first and then drove to Indiana (an hour away). 

Reg texted:  I MISSED EVERY SHOT. I PLAYED TERRIBLE. THE COACH DIDN'T EVEN TALK TO ME. HE JUST LEFT. 

Mini suggested he not caddy before an open gym, and he said that had nothing to do with it. I'm guessing he was exhausted, and that the pressure killed him. 

In mid May, Coach and I met with a recruiter, Chad. He agreed to help Reg, if we hired him to help Curly. Overwhelmed by Curly's options, we agreed. Plus he lowered his price for Curly.  

Dave texted Reg. A school in Florida was interested. Reg let Chad know, because Dave doesn't have great follow-thru. Dave caught wind that Chad was reaching out to the school too, and I heard him blast Reg thru his phone. 

Dave:  Too many guys calling is a mistake. I have a relationship with this coach. Let me follow up with it. And hey, if I set up an open gym, you need to perform. You can't play like shit like you did for Purdue Northwest. You missed every shot. You gotta put shots up every day. 

Someone better hope I don't find a way to give a Google review. Reg never misses a day of putting shots up. He spends hours in the gym. And he really didn't need to be reminded that he screwed up that tryout. What the hell? 

Silly me, I thought I was gonna squeeze in all the info into one post. Reg attended Creighton's orientation last week. I'll update you on how that played out in my next post, and where everything stands.

*****

Everything will work out. What is stressing you out in your world? 

Oh, for a laugh:  Tank works on our landscaping, enlisting Kay and Rae to help. On Father's Day we played family volleyball. 100% attendance. We should've set up a camera, because hilarity ensued. Tank found some dead grass that the girls missed in their yard clean up. Tank: Farm hands! Farm hands, you need to pick this up. (don't worry, the girls get Tank, and they laughed).