KJ had been through this before.
Agents, middlemen, scouts with smooth voices and promises. Some meant well. Some were predators in tracksuits. But now… Kyle and Kareem were starting to get noticed too. And that changed things.
Their parents called a meeting in the living room. No TV. No phones. Just family.
Mom sat at the head of the table with a notepad. Dad leaned forward, elbows on his knees, eyes sharp but calm.
"We need to talk," Dad said. "About what's coming."
KJ slouched in his chair, arms crossed. Kyle looked half-annoyed. Kareem, as usual, was eating cereal out the box.
"You three are getting attention," Mom said. "Scouts. Agents. Brand reps. It's not just about soccer anymore—it's about business. And business can be dangerous if you're not ready."
"Are we in trouble?" Kareem asked, mouth full.
"No," Dad said, cracking a smile. "Not yet."
They laid it out:
•No one signs anything without them.
•Any meetings with agents or reps must include both parents.
•If anything feels off, it probably is.
•And most importantly: talent without discipline will only get you so far.
KJ rolled his eyes, but inside, he knew they were right.
Kyle stayed quiet, thinking about Dre and that business card.
Kareem took another bite of cereal and nodded like he was just waiting to hear when he could go pro.
Mom handed each of them a printed sheet—basic red flags to watch for in conversations with adults offering "opportunities."
"Y'all are special," Dad said. "We know that. But don't let anyone else define your worth. And don't let your ego blind you."
Then Mom hit them with the real line:
"You may be the product—but you're also the brand. Protect it."
That landed.
KJ stood up first. "Cool. I'm good. I already told a guy no last week."
Kyle followed. "I'm not stupid, y'know."
But as they walked upstairs, Kyle whispered to KJ, "You still got that guy's number though?"
KJ grinned. "Maybe."
Behind them, Kareem grabbed a pen and scribbled something at the bottom of the "Red Flags" sheet.
He wrote: They don't know I'm already 20 steps ahead.
And then he crumpled it up and tossed it in the trash.