The late afternoon sun cast long shadows across the weathered court

The late afternoon sun cast long shadows across the weathered court, its cracked asphalt stained by years of use. A teenage boy, clad in a faded jersey and worn sneakers, dribbled a basketball with a rhythmic bounce that echoed through the empty space. His movements were fluid, almost meditative, as he practiced his shots against a rusting hoop that sagged slightly under its own weight.