Scott Hayes

Scottie Hayes
(Timber Wolf, G)
ID#1438

Scottie Hayes at Haverford Academy Media Day 2024
2025 Draft Candidate
Nickname(s)
Superstar, Star Kid
Personal information
Phonetic	SKAW-tee HAYs
Species	Timber Wolf
Gender	Male (he/him)
Date of birth	(2007-05-09) May 9, 2007
Birth place	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Listed height	6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Listed weight	195 lb (88 kg)
Shoots	Right-handed
Education
School	Haverford Academy
Player Contacts
(IC) Agent	Cherry
(OOC) Creator	Cherry
(IC) Actor	Cherry

Humble Beginnings

His roots in Philly are some that Scottie is not generally fond of. His mother and father were high school sweethearts that had him at young ages, their immaturity and lack of life planning leading them to a near-derelict townhouse in Kensington, where Scottie saw out most of his childhood from. When he reached the age where he finally began to see his parents for what they were, he had mentally checked out from his home life, intentionally avoiding and ignoring them both and their constant screaming matches about finances, supposed affairs - despite the fact that they were not married - and other such petty arguments as much as he could.

This rift at home, had built a bridge elsewhere: to Scottie's tight-knit group of friends in and out of school. With them, he had finally found his voice and sense of self, growing a deep fondness for his peers and their interests. The days were now either spent outside, or at one of their houses. Here, is where he really saw just how much he was missing out on at home, his friends' parents treating him much better than his own folks did, even though he wasn't even their son.

Resentment built up quickly, but Scottie wouldn't dare say a word, afraid now that they were victims of an epidemic sweeping his neighbourhood: substance abuse. Now, more than ever, every second he wasn't expected to be home for dinner, homework, or his curfew, which were becoming less and less mandatory the more his parents tumbled down the rabbit hole of addiction, was spent with his friends, even just one of them.

Very early on into Scottie's adolescence, his friend group had one day found their new shared interest: the Pittsburgh Keystones. It was the 2016-17 season for the team, and now, every hangout with them was spent watching their games with popcorn galore and donning jerseys of their favourite players. Scottie, however, initially was indifferent to the sport of basketball. He was a naturally sporty and athletic kid, genes passed down from his mother and father, who in their days, were the head cheerleader and the star quarterback of their high school respectively, which is now a sore spot used by Scottie's mother after his father’s career-ending injury. Performing well in PE, he didn't take it too much further than that, only signing up for his middle school's volleyball team, since it would allow him a reason to be away from classes, which he did not excel in at all, being a C student at best, as well as be away from his unbearable family.

That being said, he wasn't averse to the idea of playing pick-up with his friends in recesses or after school. So, he did.

And, strangely enough, he was a highlight on the asphalt.

A New Passion

Speedy and agile, he'd blow past his friends in fastbreaks, or if they were just too lax to stick on him. Then, albeit on 8 foot outdoor baskets, and thanks to his experience with volleyball, would spring up high into the air and finish with authority, often with a rim-shaking slam. This got him labelled by his friends as a ""superstar"", praised and lauded for his sudden phenomenal skill. He couldn't lie that it didn't go to his head, feeling like a spectacle among his group of friends every time they hit the tarmac.

Suddenly, Scottie was much more involved on game nights, going as far as borrowing one of his friends' jerseys, since he would never go to his parents asking for one, and throwing it on to cheer on the Keystones with a renewed fandom. After every possession, every point scored, he'd be off his feet, hollering when they won, and sulking when they lost. In the scrimmages with his friends the day after watching the games with them, Scottie would pick up and practice moves he saw pulled off by the pros just the other night, surprised and prideful each they actually worked and he'd drop his friends on their butts, suffering shattered ankles before driving to the basket and finishing.

Soon, with enough push and shove from the first ever supportive fans he’s found in his friends, he quit the volleyball team and finally tried out for the basketball team. However, against his taller and more experienced peers in older grades, Scottie struggled. Hard. The playbook he had in his head was suddenly moot when he’d get read like a book by defenders, either getting ripped or clamped to a point where he’d have to pass out or shoot, an aspect of his game he’d been neglecting, causing him to turn the ball over or miss most shots with a broken beyond repair jumper. Defensively, he wasn’t much better, a liability in the paint and lost on the perimeter.

This dismantling of everything Scottie thought he knew about the sport was discouraging, at best… but really, it shattered him. Afterwards, expecting to be tossed out of the gym and his dream to, one day, play in the pros, be dashed, instead, what he got was an offer. The coach, who he will always remember as the person to support, push, and challenge him most, gave him a shot on the team as a reserve player. Scottie, of course, jumped at the opportunity, and soon, he was in the gym every day whenever he had free time to really practice and hone his game.

Fledgling Potential

Whatever potential his coach saw in him was being realized slowly, but surely, as he was taught the fundamentals and given hard lessons in real scrimmages against his new teammates, who, despite his horrid tryout, were even more supportive and nice, despite the age and grade difference. It was a humbling experience for Scottie, who soon realized just how much work went into real basketball on the hardwood. From there, it was a steady climb, not just in his skills, but also in his body and athletics. From the sixth grade to the seventh, he had grown just about a foot, coming into the new school year at a tall and proud six feet.

This, alongside his blossoming skills, really elevated his game to heights he never thought he’d be at right now. Suddenly, he could keep up with the older players, even besting them at times. Staying true to the things his friends knew him for, who had followed his journey with love and support this whole way through, Scottie really put an emphasis on bettering his agility, ball-handling, and finishing, wanting to be that player who could drop his friends with one move and cap it off with a flashy dunk or layup. With enough hours, hard work, and dedication, Scottie had finally moved up to be the starting shooting guard of his middle school team.

When he finally decided to excitedly tell his parents about his accomplishments, expecting some sort of praise since they were his parents and his father was an athlete once upon a time, all he was met with was ridicule about his studies and pure indifference. This was the nail in the coffin of his hopes to have some sort of relationship with his parents that wasn’t borderline abusive. In his eyes, the only family he had was his found family: his friends.

Hard Work Pays Off

So, Scottie left it all out on the floor, using everything he’s learned and worked on thus far to dominate in his games, ending the regular season third in scoring with a stellar and well-earned 15ppg. With each home game, he was, somewhere deep down, disappointed to not see his parents in the bleachers, but let it all wash away when he saw his friends every single time, cheering for him. That adoration was what made him start this whole journey, and what has egged him on to keep playing and getting better and better.

After going all the way and helping lead his team to a trophy, his and his teammates’ names now on a banner in the rafters, he showed up after summer break to the eighth grade an inch or two taller, now the talk of the school as, with his older teammates graduating to high school, some even getting recruited to prestigious basketball academies, Scottie was now the team’s unofficial captain and best player, now saddled with the responsibility of helping train and familiarize new players that joined the team, players like he was when he started out.

One day in particular, as his final season as a middle school player came to an end going into the spring district tournament, a video dropped online, by one of his friends, no less, which was a mixtape of all of Scottie’s best highlights and moments from his games up until now. It was a moderate success, to his surprise, garnering a five digit view count and perked ears across the nation at his game.

All of these new eyes on him filled Scottie with pride, and it showed, his performance in the tournament always ending in a win for his team and a stat sheet that made some eyes widen, where he averaged 22ppg, 7 rebounds, and 3 assists in the regular season, he was now putting up 30ppg, 9 rebounds, and 4 assists during the tournament. As expected, he lifted the trophy with his team once more, before going off into summer break.

During which, Scottie was actually approached by a scout for a basketball boarding school in Pennsylvania not far from Philly: Haverford Academy. Normally, where admission was paid, Scottie was offered a full-ride and board, so long as he played for their team. This offer was one he couldn’t refuse, but, when he approached his parents, even leading with the fact it was all paid for… he was only met with disregard and belittlement. Enraged, he finally let it all out on them, his entire childhood, all of it.

Only to be met with the back of his father’s hand.

Ties That Bind

He was done. He couldn’t bear to live with such an unsupportive and newly physically abusive family any longer. So… he forged their signatures and took the offer, packing up everything he could in one night, before taking the midnight train to his new institution, overjoyed at the fact he’d be leaving his awful home life, but also saddened that he’d be leaving his friends behind.

Haverford Academy was a marvel, however, miles nicer and polished than his previous underfunded public middle school. He was immediately moved into a room, which was also much better than his bedroom back at his childhood home in Philly. He was even visited by his friends, who he told about the entire situation, and are now supportive of. When the school year started, it wasn’t long before his parents tracked him down in an attempt to force him to come back, even going as far to tell the superintendant outright about the forgery of their signatures.

This all almost cost Scottie his shot at a career in the sport he’s grown to love, at a life that would be a dream to have compared to what would be waiting for him back in Philadelphia. But, as a last ditch effort, to finally sever his tether to his parents once and for all… he filed for emancipation, ready to leave his past behind and start anew.

The suit was hard and long fought, all thanks to a family lawyer that his friends’ parents got together and hired for Scottie, a kind act of loyalty that he’ll never forget. Eventually, and finally, the case was ruled in Scottie’s favor, and he was granted emancipation and a restraining order against his mother and father, citing child abuse and neglect. It was like a weight lifted off of his shoulders upon hearing the verdict, realizing that he was… free.

In the aftermath, his parents made no effort to break that restraining order, and those days in court were Scottie’s last seeing his mother and father in the flesh… and that was okay with him.

Whole New World

All in time for basketball season to start, and when he returned to Haverford, ready to start his new life, he soon realized that, thanks as well to the fame and recognition he’s garnered from his middle school mixtape, his emancipation case verdict reached the public, and all eyes were on him. This extended to his new team, who, unlike his old one, were not as welcoming and warm to their new star rookie.

Hazing was the word for Scottie’s first year in high school. In practice, he would get fouled hard and would rarely get touches, and when he did, he would often fall over his own feet as he felt his team’s disapproving eyes on his back the whole time, not at all used to the ridicule and pressure. Out of practice, in the locker room, he’d get iced out of every extracurricular activity, and have words both said behind his back and straight to his face. But, he didn’t say anything, despite the fact he definitely had words of his own to toss back.

At the end of that season, having rode the bench the entire time with his performance dwindling in spite of his teammate’s words getting to him, especially about his public family life and past issues, he would only put up 9ppg, 3 rebounds, and 2 assists, and Haverford would be eliminated after only one game in the tournament. His first year in the high school level was a difficult adjustment, skill and chemistry wise. He knew he had to get better, put in the hours, and show everyone just how wrong they are for doubting him, and win their adoration.

That mantra is what his sophomore year was all about, spending every waking hour in the gym and weight room, blocking out all the noise. In practice, and in games, he had to be ruthless and unforgiving, sacrificing his showy exterior for results.

And results he got, as he spent the first half of that season averaging 18ppg, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists, showcasing his elevated athleticism and ability to finish under pressure, earning a new moniker of “Star Kid” around campus for his tendency to jump for the stars. He was the definition of showtime that half, and was definitely catching some attention, as more footage from his games against renowned high school teams with serious FBA prospects was posted online.

Trials and Tribulations

But, bringing his season to a halt, his tendency would come back to bite him as he’d go up high for a tough layup one game in a clogged paint, causing him to get whacked and come tumbling to the floor. This was enough to sideline him for the rest of the game. When looked over and treated by their team’s doctor, Scottie was officially given the diagnosis of a severe hamstring tear.

This devastated Scottie, who was now faced with the reality that he might not play for the rest of the season…

In that time, aside from recovery and PT, he poured what energy he had left onto his studies at the academy and his relationships, frequently getting visits from his friends back in Philly. He couldn’t help but feel frustration and restlessness at not being on the court, but slowing down for a change after spending all of his time locked in was not a bad change of pace. As well, in light of his injury, his team would actually send their condolences and support, a sign that, maybe, they’re coming around to him.

Still, he was forced to watch them struggle, losing more games than winning now without his output. It was hard to watch and be unable to help, especially with the tournament coming up, and the desire to win, despite an injury, strong.

As expected, his team would lose horribly in their first games in the tournament, but, when it came to the final matchup that would decide if Haverford would get eliminated or not… the team doctor had finally cleared Scottie for play

Comeback Kid

That night, Scottie put on a clinic. Though he’d been away from real play for too long, he would always be on the practice court whenever he could, all throughout his injury. It showed, as he ended the night on a 30/7/3 split, bringing Haverford a win that would give them a fighting chance in the most important games of the season.

Unfortunately, Haverford did end up losing in the semi-finals, but Scottie’s comeback was not lost on his team, who finally welcomed him into the fold. Though they didn’t win a trophy that year, Scottie has won something much better, in his eyes: the acceptance of his peers.

From then on, it was smooth sailing. The next seasons for Haverford only got better and better, and so did the team chemistry, the year after the last ending in a loss in the finals, and the year after that, the Haverford Academy Royals had finally lifted the trophy. Scottie was finally receiving his flowers, known around campus and online, and things couldn’t be going any better. Physically, he was exceptional, now standing at six feet and five inches, he was a high-flyer on the court, really proving to everyone that he would reach the stars. The numbers he’d put up consistently were nothing to scoff at, either, averaging 22ppg, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists over his high school career.

His final season at Haverford ended in a loss in the finals, but nevertheless, he was just happy and proud of his time at the academy, graduating with a slough of university offers on his plate. Still rough around the edges, he’d consider accepting one of their offers for a year to sharpen his craft before declaring for the draft… but, after his last talk with his coach at Haverford, who advised him to go for it while he was young, healthy, and spry, Scottie, with some help, decided to follow his coach’s advice and declare.

A Promising Present

With his name in consideration, Scottie prepares to prove himself on the biggest stage, his drive to up his game and win the hearts and adoration of all, lends him strength above and beyond everything he expected for himself when he picked up a basketball for the first time all those years ago, young, volatile, yet full of potential.