Foul Trouble

by John Feinstein

Bestselling sportswriter John Feinstein exposes the big money and back-room deals that pervade college-basketball recruiting in this fast-break young adult novel.
 
Terrell Jamerson is the #1 high school basketball player in the country. His team is poised to win State, top colleges are lining up to give him scholarships, and everyone says he could play in the NBA tomorrow. But it only takes one false step to lose everything.
 
Danny Wilcox is Terrell’s best friend and teammate, and a top prospect himself, but these days it seems like everyone wants to get close to the sneaker guys, the money managers, the college boosters. They show up offering fast cars, hot girls, and cold, hard cash. They say they just want to help, but their kind of help could get Terrell disqualified.
 
Danny and Terrell better keep their eyes on the ball if they hope to last the season.
 
John Feinstein has been praised as “the best writer of sports books in America today” ( The Boston Globe ), and he proves it again in this fast-paced novel.
 
“Thorough and suspenseful; a must-read for those interested in basketball and the dealings surrounding the sport.” — Kirkus Reviews, Starred

Genres: Sports, Young Adult, Realistic Fiction, Fiction, Basketball, Teen, Contemporary

400 pages, Hardcover

First published November 1, 2013

About the author

John Feinstein was an American sportswriter, author, and sports commentator.

Reviews

[Harry Costea · Rating 5 out of 5]

***The book that I read was Foul Trouble by John Feinstein. It is a realistic fiction book. The theme of the book is to entertain but also give people knowledge on some things. I've read many other books by this author and this one stood out as different.

This book is about the best high school basketball player in the country and his best friend. They go to this camp and the players name is Terell and as soon as he gets there hes being swarmed by agents and shoe companies trying to offer him deals to sign with them. He is also being offered money from colleges to come play for them. His mind gets so messed up that he keeps making wrong decisions and his best friend cant help him.

I think the book is very interesting as it just describes to me the whole time about how corrupt the NCAA is and how it is ruining college athletics as a whole and I always watch college sports and it appeals to me. The ending of the book made it so memorable to me I cant spoil it but it shocked me so much my eyes just got so big. Some possibilities that the book suggests is that colleges these days are getting boosters to help pay for the athletes to come and I agree with that as you saw with Miami Football in the early 2000's.

[Deacon Tom (Feeling Better) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun story

Ever since I was a little kid, I’ve been a sucker for good sports novels. Yes, it truly is a good one and the author, John Feinstein, is one of the best sports authorities out there today.

The story is fast moving in quick and even though it is a novel, it tells the story of the pressures of outstanding high school athletes go through when picking a college.

[Ronny · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read foul trouble by John Feinstein and it was a great background to the dirty games of college basketball. It does a great job of going in depth of how most college coaches break the rules of recruiting. They make sure they aren't involved so just the program would be penalized if caught so they could just jump to another job. Usually shoe companies that associated with that school pay the recruit and promise millions of dollars in a shoe deal once he goes pro if the kid goes to the college they want him too and agrees to sign an endorsement deal with them once he goes pro. It shows you how one decision can change the whole course of your life forever. Terell Jamerson is the top recruit and is being offered money to go to University of Atlanta or Mass State. His best friend and teammate Danny Wilcox who isn't as good as him but is still being recruited by major colleges is having a tough time deciding which college to go to. Jay Swanson is another top recruit who was taking money from agents and "money managers" in his junior year in high school; however he stopped taking money his senior year in high school because he felt like they owned him. Danny ,who was not offered money to play at any college, decided he would pass up scholarships from UCLA, Vanderbilt,and George Washington. He decided to go to Harvard. Jay Swanson chose to go to Harvard too, so he could play with Danny. Terell had offers to be paid by Atlanta and Mass State. He was also narrowed his five finalists down to Atlanta, Mass State, North Carolina, Duke, and UCLA. Earlier Terell and Danny decided not to go to college together because they both agreed that Danny would be just a package to get Terell to come there. Terell almost decided to take the money from Atlanta. He ended up changing his mind and he wanted to keep on playing with his best friend so he surprised everyone and decided that he was going to college at Harvard.
I think this is a great book about what it's like for a top high school basketball player being recruited by colleges who really want him to play for them. I think it was a good idea of the author to put a fictitious character in events that actually happen in real life. I was very happy when Jay stopped taking money. I was disappointed when Terrell almost decided to take money. I thought it was awesome when they all decided to go to Harvard. I would recommend it to anyone of any age or gender who likes basketball or just loves sports.

[Luke bye · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you're a type of person who likes basketball or just looking for an exhilarating book then Foul Trouble by John Feinstein is the book for you. In this realistic fiction book the main two characters are Terrell Jamerson the #1 basketball high school ball player in the country and his friend Danny Wilcox one is another really good ball player. When the boys team get invited to a tournament in New Jersey they get pounded by reporters, shoe company reps and eager coached trying to get the boys on there team. If only the two star players can keep themselves out of trouble they could make an amazing career in college and the NBA. I really like how this book was very realistic the author used the names of real players and coaches to make it seem like the tournament was real. Another thing I like is how well written the book was the author used a lot of detail and description to make it feel like you when at the games watching the boys play for the college Careers. One thing that is didn't like about the book is how the perspectives switched between the boys it made the book a little confusing at some points. This book 100 percent met my expectations the book always had me at the edge on my seat waiting to see if the three pointer was good or if the team would win here game and advance to the next round of the tournament. While I was reading this book I would feel happy when the team would win their games or make a good shot. I have played in basketball tournaments before so I know how they feel.

[Saskia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm sure this book is very good and hugely enjoyable to people-who-sport. I don't. Nor do I watch sport, or have any interest whatsoever in sport. None.

This book is sport from beginning to end. I flicked through the endless game play to find the story parts, which kept me going. The reader will not be troubled by any female characters having any original thoughts or wearing ugly outfits ... beauty and brains shine through in their three allocated sentences.

The book is essentially about American recruitment of high school boy basketballers - the greed, the pitfalls, the lies, the $$millions. Who should they trust? Who should they believe? Will they make the right decision in the end?

I'd like to say, 'who cares?' but that would be unkind. This book is clearly not meant for me, and I'm only reading it to assess its suitability to be book-talked at my school.

I will promote it to the basketballers at my school, with a smile on my face, as I'm sure all the game play and name-dropping will make sense to them.

Y10+

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

Swish?




I chose to read Foul Trouble, because the story of the book sounded like a fun quick read. I was skeptical that the book would be similar to Mike Lupica books, but I was very wrong! This book definitely lived up to my expectations.
Terrell Jamerson is one of the best high school basketball players in the country. If he keeps this up, he will be drafted to a Division 1 college where he can start his career. Danny Wilcox, is the son of the coach, and also Terrell’s teammate. Coach Wilcox wants the best for the boys, so they can fulfill their basketball dreams. Danny has the talent to get drafted to division 3 or 2. Terell is so good, he fills up the stands just because he is here. Being really good comes with a big responsibility.
Although Terrell makes almost no mistakes on the court, he makes some pretty big ones while he’s not on the court. Terrell got invited to a luxury pool party with his friends during a camp. Terrell made a huge mistake by violating school policy smoking marijuana. This affected his team a ton. He had a one game suspension because of that incidence. The team didn’t look the same without him, and they lost by a ton. Terrell knew that this stupid mistake could have costed his team the tournament. Also, if Terrell makes a mistake all of the colleges are going to here about it. If Terrel can’t be smart off the court, then he may not make it to a college team. Will he make it?
The plot keeps a steady flow, but there was not much literary value inside of this book. This is definitely a quick read, and you will have your eyes glued on this book until it is over. The plot twists are done so fast that you will hardly believe what happened.
This book is an amazing read, and it is one of the best books I have read. Overall I give this book a 4.75/5. You may not show interest in this book if you are not a basketball fan, and do not know much about the game. I would keep high expectations in this book.

[Carsen Culpitt]

If you were looking for an athletic thrilling novel look no further. This dynamic book revolves around the ever changing world of two golden basketball players. This publication encompasses the transition of high school players of Danny Wilcox and Terrell Jamerson are inevitably best friends. Through many cumbersome obstacles, the teenagers learn about the consequences of drug use, power struggle, and seduction. One main quotation that stood out to me in which summaries this book was, "the time had been worth it the more people he talked to, the more he learned about the world." (p.57) Showing readers that basketball is not only being on the court, but is an emotional and physical struggle off the court as well.

[Benjie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is about two high schoolers that play basketball in a team. Their names are Danny Wilcox and Terell Jamerson, and they are a best friend. Terell Jamerson is really good at basketball, his one of the top players in the country, he has a lot of fans cheering for him in basketball game. Top colleges are giving him scholarships because they want Terell to be in their team. He met a lot of people that he doesn't know like agents. Thier coach is Danny's dad which is Mr. Wilcox. People are helping Terrell but he has to be careful because their help might get him disqualified in the season. I think this book is interesting because every chapter Terell meets new people. I like this book because basketball is my favorite sports and I play basketball. Also, books about basketball are one of my favorite types of books.

[Javohn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is really good if your into basketball and sports.The book goes into how college coaches view and look at college recruits.In the beginning of the book people have told Terrell that his high school coach is using him to get himself a job as a college coach. Terrell is one of the best players on the country, so like in real life people are gonna try to get in your head when your that good and try to make you a fool of yourself in front of everyone. But in this case the coach of Terrell is not in it for himself he wants Terrell to succeed.

I think that this book was very good because it symbolized what actually happens in real life with recruiting and college coaches and players. I liked Terrell because I kinda of think of me a little like him because people say im really good at basketball, also I love the way Terrell keeps his cool in most situations. Danny Wilcox is pretty good to because he knows he is not as good as Terrell but wants to help him succeed and make it big.

This book is really good for teens or even adults who love sports and this is by far one of the best books i have ever read.

[Saul Sanchez · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book has themes of finding the right group of people and determination. Although this book is about basketball I found it hard to enjoy reading this. The book lacked areas like building a climax. It depicts the life of a highschool student that is really good at basketball and tries to find a good college to play basketball. Maybe I didn't enjoy this as much because I couldn't relate and did not find it that interesting.

[Ella_C1 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Terrell is a late bloomer. So he is fresh meat in the recruiting world. I can connect this book to the book Punch, another basketball book. This book is interesting and can keep you on your toes. People that would be interested in this book are people who are sport fans or people who enjoy books about difficult relationships and hard choices. Terrell is off to college soon and just so happens to be one of the best players in the league. People will do anything to get him on their team....even if it is illegal.

[Kelvin Shehu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Throughout one’s life, there are many chapters that bring new experiences and with that, new adversity and challenges that must be overcome. The same is to be said in a bildungsroman novel. Often, the protagonist must learn to adapt to succeed.

Foul Trouble, a novel written by John Feinstein, is a perfect example of perseverance over adversity. Originally published in 2013, the plot takes place in Lexington, Massachusetts. Terrell Jamerson is a high school student who recently found a lot of success playing basketball. Soon, he had invitations by the dozens to showcase his skills in different arenas around the United States, with college coaches and scouts lining up just to catch a glimpse of him playing.

Growing up with his single mom, Terrel sought basketball as a ticket to success. Considered by many to be the top prospect in his graduating class, Terrel’s popularity seemed to soar. As he became more lucrative, it seemed many people he had never even seen before appeared everywhere, posing as his friends. Some even close to home.

Gradually, Terrel began to receive many offers, some almost impossible to say no to. Once in a lifetime opportunities, most of which most people could only dream for. Almost too good to be true. Accompanying him on his journey, childhood friend and teammate Danny Wilcox is a foil character. Although he is also very skilled, he is much more focused on academics, and is projected nowhere near Terrel. However, Danny is very wise for his age. He advises Terrel against these newfound “friends” and their deals. He warns Terrel that these deals most likely have strings attached, and may ruin him and his future.

A turning point in the plot of the story is when another top recruit playing in the same showcase as Terrel faced a career-ending injury. All of his deals went away followed by his future in sports. This gave him more perspective on his situation and rattled him just thinking about how easily he could lose his future, too.

In summary, the novel was very interesting because it entailed real-world problems, such as corrupt officials in the NCAA. The character development and plot were very realistic and the characters as a whole were fun to follow. One minor criticism I have is that the antagonists were hard to distinguish from each other, and at one point it looked like they were all working together when in reality it was a competition. Overall, I would recommend this to anybody interested in sports novels or coming-of-age stories.

[Ross Williams · Rating 3 out of 5]

Foul Trouble by John Feinstein was a fantastic read and really educated me because I'm going through some of the same struggles as the main character Terrell is in the book. It really opened my eyes to be careful who you associate with because it can go both ways it can lead to your demise or to your success so friends are a key essential part to being on a good path to success and in Terrell case sometimes he had good ones and sometimes he had bad ones although he was one of the rare that were able to make it out despite the bad influences trying to corrupt him. I really admired him for this but the real reason he stayed on track was because of his mother and her morals that she instilled in him since day 1.
"Foul Trouble killed us. We didn't get to do what we wanted to. We wanted to pressure them but that was taken out by the foul trouble. We settled into a zone defense but they shot over us." Feinstein 108. This quote looks to human eye as just basketball talk but basketball is just not a game it's terms are analogies of life lessons waiting to be unraveled.
The essential question that relates to this is, How are we the stories that we tell, What makes a story universal. This relates to this quote because Terrell is talking about Foul Trouble in the game but he also ran into foul trouble in life like when he started talking to agents early and people started to find out and because people found out he couldn't do what he wanted to he couldn't just commit to college he had to be investigated and questions many times. He wanted to be agrees ice with them but he couldn't or else they would find out the truth and expose him and he could lose his opportunity to do what he loves because of the foul trouble he got himself into by associating with bad influences that sold him on the fact that it was ok to break the rules as long as you didn't get caught and being young and stupid Terrell followed the lead of these back influences instead of keeping his head straight. So he saw he was going down hill he tried to step back and give them space so that if they got investigated it would look as he wasn't associated with them. Although every time he tried to step back they roped him back in with there wrong doing every time almost trapping him in the bad situation not giving him a way out. And this story is universal because basketball is a universal language it brings many countries together every single day. That's why it's one of the most enjoyed sports in the world today because no matter where you are the game is still the same and that's what is loved about it is the game never changes.
I recommend this book to those that play sports and are starting to receive public attention for there skill of the game and need to know that people are gonna try to use you and try to bring you down and could be friends to your demise and not to your success. This is for athletes from the age of 13 and up just to self aware that there are snakes in this world and they are poisons to your success.

[Matthew V · Rating 5 out of 5]

I selected Foul Trouble as a good book to read because of my liking of basketball. Along with the fact that I enjoy basketball, the story takes a different viewpoint in that it brings up positives AND negatives of playing high school basketball. The book also takes place in my home state; which is always a plus when something is close to home.

Terrell Jamerson and Danny Wilcox are two star players for the Lexington High School basketball team. However, there is something special to Terrell, since he just happens to be a 5-star recruit who is impressing colleges all over the country. Up to junior year, Terrell and Danny only dealt with basketball, and nothing more. When the summer of junior year came, the two had been invited along with Danny's dad, Coach Wilcox, to a basketball camp in New Jersey. At this camp they play several teams with top notch skill players; all while meeting a variety of different characters. Money guys, coaches, company reps, and more; all look to Terrell as their chance to gain the big bucks. Over the next few weeks at the camp, Terrell and Danny are exposed to a variety of different people who try to make them take risky decisions, but who knows if they will give in? Instead of deciding to go to college early in making a commitment; the two players go through senior year of basketball with all the money junkies coming at them the whole season. The big question is, will Terrell and Danny fall into the big money trap of company reps, or a pick a college that fits their needs?

The idea of exposing all the colleges and show what skillful high school players go through is a very intriguing topic to discuss. When people think of high school prospects, they think they have the easiest life, but in reality they have some difficulties in dealing with peer pressure from all the coaches and money representatives who try to lure them into NCAA ineligibility.

Within the story the consequences of taking the deals the money guys offer to high school players is not really mentioned, and there is more of an emphasis on how many offers they get; instead of what they are. If the story mentioned more players who ended up unable to go to the NCAA due to ineligibility, then the story would have showed more clearly the dangers involved. However, the book does mention some of the figures high school players look at, so that the reader knows the offers these big name companies put up is legit.

[Matt Leo8 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read the book Foul Trouble by John Feinstein. This book is about two high school friends, Danny Wilcox and Terrell Jamerson, in a sleepy Massachusetts town outside Boston. Both are high-school basketball players going into their senior year. Terrell is a highly-recruited prospects and has multiple scholarship offers. Danny, his point guard, is regarded as a solid player, but is overlooked because of Terrell's ability. The drama starts when Danny's dad, head coach of the varsity basketball team, forms a team including Terrell and Danny, for a summer tournament in New Jersey. “Danny knew this camp was a big deal, but he still wasn’t prepared for the gaggle of reporters and TV cameras that engulfed them…” (Feinstein 10). Soon, Terrell is swarmed by all forms of talents agents, sponsors, coaches, and media claiming to be his "friend." Danny tries his best to get Terrell out of these situations, but he find himself in multiple verbal and physical altercations with both Terrell's so called "super-friends," as well as his own teammates. After impressing in the tournament, both Terrell and Danny now have to choose their college and future. Which road will they take, and will they make it out of the swarm of these new “friends”? Read to find out!

As for my personal opinion of the book, I personally really enjoyed it. The level of realism and actual figures included in the book added to the reading experience. Also, the basketball terminology and play-calling made it feel as if you were on the court, and it helped to paint a beautiful picture in my mind. Also, I felt the book was a good length to get into detail and tell the story, without overdoing it. Despite this, there are reasons it didn't get a five. First off, I won't spoil it, but the ending was extremely cliche, which didn't fit the rest of the story. Also, due to a strong focus on sports and basketball, it could make this book long and boring for someone with a lack of interest for these topics. Other than this, don't hesitate to pick this book up.

Overall, this book is a great read. The plot it great, and the detail with sport terminology adds a great aspect to the book. If you can get past the ending and massive amount of these sports terms, this is a book for you. Be sure to give it a try if you have an opportunity.

[Nick Fields · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had a great experience reading this book. Every time I began to read I didn’t want to stop, one of the reasons I liked it so much was because it was all based around sports. I also like it because it talked about a guy that was being recruited and going on visit, that made me keep reading because one of my goals is to be highly recruited and be able to go on visits to schools all around the nation.

“Danny knew this camp was a big deal, but he still wasn’t prepared for the gaggle of reporters and TV cameras that engulfed them as they parked in front of the Rothmans Center, on the campus of Fairleigh Dickinson University.” (Feinstein 10)

Danny Wilcox and Terrell Jamerson are two highly recruited basketball players, Terrell is a lot better then Danny he was the number one ranked player in the country. During the summer these two guys and their coach who happens to be Danny’s dad went to a camp where all of the top basketball players would be. The media around them would be chaotic and keeping order with all the chaos around them would be very difficult. There can be many positives to chaos but there can always be negatives, Danny and Terrell will feel the results of both while on their journey through the recruiting process. While being recruited Terrell had many temptations during this camp, after temptation and temptation Terrell finally gave in. He was taken to a party where he smoked weed and drank alcohol, because of this choice Danny was forced to cover for his best friend and get him past the media and his coaches. Terrell and Danny also enjoyed the benefits of all the things they were surrounded by. They got all of the attention which was expected because Terrell was the best high school player in the nation, they also got whatever they wanted but due to NCAA rules they didn't use this power to their full potential. This kept me on edge the entire time because I didn't know if they would ever give in to all of the perks.

I recommend this book to anybody who likes sports, also to anyone that likes action. Some books spend a lot of time talking and explaining this is the exact opposite. There is action from start to finish and the author manages to keep you on edge for a majority of the book.

[Mark Seward · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was sitting at home pondering over a book to read. I had no idea what I wanted to read. I was just chilling on my bed preparing to get a good rest when I reluctantly remembered that I needed to read a whole entire book over one weekend.

I was tired, but I had trouble going to sleep worrying because I ran into a brick wall of stress, thanks to our ELA teacher. It was over an assignment we were threatened with about a book we read. We still have not received the assignment. I had not read a book because I dislike reading, and I thought I needed to finish this book by Monday which would be a complicated assignment for me.

I wanted to read a book that was a bit challenging but also a good sports book that would be filled with action. Not many sports books have this and when I found the book I was going to read, I had mixed feelings. Foul Trouble was the book I picked. It had been recommended by a classmate the day before. He said Foul Trouble was a good book that is full of action and I would not be bored reading it.

It turns out he was right.

I had to go ELA and pick up Foul Trouble swiftly to ensure that I got a copy. I picked it up off the bookshelf at the beginning of class and I started reading Foul Trouble by John Feinstein, which would be an introduction to his writing for me. Foul Trouble is a book that is very comprehensive and it has a lot of intensity. This is the best sports book I have read so far.

When I was younger, I read a book similar to Foul Trouble. This book was a more kid friendly version. This book was called Game Changers: Play Makers by Mike Lupica, a more appropriate book for younger children in 3rd or 4th grade. Foul Trouble is a book for older children who are in middle school. The topics in Foul Trouble are a little more mature and not suitable for younger children.

Foul Trouble and Game Changers have a similar plot structure. In both books, there were 2 friends on a basketball team, but the best player got hurt so the best friend had to step up and play really well to go to the championship game. In both books, the star athlete comes back in the championship game and they win it. Winning the championship game is the most significant in the Game Changers book, but in Foul Trouble, it is most important when everybody chooses what college to go to. In both books, there is a player like Scottie Pippen and then there is the Michael Jordan. When the best player gets hurt, the Scottie Pippen of the team would have to fulfill the role of MJ.

Considering both books are similar, each book has its own distinct events that split them apart from each other. In Game Changers, they speak to their girlfriends a lot for advice, which is a different situation than in Foul Trouble. In Foul Trouble, some of the players go to a restaurant and one time, the star player hangs out with the bad kids and starts smoking marijuana. Foul Trouble is a more mature book with some harder events to understand.

These events are in the middle of the book when the book is near the climax. Towards the end of Foul Trouble, it was expected that we would find out where Terrell was going to college and he kept trying to hold it back. I was just waiting for him to pick the college he was going to, but the resolution took a complete turn of events.

Game Changers and Foul Trouble are comparable books. Foul Trouble isolates itself with the action and the references that constantly make you want to continue reading. The gaps in the action made me want to keep reading. At points where you think you would get bored reading a sports book, all of a sudden there is action. Foul Trouble is constantly pushing the reader to keep reading and never lays off to give the reader a break.

In Foul Trouble the protagonist, Terrell, the star player on the basketball team, went to go visit a college and it started to bore me until Terrell realized that the school was more about partying and doing stuff that could be illegal and less about getting an education. If Terrell chose this path for college, it could be like the Charlotte Bobcats franchise instead of like the 90’s Bulls. Terrell had to shoot his shots and take a risk that may affect his future. This book makes its mark by the high intensity and action throughout.

Foul Trouble should be read because of the action and intensity of the 400 page book. Foul Trouble does not get boring and it is a 400 page book. The book has the width of Charles Barkley, but its action keeps the reader entertained while understanding the struggles and the life of being a high prospect for colleges as a student-athlete.

The book is long, but if you trust the process, it will be a good read when you get to the end. The book is not a simple read and it is kind of complex, but it is a good read for middle schoolers.

The topics in this book are for older students which keeps it interesting and explains that doing things that harm you does not give you a good reputation. This book teaches lessons that could help teenagers learn about staying away from inappropriate acts. The book is as well rounded as Kobe Bryant. Foul Trouble has its ups and downs, just like Kobe’s game.

The book could be better if was shorter and a little bit harder to read. I feel like some pages in the book could be condensed to make each page full of action and that would help shorten the length of the book. The book could have used a little more challenging vocabulary and terms, but I think if I read it earlier in middle school it would definitely be more of an ambitious read.

The length of the book is longer making the action more spread out, making it easier to keep up with the pace of the book. There are some challenging concepts to tackle in Foul Trouble, but this is good to expand your vocabulary and to understand topics more in depth. The only cons are the book could be condensed a bit more to make it action-packed every single page, and the topics are intense.

The book is about a 5 hour read if you read at a normal pace, but if you read like me, it will take about 6 hours. Reading is my Achilles heel, I never like to read. But this book is as good as watching the NBA Finals buzzer beater.

I would recommend reading this book if you enjoy sports. You could buy this book on Amazon for $10 or you could go to the nearest book store or public library. I would give this book a 5/5.

If you have a chance to read Foul Trouble by John Feinstein, you should read it. This book is as solid as the pick and roll. I would go ahead and give the book a try if you like to read about sports or if you want to explore a new topic to read.

[Lisa Nagel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am not a sports person, not even close, so when my eighth grade class wanted to read this as our book group read, I was I a bit skeptical, but a great read this is. Terrell is the hot recruit for the next big thing in college basketball. Danny is not only his point guard, but also his voice of reason and loyal friend. Together they navigate their senior year of high school basketball and the recruiting frenzy. Terrell has to learn who he can trust as he is confronted with the sleazy agents, the hanger on friends and the promise of money and fame. The issues raised about the pressures placed upon "student athletes" and the behind the scenes corruption in college sports make this more than just a good sports book, it is also a compelling read.

[Gregory Perez]

This book is about two good friends who both play for the same basketball team. Terrell is one of the best basketball players in the country. His friend Danny play point guard for their team. Both of them are invited.to a basketball camp. Danny believes.the only reason he was invited.to the camp because he is on Terrell"s team. However , Danny wants.to help Terrell at the camp. Terrell isn't able to speak to sponsors because he can disqualified from the NCAA. Both Terrell are.going to college the next year and everybody want Terrell to play for them. Danny think Terrell and he aren't going to the same college because he think colleges want him only because of Terrell. At the end Terrell decides he doesn't.want.to leave Danny so they both go to the same college Harvard

[Kadendole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Terrel Jamerson, the number one high school basketball player in the country is living the time of hiss life. He has everything, like cars, girls and even money. His basketball team is supposed to win the the championship, along with his best friend since forever, Danny Wilcox. Danny has played basketball with Terrell since their first seasons of basketball and Danny has realized Terrell is a star. Thus, when Terrell gets in trouble Danny is always there to back him up. This is my favorite part because Danny is always making smart comments to the NCAA people. I would recommend this book to people who like sports books along with some humorous parts.

[Alec Honickel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book, "Foul Trouble", because it really stayed action packed throughout. You never knew what was going to happen and that is what I enjoyed mostly about the book. I recommend this book for ppl who really enjoy action and basketball books. This isn't just about playing a game, it's about avoiding many obstacles in a road with many turns and roadblocks, and for Terrell and Danny they end up avoiding them creating a great ending to the book. If you want to read a story about a basketball players who chooses the right path to greatness, then read this book.

[E Daniels · Rating 5 out of 5]

Foul Trouble is an AMAZING book! The main character's name is Terrell Jamerson. This book is about his life trying to become the best basketball player and pick a good college to go to. Terrell has a long journey to go through but he has his best friend by his side. How you you handle everything if you wanted to become the best player on the team and get a good education? If you want to hear more you should read the book and I promise you'll love it!

[Will Vagianelis · Rating 5 out of 5]

John Feinstein did a good job creating a book that was interesting and detailed events that occur in the real world as accurately as possible. I also liked how he made an obvious point to differentiate between the protagonists and the antagonists. After reading this book I have realized that college sports are influenced heavily by illegal companies and boosters that are looking to make a name for themselves.

[Mason · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great book. I liked the way the author broke it up into three parts. It was very clear and I was never confused. I also like how he would hint at someone through out the book and in the end made him a big part of the end. All of the things that were in the book were true and I liked that aspect. For example all the coaches that were trying to get Terrell to come to that school were real. Coach K from Duke and Tom Izzo from Michigan State.

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always drag my feet when starting a sports book, and I don't know why! I always get sucked in and love every minute! This one dragged a little bit with some of the recruiting/regulations/violations, but I also kind of liked that the story looked at the corrupt side of college basketball. Lots of exciting basketball action and a good right vs. wrong story, as well.

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this one for Battle of the Books.

Not my cup of tea, but now I know more about college basketball and NBA recruiting than I ever wanted to know!!!

[Nathan Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you like sports read this.

[D’Aja Whitfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

D’Aja Whitfield
Mrs.Williams-Arnold
English H
January 7,2018
What Makes or Breaks You?

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be a top tier college basketball recruit? Making college coaches drool over you, being offered scholarships daily, earning the opportunity to be the face of a school; If so, then I would highly recommend reading John Feinstein’s Foul Trouble.
Foul Trouble is a book about the nation’s top college basketball recruit, Terrell Jamerson, and his best friend and high school teammate, Danny Wilcox. Danny is also being recruited by colleges and his dad his high school coach. The first half of the book takes place at a summer basketball camp. This camp is for all the top high school teams in the country. Coaches are all over the camp trying to recruit talents like Terrell and Danny. Coaches are chasing them into their locker rooms, agents are taking them to fine restaurants, and boosters are escorting them to the wildest parties around. This process may seem like fun, but college basketball recruiting is a sly business. The NCAA has a very strict set of rules, mainly consisting of rules that state players can not make any money or else they lose their amuteur status. Many smaller profile colleges that recruit top players use boosters, people who bribe players with money to come to their schools, which is completely violating the NCAA recruiting rules. This makes a difficult choice for Terrell, who is not extremely wealthy. Option one, follow the rules and go to the NBA later and then make money. Option two, break the rules, accept money in college, become rich, take care of loved ones, go to the NBA, become even more rich, and pray for dear life that you are not caught. Terrell doesn’t want to break the rules, but he is nervous about all the possibilities. What if Terrell has injuries in college and can’t play in the NBA? What if Terrell doesn’t perform in college and is not good enough to play in the NBA? Both are big issues that leave Terrell poor and looking for a new career. In addition, Terrell wants to attend a school that offers a prestigious education and an elite basketball program. This book presents many decisions to be made and will leave readers waiting to see what he decides to do.
Foul Trouble is for anyone who has ever wondered what it would be like to be a top division one college sports prospect. This book leads readers in many different directions as they will have different opinions on Terrell’s choices. Some readers may pick the sneaky earn-riches-quickly path, while others will pick the honest regular college kids life path. This leads to excellent debates and discussions about which path is right, making it a superb group read. The book features lots of sarcastic humor which makes it an enjoyable read. The characters are well developed and the ending left my jaw dropping in astonishment. In fact,I would say it has the best ending out of any book I have read. This book’s ending teaches us to expect the unexpected and never take anything out of possibility.
This very well happens to others all over the world. Maybe it's not in the form of basketball,but we as people experience this everyday. Everyday life lessons and everyday life decisions. In my personal experience this has happen to me when I was uncertain on what high school to go too. It was either stay at your school high school with all your friends and just stay in the comfort zone. Or explore your options,meet new people,get out of that comfort zone and just experience new ways. In fact, I wasn’t even sure about going to a big school coming from a little school would actually work for me,but it did. Moreover,those so called “friends” I thought I was staying at that school for won’t even speak to me anymore. “You’re fake because you left.” No, you clearly weren’t my real friends if you didn’t want me to succeed mad do what’s right for me. It’s not just me or you, we’re not alone-it’s everyone. Especially in today’s society many people are pressured on what college to go to or if they even want to go to college. For example, if your mother and father both went to Harvard but you strongly feel passionate into going to Michigan State. They are pressuring you to live up to their expectations and not fulfill your wants. Furthermore, if every last single male in your family has became a lawyer and you want to become an entrepreneur;they force you and tell you what’s right for the family, and tell you you can’t be that. But you can honestly it what you want to live your life as and who you want to become in the future. But everyday decisions are being made in our world,so are you going to make the right one or the “wrong” one.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars Rounded up

I would never, in any of my wanderings or libraries or bookly temptations read a book about sports. It’s really REALLY not my thing. I don’t like sports. Sure, I went to football games in high school and college, and I enjoy sports that are maybe not conventionally considered “sports” when someone says, “I’m going to watch a sport.” I like horse sports. I like dance sports. I would be hard pressed to be convinced to watch baseball or basketball or something like that. I live in a college town with some die-hard football fans and yet I really don’t care. I’m lame, I know. You’re probably like, “Well, then, why the heck did you read a book about sports by a famed sportswriter?” Well, let me tell you.

I love my book club. There are a group of ladies in my neighborhood of varying ages (I believe I’m the youngest right now). We’ve been holding book club for 15 years. People have moved out and yet they still come to our book club. We vary in numbers and recently we’ve had to do some zoom meetings, but we have been together for a lot of different things and I really love my book club ladies. When they choose a book, I read it. I want to be part of the discussion (although we’re welcome to come and visit and eat treats even if we couldn’t read the book for whatever reason) and I like to show the people who pick the pick that I try to be a good member and read the book. An older lady in our book club (late seventies) told us all to pick a book by this author, who is a famous sportswriter. I chose one that was readily available and seemed like a read I could do without too much time or effort. Others who read also read fiction books of Feinstein’s, although I believe that he is well-known for his nonfiction books.

So here’s what I thought—the story was compelling enough. I knew high school athletes who are promising are practically promised the earth when it comes to colleges, but this book just confirmed what I had suspected. It was interesting to learn about the different deals and offers that would go down for a promising athlete. This doesn’t surprise me at all, but I do find it rather annoying because there are things in the world other than sports, and people in the world who care about and do things other than sports, and yet here we are. The money, the effort, the time…it goes to the sports players. I have many thoughts about what this says to us as a society, but since this is a relatively tame book about basketball that is written for teenagers, I’ll spare us all that diatribe.

The writing wasn’t impeccable, sometimes bordering on cheesy, and I feel like the characters were very stereotypical, but the thing that I really loved about this book is that I think that it would get a certain type of reader reading that might not otherwise pick up a book. I know teenage boys aren’t necessarily known as the group who reads a lot, but I think that a boy who likes sports but doesn’t want to read about the normal fiction stuff going around these days might really like this book, and the others Feinstein has written as well. I’m all about books that get people reading, even if its not my cup of tea. That’s okay. We don’t have to all like the same thing (and wouldn’t that be so boring, anyway)?

I am giving this book a good rating because I really think that there is a certain audience who would like this a lot. Just because it isn’t my thing doesn’t mean it isn’t someone else’s, and for that I’m giving a higher rating than I might give it if I were recommending it to myself.

Read my full review here: https://www.readingforsanity.com/2022...

[Miles · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book Review: Foul Trouble
Ain’t Nobody Prayin’ for Me
In life, you must figuratively, pass the ball to the right people. As the point-guard in the game of basketball, you own the court and direct your team every step of the way. Like the captain of a ship, the crew depends on you to lead them to safety. In the book, Foul Trouble, Danny Wilcox plays the best friend of Terrell Jamerson, the number one player in the country. The role the two play in each other's lives is like that of the sun and the moon. Both Danny and Terrell spend most of their everyday lives with each other.
Danny is the point-guard on the team that Terrell and himself are on. Therefore, Terrell relies on Danny for the assist and the open passes when they are on the court. However, the same relationship applies on and off the court. Because Danny's father is their coach, the relationship of Terrell and Danny is like that of brothers or cousins. Coach Wilcox treats Terrell like his nephew and offers guidance to him through all the issues. After the numerous years, Terrell and Danny played together, the bond the two built became nearly unbreakable.
The bond stayed just as strong even when Terrell, Danny, and Coach Wilcox went to the recruitment camp in New Jersey. In New Jersey, Terrell was the topic of every conversation, on every television, and in the brain of every greedy scout. At camp, Danny and Coach Wilcox proved their loyalty to Terrell by staying by his side every step of the way. However, the negative influences like Terrell's posse "The Dudes" or sneaky agents still managed to break through during his time at camp. The problems began once Terrell started realizing how important he was to the coaches, agents, and scouts. Danny even tried to navigate Terrell away from the forbidden fruits, but it was difficult when there was so much of it.
The rest of the book continues to highlight the conflicts that one encounters when one is in the spotlight. Terrell competes against the best of the best and is compared to the best of the best. Game after game, Danny, and his best friend fight the media and try to get to their dreams without losing their minds. The story continues the repetitive cycle that Danny and Terrell are in at camp. That is where the theme of the book lies. There are several themes found in the book, Foul Trouble, but the most common theme can be summed up in a quote by Henry David Thoreau. "The language of friendship is not words but meanings."
Towards the end of the story, Terrell began to learn that his real friends weren't the ones that were saying they were there for him, but his real friends were the ones acting like real friends. I could relate to Terrell and Danny because in this generation it's incredibly easy to be dishonest. Technology aides people in creating false appearances, going behind each other's back, and lying. However, disloyalty isn't a new concept. Disloyalty has started many of the earliest wars on Earth. Regardless, the book does a decent job at conveying the importance of being around the right people. Everyone has been in a situation much like Terrell and Danny, and it's not always easy to know who has your back. However, it's important to find those friends like Danny and to remember the great words of Muhammad Ali, "The more real you get, the more unreal the world is gonna get."