Beyond the Arc: A Novel

One assist can change the game. Twenty-one-year-old DJ Joyner has spent his life dreaming of playing in the National Basketball Association. But when the six-foot-one point guard goes unselected in the NBA Draft despite a standout college career, his hopes are left hanging by a thread. Unwilling to give up, DJ heads to Las Vegas to compete in the NBA Summer League–a high-stakes, make-or-break opportunity to earn his way onto a team’s roster. While in Vegas, DJ is approached by a mysterious man named Marion Lake, a referral-only player development coach. Nicknamed “The Invisible Hand” for his ability to impact a player’s career, Marion reveals that he has been hired by an anonymous sponsor to train DJ until the young point guard signs an NBA contract. Though initially skeptical, DJ accepts Marion’s help. Now, under the tutelage of basketball’s best-kept secret, DJ attempts to not only make the improbable leap to the NBA as an undrafted rookie, but seeks to leave his mark on the court if and when his name finally gets called. However, what starts out as a quest to realize a childhood dream soon evolves into a journey of self-discovery that transcends the game of basketball, setting the stage for the most challenging–and transformative–season of DJ’s life. Fast-paced and vividly detailed, Beyond the Arc is an unforgettable underdog story about toughness, resilience, and the relentless pursuit of a dream.