Beyond the Arc: A Novel

From the bestselling author of Shoot Your Shot, a captivating underdog story about a young athlete's unlikely journey to the highest level of professional basketball, and the important life lessons he learns along the way.

Fast-paced, richly detailed, and highly engaging, Beyond the Arc is "an enjoyable basketball book even for those who aren't hoops aficionados." (Kirkus Reviews)

Twenty-one-year-old DJ Joyner has always aspired to play in the National Basketball Association. But even after having a standout college basketball career, the six-foot-one point guard goes unselected in the NBA Draft. Unwilling to give up on his lifelong dream of making it to “the League,” a week after the draft, DJ heads to Las Vegas to compete in the NBA’s Summer League showcase for the chance to earn his way onto a team’s roster.

While in Las Vegas, DJ is approached by a mysterious man named Marion Lake—a low-profile, referral-only player development coach. Marion explains that he has been hired by an anonymous sponsor to train DJ, and that he’s legally obligated to do so until the point guard signs an NBA contract. Though skeptical at first, DJ eventually accepts Marion’s offer.

Now, with the help 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.