by Nigel Pala

English teacher Mr. Jago has decided to put the chalk down and take a huge step towards chasing his dreams. He intends to declare his eligibility to play professional basketball in the NBA.

At an impressive 4’10”, Mr. Jago is poised to become the shortest person in the NBA. “I looked up to guys like Muggsy Bogues and Spud Webb growing up, but looking back, I’ve realised that, while I am much shorter, I am much better. Those old dudes wouldn’t stand a chance against me now,” Mr. Jago said.

Jago has been playing basketball all his life. While a student at Colonia High School, he was known as the “Gym Class Hero,” and he has been making a name for himself ever since.

His rec league coach said, “Little Mikey was always above and beyond his opponents. Maybe not above–he lacked height. He was a pleasure to coach and one of the best players to pass through the recreational basketball league here in Woodbridge.”

Mr. Jago put his dream of playing professional basketball on the back burner because he honestly believed it would be unfair to the less talented players in the NBA if he competed.

“Me and Kyrie Irving are about the same age. He was coming up while I was at the top of the high school game. I sat at home watching him hit the game winning shot in the finals in disgust. This motivated me to leave my teaching job and entering the draft. I hope I can let my students know that the athletes they admire are not on the Jago level,” he said.

Despite never even stepping onto an NBA court, Mr. Jago is already making waves with the critics. In a gym full of NBA scouts at the WHS Student vs. Faculty game, Mr. Jago scored a whopping two points in the staff’s victory, leaving scouts in awe of his raw talent while climbing up many franchises’ draft boards.

Recently, an unidentified NBA general manager shared that Mr. Jago has knocked his interviews out of the park and teams are ready to battle for him in the draft. Sadly, some concerns for teams are his age and the amount of time he took off.

Shrugging off the doubters, Mr. Jago confidently said, “They will always doubt greatness, but two points in the Student vs. Faculty game is a way of blocking the noise, and I will take the NBA by storm. Count on it.”

Mr. Jago will continue making strides toward preparing for draft day. He looks to show WHS and the NBA that “good things come in small packages.”