for his eighth birthday, stevens received a new basketball hoop. "it’s so much fun to dream in your driveway," he later remarked. "that’s where my friends and i hung out. it was a lot of fun to grow up in that era." when a friend, brandon monk, had a basketball court installed in his back yard, stevens "appeared instantaneously." he was so dedicated to the game that he would bring the unprepared ingredients for grilled cheese sandwiches to monk's house so that he would not waste time waiting for the sandwiches to cook.