Four French teenagers are in Central Florida for a school basketball program while dealing with the emotions of the attacks in their home country.
Alpha Cisse and three fellow French nationals are focusing on bouncing back after news of the Paris attacks.
"It feels like, scary, a little bit, because I have all of my family living in fear in Paris. And from here, I'm already in shock and upset.” said Alpha Cisse, whose entire family lives in Paris.
"I feel sad to be here to play basketball, to progress for my future.” said Ismail Soussi who lives several hours from Paris.
"I'm very upset and shocked.” said Thibault Binabeaieg, who comes from a town in east France.
"When I first heard about the disaster in France, I wanted to go to France, But what can I do? Nothing," said Benjamin Ouiege, also from France.
All four teens are in Daytona Beach as part of a program that helps potential college basketball players improve their skills, making them better college prospects.
The program is sponsored by DME sports.
Coach Damen Stevenson says these teens have the potential to score a university scholarship.
He says since the attacks, he and the other students have been helping to keep their minds focused on the game.
"You do see a change in their body language, in their day-to-day, and it's just a concern," Stevenson said. "It's not a a negative thing on our end, from a development prospective. It's more of a 'hey, what can we do to keep you busy and keep you on task?' "
But both the coaches and the players see a transformation once they set foot on the court.
“When I put my step on the court, it's different, you know? I'm only focused on basketball.” said Cisse.
That distraction seems to be paying off.
The boys are turning grief into potential, scoring well with coaches, and maybe someday, scoring back home.
"I think all of these kids have professional value, especially in their home country, which is where a lot of them wanna play.” Stevenson said.