Chapter 10: 1. AUDITION(10)
"Screen!"
"Dang it!"
Up to now, I could understand the game well.
As the game slowed down a bit, I focused mainly on role-playing. That meant that I focused less on possessing the ball, but more so on creating screens and finding open areas on the court.
As a result, Dwayne and Clarence were able to play aggressively with more comfort.
Because Mater Dei's backcourt was much stronger than West Chester's backcourt, we were able to snowball our advantage as the game went on.
"THREEEEEE"
Clarence's shooting range was really amazing.
The 3-point line for amateur basketball was shorter than the NBA. However, Clarence was shooting a few feet behind where the NBA 3-point line was.
Just as he was showcasing during practice, he was making 3 points like it was nothing.
*FWEEEEEEEEE*
"Time out! West Chester!"
It's only been 4 minutes since the beginning of the second half, but the scoreboard went to 12 : 3.
We got one shot after another and we were able to contest all of their offensive plays. Although McKie was able to break through my defense, Denzel and Montrell were very good at playing help-side defense.
"(Nice! Good plays! Especially defense.)"
Another thing that I really liked was the fact that Mater Dei players were treating me as a fellow teammate. Of course, David and Dwayne had a big influence on this.
However, as a whole, Mater Dei players were very social people.
Even Dennis, who was quite unfriendly, now gave me great advice and tips.
"It's time to take a quick break."
"…"
As I heard David, I nodded my head.
Although I was disappointed, this was an important day for other players as well. As I stepped off the court, I was being replaced by Jay Simmons.
He was getting just as much attention as me from Stanley. We were both 6'7", but he was much faster and more athletic than I was.
You can't do anything about genetics, but sometimes I felt like it was a bit unfair.
"(That was very impressive.)"
"Hmm?"
It was Stanley.
"(Your ability to adapt for the team, focusing on defense. You are proving to be a high-leveled player.)"
"He's asking if this is always your playstyle?"
As he always did, he wanted me to answer the question directly. Although he knew everything about me, the officials from America liked to hear from the players first-hand.
That's because they can judge a player through their personal opinion and voice.
"I usually play as the leader more."
"(Did you change your playstyle to adapt to the team?)"
"…"
It's not necessarily true to say I was changing myself.
So, I told him that because of my poor results from the workouts in L.A and the advice I received from Dwayne, I decided to approach it differently.
"(I like it. You're very honest.)"
Stanley nodded his head in approval and walked away as he put his phone to his ear.
"Hmm... it seems like we have to start the enrollment process for WSU?"
"Really?"
"After hearing your answer, he made a phone call. He's probably calling the school."
"…"
David was right.
As I was resting on the bench, Stanley came to me and told me about a few documents I will need and walked to the parking lot with David.
Unlike the difficult times that I had to go through to get here, the final decision was made with such ease. I began to feel myself shiver and I felt like I was losing all my strength.
"Kim!"
"Yes!"
Dwayne decided to put me back on the court with around 8 minutes left to the game.
As I replaced Clarence, the only guard was Dennis, there were 3 forwards and one center, which was a strange lineup.
*FWEEEEEEE*
As we swapped out players, West Chester also swapped out an intimidatingly fast player.
They took out their starting forward and put in a shorter guy along with Ronnie Brown, who was also playing a bit earlier.
We have an unsettled business.
"Screen!"
"Switch! Switch! I got him!"
As the play unfolded, West Chester made a screen play in the outer court.
As they called this play, the numbers were naturally mismatched and, as the switch happened, I was matched with Ronnie Brown.
"Hahahahahah"
"(Why are you laughing?)"
As if he wanted to face me 1:1, Ronnie put the ball in his hips and pointed toward his teammates.
He was asking me why I was laughing.
"It's fun. It's this easy."
"(What?)"
"This is a 5:5 game, asshole. It's extremely different from a 1:1."
Mater Dei, who played at a national level and West Chester, who was outside of the top 100, played at a different level from each other. While I was sitting on the bench, I noticed Ronnie Brown's level of play was extremely limited.
Although I fall far behind him when it comes to 1:1, basketball is not a solo game.
"(Mater Dei is a mess. Putting an Asian like you on the team.)"
"…"
"(I'm gonna teach you a lesson right now. Are you ready? Ugly. Mother fucking. Nerd.)"
Whatever Ronnie said did not matter to me.
I was 45 degrees from the post, while West Chester players were stuck in isolation on the other side of the court. So, I decided to keep the left side open purposely.
Usually, in isolation situations, the court balance is ignored except for the defense. Teams would intentionally switch the help-side to the area where the stronger players are at.
The best point of defense for the current lineup was the inside, so I was going to bait Ronnie Brown closer to the hoop.
"(I told you before. Too slow, too easy. You're still way too slow.)"
Even as we are in tight positions making pivots, he did not stop talking.
"(So, am I going this way?! Haha. Nope. That's too easy. Then it won't be fun.)"
"…"
If I could, I would sew this kid's mouth shut.
Ronnie used his upper body to create space between us as he dribbled the ball with his left hand, he put his left foot forward and seemed to decide which way he wanted to go. However, he swiftly switched his direction and dribbled the ball in the opposite direction, supporting himself with his left foot and darting to the right.
Ronnie's face was full of confidence as he ran past me.
"OHHHHHHHHHHH!"
But his confidence didn't last for long.
He failed to realize why I left that side open, where Denzel was immediately there to block his way.
West Chester's number 55 decided to rush toward the goalpost as he was momentarily open and, if you had some common sense, you'd pass the ball to him. But I knew Ronnie wasn't going to do that.
This rude and arrogant kid is going to try to win through a 1:1 again. Whether American or Korean, players who are cocky always play with a similar style.
My judgment was right.
"Fuck!"
Ronnie seemed to be flustered while he positioned himself for a floater shot.
However, as he was flustered, I was able to close our gap and snatch the ball away from him from behind.
As the players of Mater Dei stood from the bench to cheer me on, Ronnie looked toward the ground and started cussing it out.
"I think I'm gonna need my watch back."
"(What?)"
"I said I want to take my watch back! You asshole!"
"…"
It's important to be a strong player, but basketball was a 5:5 game.
Identifying the importance of this fact was one of my strongest points. Slowly but surely, I began to realize what sort of playstyle I will need in this place.
My father has always said that I was cleverer compared to my peers. Whenever we watched an NBA or KBL game together, he would always ask me questions like this. What would you do in this situation? What sort of choices would you make in that situation?
Sometimes it would be bothersome, but I'm sure I still ask myself these questions.
Constantly thinking, constantly moving in a way that changes gears for the team.
"(Good! It's empty!)"
"…"
As I aggressively moved through a screen to the wing position, I caught a pass and immediately positioned myself to shoot the ball.
It was a really good screen. Denzel was able to completely block them off.
To create such a perfect play in basketball is impossible to do on your own.
*SWOOSH*
"THREEEEEEEEEE"
As I saw the Mater Dei players waving their towels in the air, I was able to finally crack a smile.
+++++++++++++++++
1ST HALF END
Mater Dei HS 42 VS 19 West Chester HS
Minhyuk Kim: 6 points (2/4 FG, 2/3 PG) 1 REB 2 BLK 9 MIN
(FG: Overall Field Goal (2pts+3pts))
(3PG: 3PTS)
(REB: Rebound/BLK: Block/ MIN: Minutes)
+++++++++++++++++++++
"You can take a break for now."
"Huh? Already?"
"That's right. Stanley decided to scout you. That's one burden off our shoulders."
"…"
What a bummer. I wanted to keep playing. I've never felt this good before.
I'm sure after today's game I'll be able to mature more. You can count on it. What I learned in just one game here is more than what I've learned for an entire year in Korea.
However, David said I'm going to watch the rest of the game from the bench. He was told it's time to focus on the seniors and help them get recruited. It was disappointing, but I had to yield.
"Dang. I need to get my watch back."
"Huh?"
"Oh, it's nothing."
Is it because they knew I wasn't going to play anymore?
Dennis, Denzel and players like Clarence put their fists out as they passed by to say it was a good game. David said they were going to be resting too. After hearing this, I felt a little better.
'That's right. I am a year older than these guys.'
At the blink of an eye, I started to feel a little bad again.
If you think about it, I should be a freshman in college right now. Even if Jay was scouted with me to WSU, I would be meeting him next year. Therefore, I started to feel a bit comfortable.
"You don't seem to be very happy?"
"Eh, there's no reason to be happy. I'm just at the level of high schoolers here."
"But you're still one step forward. That's what's important."
"…"
That's right. That's the most important thing.
It was just the other day that I felt like I couldn't even stand here, but today I am barely able to stand on my own. I wonder how much more effort I need to put just to take a step forward.
'It's time to go back for now.'
Although I played a short but difficult game today, I had an aftertaste of disappointment.
As the half-time began, Mater Dei's audience started to look at me as a foreigner. No wonder I felt a bit of loneliness and sadness.
+++++++++++++++++++
['Genius' Kim Min Hyuk, NCAA's advancer. - OSEN]
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