Chương 13: Chapter 11 There Will Never Be Another Day Like This
Quentin DiMio, intent on mentoring his underclassmen and solidifying his own legendary status at Kent Meridian, returned to his hometown. When he met Yu Fei, he could hardly believe that such a shoddy school like KM could attract a student who appeared to have such extraordinary static talent.
However, basketball isn't a game you can play well just by having height and long arms.
DiMio still believed that his own skills were sufficient to coach Yu Fei.
Yu Fei did not give his senior face, and the one-on-one game concluded with a score of 11 to 0.
DiMio was completely suffocated under Yu Fei's defense and couldn't find any opportunity to score.
It was during the one-on-one with Yu Fei that DiMio discovered a terrifying talent of his: the lateral speed that could actually keep up with himself.
It should be known that DiMio was only six feet tall. Although not absolutely fast, he was not someone that ordinary big men could keep up with.
If Yu Fei could keep up with him, he could keep up with anyone.
DiMio's mind went blank, unable to believe that Kent Meridian had recruited a player with top-notch static and dynamic talent.
"What grade are you in this year?" DiMio thought Yu Fei was a lowerclassman.
That was normal; East Asians with their youthful appearance all looked like kids to Caucasians.
"I'll be a senior soon," said Yu Fei.
DiMio, shocked, turned to Sylvan. He wanted to know why Sylvan had only now told him about such a figure at Kent Meridian.
Unexpectedly, Sylvan also had a look of helplessness because explaining this matter would take a long time.
DiMio had seen the world; he knew that Yu Fei's talent was sufficient to knock on the doors of the NBA.
Therefore, when Sylvan asked him to become Yu Fei's shooting coach, he agreed.
This was not out of kindness; both DiMio and Sylvan didn't want to continue wasting their lives on a sinking basketball platform.
If Yu Fei eventually made it into the NBA, having been Yu Fei's shooting coach would be an indelible mark on DiMio's resume.
With DiMio joining, the overhaul plan for Yu Fei's shooting technique entered a new phase.
DiMio put forth the term "shooting mechanics."
The so-called shooting mechanics can be understood as the complete set of movements from lifting the ball from the chest to above the head, and the basic principle that underpins these mechanics – the power generation of shooting – is whether the foot corresponding to the shooting hand exerts force during the shot, thereby creating the timing for the shot.
Yu Fei's dominant hand was naturally his right, so mastering the timing of power generation from the bottom of his right foot (for jumping) when shooting was the key.
Yu Fei started to constantly adjust his shooting technique.
Moreover, he had a special request.
The new shooting technique should not only serve for catch-and-shoot situations, but when he decided to increase his scoring threat in the future – for instance, when he wanted to pull up for a jump shot after a dribble – the existing shooting mechanics should be compatible with the mechanics required for dribble-pull-up shots.
Since the rhythms of catch-and-shooting and dribble-shooting are completely different, finding a shooting technique that suits both rhythms was no easy task.
Yu Fei and DiMio spent three days to adjust and find the most suitable posture.
From then on, Yu Fei's summer training officially began.
Shooting training became the top priority, followed by post moves training, and only then came the physical conditioning.
Coach Anxi once set a 7-day, 20,000-ball plan for Sakuragi to quickly master the mid-range shot, which worked out to more than 2,800 balls a day on average.
Yu Fei wasn't that crazy, but his regimen was still intense.
Starting on July 20, Yu Fei performed 600 mid to long-range shooting exercises every day (counted whether the shots went in or not), combined with basic post moves training and physical conditioning, he spent the most exhausting summer vacation of his life.
In early September, the new school year began, and Yu Fei officially became a senior.
During the summer, Yu Fei tanned quite a bit, but his improvements were significant.
"Ah Fei, did you buy the last issue of 'Sports Illustrated'?" Lin Kaiwen asked while taking out the latest issue of the magazine.
Yu Fei said with a faint smile, "I've been quite busy recently..."
"You have to see it; 'Sports Illustrated' ranked you in the top 50 in the nation!" Lin Kaiwen said, "Moreover, they said that if it weren't for you playing too few games in the last few months, there were even people who wanted to rank you in the top 30 nationwide!"
Yu Fei was only concerned about one thing, "Who's number one in the nation?"
"Eddie Curry!"
Eddie Curry? Yu Fei had heard this name more than once.
Forgive his ignorance, but among the people he knew, the NBA players named Curry were only the Golden State Dunk King and his brother.
This Eddie Curry was a complete stranger to him.
That wasn't surprising, as there have been plenty of overshadowed number ones in America.
Yu Fei went to class as before.
But when classes ended, more and more people actively sought to chat with him, wanting to get close to him.
Moreover, half of the population here were girls.
Given the overall attractiveness of the girls at K-M, it would be difficult for Yu Fei to find a date before he graduated. To avoid annoying flirtations, he would head to the basketball court whenever he had time.
Like previous years, the Royal Team welcomed some fresh blood this year, but they were all of average talent.
Even with someone like Yu Fei, no one would come study at this "mountain prison" for his sake.
However, Selvan never really counted on the freshmen to strengthen the team's power anyway.
You could say that all their hopes rested on Yu Fei.
Apart from the freshmen, the coaching staff of the Royal Team also welcomed a new face.
That was Quentin DiMio, who had spent the summer helping Yu Fei train.
DiMio had quit his college job and returned to his high school alma mater to become a humble assistant coach—not to succeed Selvan.
In a way, DiMio had become Yu Fei's personal coach.
He just needed a legitimate role to participate in the Royal Team's daily training.
At the same time, DiMio also became an important consultant for Yu Fei's mother.
In terms of choosing schools, DiMio made a bolder hypothesis to Yu Fei's mother, "Madam, don't rush to choose a college. If Fei is outstanding enough, maybe he can skip college and go straight to the NBA."
This prospect was so dreamy that Yu Fenglin had already imagined how much her life would change when that day arrived.
Would that day really come?
The ancients said that a mother's status is elevated by her son's success. Would she also have such a day?
She didn't know, she could only wait.
The first training of the new season for the Kent Meridian High School Royal Team started in a cheerful atmosphere.
Selvan had everyone share their goals for the new season. When it was Anthony Lawson's turn, he hesitated, "Getting into the elimination round of the state championship?"
"Big Tony, we have Big Fei, who's among the top 40 high school players nationwide. Just getting into the state championship elimination round is enough?" a veteran of the same grade teased Lawson.
Lawson's nostrils flared, a result of a sharp intake of breath, "Well then, what would be a good enough result?"
"No, you're the captain, you tell us."
Cornered, Lawson stomped his foot and shouted a grand aspiration that past captains of the Royal Team dared not wish for, "We're going for the champion of Washington State!"
"Hmm, hmm..." Yu Fei nodded, "I'd have more confidence if you could talk with less sniffling."
Half a month later, the Royal Team faced the Kent School District's preliminary matches.
Because the Kent School District was weaker in basketball and lacked the atmosphere, it didn't have the qualifications to participate directly in the city championship. Only two of the four 4A high schools would get a spot in the new season's city championship.
Last year, the Royal Team had started with two consecutive defeats, losing the qualification for the city championship, and then lost to Burton High School, another underperforming team, in the third- and fourth-place ranking match, ending up in fourth place with ignominy.
The Royal Team's first match in the preliminaries was against Kentwood High School, who had been the dominant force in the Kent School District for the past five years. The reasons were simple: compared to K-M, which was built on a mountain like a prison, they were in a better location, had better student sources, and received decent players every year who were game-ready.
And even though K-M had Yu Fei, one of the top 40 high school players in the nation, Kentwood High School wouldn't just roll over.
"As soon as that Chinese guy gets the ball, the two closest players to him should double team immediately! Just handle him, and the others will be easy to deal with!" the coach of Kentwood High School made such a deployment.
Unfortunately for them, Yu Fei was not the type of inside player they imagined who only knew how to drive to the basket.
The double-teaming tactic of Kentwood High School was completely shattered by Yu Fei's passing.
From the moment Kentwood High School's core strategy failed, every method they used against Yu Fei became ineffective.
No matter what kind of player matched up against him, Yu Fei had a solution.
Even if they risked setting up a fake zone defense, it was no use; Yu Fei took the opportunity to test the results of his 600 shots a day during the summer.
In this game, Yu Fei didn't actively go inside. All of his points in the paint came from fast-breaks. Instead, he made 14 shots from the outside. Because he was on fire, he made 8 of them, scoring a wild 45 points, grabbing 20 rebounds, dishing out 13 assists, and blocking 9 shots by the end of the game.
Kent Meridian High School won against Kentwood High School with a 46-point lead, opening a new chapter in the history of high school basketball competition in Kent School District.
At the end of the game, the coach of Kentwood High School was grinding his teeth in frustration at having a player like Yu Fei on the Royal Team.
Why? How could this last-place junk of a team from last year become so strong just because it added a top high school player?
Hank Sylvan jogged over to his old rival with a big, cheeky grin on his face. Seeing his expression as if he had been screwed over by fate, he felt an immense satisfaction.
It was the best day of the year...
"You know, if Frye were on our team, he would go even further," the head coach of Kentwood High School said sorely.
Hearing this, Sylvan climaxed in his mind for a few seconds before losing himself in pride, "No, even on our team, he would be enough to win the champion of Washington State. We at Kent Meridian High School will become the first team in the Kent School District to win the state championship!"
The other coach's face, full of jealousy and undeniable envy, gave Sylvan the greatest satisfaction of his life. This wasn't just the best day of the year; it was the best day of his life.
Such a day would never come again.
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