Dream Chasing Warriors vs. Black Storm.
This matchup attracted the attention of multiple media outlets, NCAA Scouts, and even NBA Scouts.
Lamine Kook, currently ranked second in the training camp, had been holding a grudge, determined to reclaim the top spot.
The moment he stepped onto the court, his gaze locked onto Link, the biggest dark horse of the training camp.
He intended to use his performance today to tell the media and Scouts watching that he would put an end to this kid's "crazy show."
Lamine Kook, standing 198cm tall, weighing 93kg, with a wingspan of 211cm, played as the team's Small Forward. His four teammates, who also started, were only four-star high school students, yet they had been "undefeated" in the past few days.
"Josh, don't be afraid of him!"
"I'll help you double-team him."
Before the game started, Link comforted a nervous Josh Smith.
"Mm." Josh Smith nodded.
After the Black Storm's Guard dribbled past half-court, he passed the ball to Lamine Kook at the top of the arc. Seeing that the opponent intentionally gave him a step, "Swish!" Lamine Kook directly shot a Three-Point Shot.
"Swish!" The Three-Point Shot went in clean.
"Hey, kid, do you think I can't shoot? Haha." After scoring, Lamine Kook grinned and trash-talked Josh Smith.
"Chris! Quick! Quick..." Link ignored the arrogant Lamine Kook and urged Bosh to inbound the ball.
Link, who received the inbound Pass, quickly advanced with the ball. The opposing Guard was 180cm tall and weighed 69kg.
Link, who had now grown to 192cm, was completely bullying a child when facing him. After reaching the right-wing elbow of the Three-Point Line, he paused as if observing for a Pass, but the next moment, he lowered his Center of gravity and drove hard from the right. "Bang!" The moment of body contact, the opposing Point Guard was pushed aside.
Immediately after, he charged towards the basket. He keenly observed Lamine Kook coming from the wing for help defense, but he didn't pass the ball immediately. Waiting until Lamine Kook bent his knees, gathering strength to jump for a block, Link suddenly made a Bounce Pass to Josh Smith, who was following behind. "Bang!" The next moment, Josh Smith leaped up and completed a dunk over Lamine Kook's back.
"Roar!"
Josh Smith, hanging on the rim, let out a roar.
Lamine Kook, who had been dunked on, glared fiercely at Link.
Link, unfazed, spread his hands.
...
...
Compared to when he first entered the training camp, Link had not only visibly improved in multiple attributes but also in many technical details.
Such as: ball protection, reading the opponent's defensive positioning, and dribbling rhythm.
After a pick-and-roll, Link got a mismatch with the opposing Center. He first dribbled a step to the left, faking a shift in the Center's weight, then "Thump!" a crossover dribble, the basketball slapped to his right hand. But at this point, the opposing Center hadn't completely lost his defensive position. Link paused, and the opponent also stopped. Suddenly, Link powerfully pounded the ball, lowered his Center of gravity, and burst out, his ball-protecting hand swinging slightly to block the opponent's outstretched arm.
"Swish!" Link once again got past the opposing Center. While driving to the basket, he glanced at Lamine Kook, who was facing him and had his back to Josh Smith. The latter thought Link was going for an alley-oop. As Lamine Kook turned his head, Link suddenly made an underhand layup. "Swish!" The basketball hit nothing but net.
"Shit, damn it!" Lamine Kook, once again deceived by Link's eyes, couldn't help but curse.
32 to 27, with this basket, the Dream Chasing Warriors' lead extended to 5 points.
"What a clever guy!" UCLA's Head Coach Steve Lavin laughed.
"Yes, Mr. Steve, Link... although he isn't fast and doesn't jump high, his Ball Handling is solid, and his rhythm and details surpass his peers. It feels like a player who has played professional leagues," said John, a Scout for UCLA.
Steve Lavin is the Head Coach of UCLA, and he specifically came to the training camp to observe Link.
"Indeed... on the contrary, the renowned Lamine Kook seems like a rookie in front of Link," Steve Lavin nodded.
The Black Storm team attacked, and the basketball was once again passed to Lamine Kook. Josh Smith, guarding him one-on-one, was beaten by Lamine Kook's change of direction by half a step. Just as Lamine Kook was about to drive hard, Link's double-team arrived in time.
"Slap!" A long arm shot out, and a big hand directly stripped the basketball away. Another Steal.
Including this one, Link had contributed 3 Steals in the first half, two of which were against Lamine Kook.
"OMG!"
"Link, his arms are like demonic claws."
"Always able to deliver a fatal blow to the opponent."
The live DJ couldn't help but exclaim.
Hmm...
For this highly anticipated game, the training camp specially arranged a live DJ.
First half ends!
42 to 31, the Dream Chasing Warriors defeated the Black Storm team by 11 points.
The Dream Chasing Warriors consistently controlled the pace of the game. Lamine Kook, who held the title of the former number one high school student in the nation, scored 13 points and contributed some exciting plays, such as a pull-up Three-Point Shot, driving to the basket for a dunk after beating Josh Smith's defense before Link's double-team could form, and an and-one while driving against Link's help defense on a fast break.
But in reality, Lamine Kook's shooting percentage in the first half was very low, just over 30%.
What was even worse was that as Link became familiar with Lamine Kook's game rhythm, the double-teams became more timely and more impactful, and his shooting percentage continued to drop.
In contrast, Link gave off a feeling of effortless game control.
In the second half of the game, Link, whose Stamina wasn't particularly good, only took the court after five minutes into the second half.
When he came on, the opponent had already cut the lead to 7 points.
But in the very first offensive possession after he came on, Lamine Kook suddenly stepped up to switch defense on him.
"Kid, if you have the guts, score against my defense!"
"Be a man, don't pass the ball, go at it alone!"
Lamine Kook constantly trash-talked and provoked Link.
This was also the Black Storm team's game plan for the second half: simply to enrage Link and make him lose his calm judgment during the game.
There was no other way; Link's Court Control made the Black Storm team too uncomfortable.
"Childish!" Link said disdainfully. Suddenly, he powerfully pounded the ball, but he didn't drive. Instead, he quickly gathered the ball, seemingly about to lob it to Josh Smith, who had already created a significant mismatch with the opposing Point Guard, cutting to the basket!!!
Lamine Kook hurriedly leaped up to block, but the next moment, Link's wrist suddenly flicked, like skipping a stone. "Thump!" a Bounce Pass, the basketball bounced between Lamine Kook's legs and into Josh Smith's hands.
The latter, after receiving the ball, immediately turned and went up strong, completing a dunk.
And the sound of "Wow!" "Wow!" "Wow!" echoed through the arena.
"OMG!"
"What did this Magic Johnson from China just do to Lamine Kook?"
"An incredible Between-the-legs Pass, making a fool of the defense."
The live DJ exclaimed.
...
...
"This kid has a lot of guts, daring to make a Pass like that!" said UCLA Head Coach Steve Lavin.
"No, no, Mr. Steve... Link actually often performs between-the-legs passes in games," said Scout John, his face full of excitement.