Chapter 267: A Great Young Man
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
The name of Alan Hampton was nothing new for the people. As the basketball and football champion of Virginia, Alan had been a star player in his high school years, so he deserved to be known by the public.
Actually, people were more impressed by his achievements in football. After all, the national sport of the United States was not basketball but football. The notoriety brought forth by football was much bigger than that of basketball. Moreover, Alan was regarded as the best quarterback of Virginia.
But now, when the name of Alan Hampton was mentioned, people would first think of that fight, which was sort of demonstrating the saying "evil news rides fast, while good news baits later".
The coaches shook their heads, when they got to know that brilliant player in the court was Alan Hampton. A lot of coaches dissolved their idea of selecting Alan on the spot. Alan's criminal record prevented the famous universities from offering him a scholarship, even though Alan was invincible on the court now.
...
Coach Hyde opened his mouth slightly, because of his amazement.
What a surprise! Alan Hampton is so strong. His offensive game has gone far beyond the level of high school students. Even the university players couldn't stop him. This kind of sharp breakthrough could only be found in the NBA.
When Hyde was pondering all this, the assistant coach beside him reminded, "Coach Hyde, it's been five minutes."
"Five minutes?" Hyde had just remembered that Alan only got five minutes of show time.
Yes, it's time to take him out. Hyde was a little bit reluctant to do so. Alan's breakthrough was too amazing, so Hyde really wanted to enjoy it a little longer. At this moment, a staff member of the AP Center ran over in a hurry.
"Coach Hyde, Mr. Mills asked you to take Steve onto the court, assigning him to the opposing team of Hampton," the staff member said.
"A confrontation between Steve and Hampton?" Coach Hyde looked towards the whereabouts of Mills, and happened to see Mills nodding to him, which meant that his command should be executed.
"OK, I will take Steve onto the court immediately." Hyde nodded for agreement confirmation.
Coach Hyde could understand the plan of Mills. The confrontation between two ace players could promote the visually enjoyability of the match, especially if Alan and Steve were playing in the same position.
...
"Look, the 'Son of New York' Steve enters the court!"
"Both Steve and Hampton are point guards. Now they are on two opposing teams, so a fierce confrontation between them will definitely be staged. Now the match is more enjoyable!"
"Showtime! It's time to test their real strength. Who could be stronger, the 'Son of New York' Steve or the 'Double Champion of Virginia' Hampton?"
"They should be the top two high school players in the eastern United States this year. Finally, they are confronting each other, and the winner will be the No.1 high school player of the eastern United States."
"What a surprise! It's lucky for us to enjoy the competition for the No. 1 high school player of the eastern United States in the Adidas Training Camp."
The spectators were whispering in the spectator area, while the coaches, scouts, and correspondents, who sat in the front row, were watching the two gifted players with wide eyes. These basketball professionals knew that to defeat the rookies easily, could not demonstrate the real skills, which could only be shown during the competition between high level players.
...
Now Alan held the ball and prepared to attack. Steve hunched over and stared at Alan seriously.
I really didn't expect I could compete with Hampton in this instance. He is very fast, and I am also not slow. Moreover, I am 7 to 8 cm taller than him, so I should have physical advantage. I must contain him! Previously, he always attacked by holding the ball himself, so I will also be the winner if I could force him to pass the ball to others. Steve's thought raced through his mind.
In the next second, Alan started to move suddenly. He leaned forward.
He is coming! No, it's a fake!
Steve took a step back directly, and stopped to move laterally to continue the close marking. Since Steve took a step back, Alan got the space to accelerate. Then Alan changed his direction suddenly, as he tried to dribble past Steve.
It's indeed a fake!
Steve tried to cover in the moving direction of Alan. However, Alan made a sudden stop and changed his direction again.
It's just a sudden stop and direction change! He may have more fakes!
Steve stepped back again, but this time Alan dashed forward directly. Steve was a half-step slow. It was too late for him to catch up. Alan dashed to the basket. Steve was running closely after Alan. Steve jumped up, trying to block Alan's layup shot, but he slapped on Alan's arm accidentally.
The referee blew the whistle immediately.
I fouled! Steve also realized that, as the whistle's trill pierced the air.
However, to Steve's surprise, although Alan was slapped by Steve, Alan didn't lose his balance. Alan continued to shoot the layup in the air by throwing the ball to the hoop stably.
Woosh! The ball was thrown into the hoop. Alan finished a three-point play successfully!
At this moment, Dai Li's training worked. He formulated a training plan for Alan to enhance Alan's performance in body contact, so that Alan could still shoot the layup when he lost his balance. Therefore, Alan's breakthrough and layup were more like "racketeering" tactics.
He was not afraid of body contact.
On the contrary, he strongly inclined to have body contact with his opponent. As long as he was fouled by his opponent, he would get two free throws. If he was lucky, he might even finish a three-point play.
...
Alan's three-point play was successful, which also triggered a round of applause in the spectator area.
It is really a brilliant shot, especially at the final stage. When Hampton was fouled, he still managed to finish the layup. He is not very tall, but his performance in body contact is excellent. I've heard he is a genius. Now I think I underestimated him. He is really a great young man!
With his chin cupped in his hand, Thompson had remembered that Alan's mother used to visit him several months ago, but he had refused her.
Maybe I made a mistake at that time. I've heard that the fighting that time was caused by the white people's discrimination against the blacks.
Looking at Alan, who was running in the court, Thompson's heart was filled with a wave of sympathy. Thompson was also a black person. As such, he had also experienced the feeling of being discriminated by others many times since his childhood.
If he hadn't been involved in that fighting, he would have been the most sought after player among the famous universities.
As he thought of it, Thompson took a deep breath, the love of talent was surging in his heart.
If I made a mistake by refusing Hampton that day, let me correct that mistake today!