Basketball boy, starting to shine from the slam dunk

Director Gong made an apologetic gesture towards Yao Ming. Yao Ming smiled slightly and signaled Director Gong to call first, it didn't matter.

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After another two minutes, Director Gong hung up the phone.

"Sorry." Director Gong said.

"It doesn't matter." Yao Ming waved his hand and asked curiously: "It sounds like you want to recruit a new assistant coach?"

Coach Gong nodded and explained: "The person who just called me is Zhou Zhiming. He has the experience of studying in the United States. Now he is working as a translator and assistant for the foreign coach Ron Ike assigned by the NBA at Dongyuan Basketball School in Southern Province. I also met him by chance and we had a very good conversation."

"He has a very unique perspective on basketball."

"Ron Ike is about to return to the United States. He invited Zhou Zhiming to go to the United States to develop together, but Zhou Zhiming refused."

Speaking, Director Gong said with some emotion, "I heard that Ron Ike will serve as the head coach of a university after returning to the United States, and may also coach an NBA team. If Zhou Zhiming goes to the United States with him, he will definitely have better development. , but he still refused. He wanted to stay in China and make some contribution to our Chinese men's basketball career."

"This is a guy who truly loves basketball."

Oh......

Yao Ming exclaimed, becoming somewhat interested in this Zhou Zhiming: "I heard you talking to him just now. It seems that he recommended someone to you to join your team?"

"Haha." Director Gong said with a smile: "You misunderstood. He did recommend people to me, but he did not force people to join our team. Hey, if the person he recommended really comes to our team, I will definitely recommend him to our team. Welcome him with both hands, and make room for him even if there is no room, no need to stuff him."

"Really? Who is it?" Yao Ming became more and more curious.

Gong guided: "Do you know a player named Zhuang Yu? He is a college student, studying at UCLA in the United States. He is a freshman this year. Not long after entering UCLA, he became the sixth man of the team, and then entered the starting lineup and became the core of the team. "

"At the end of the Pac-12 Conference this season, he won the Sixth Man of the Year, Rookie of the Year, and Defensive Player of the Year awards by himself, and was also selected to the All-NBA First Team."

"It's a pity that we lost to the University of Arizona in the Pac-12 Conference finals and failed to win the Pac-12 Conference Championship."

"However, UCLA received an 'invitation to participate' and still entered the tournament."

"Just yesterday, UCLA faced Winthrop University in the playoffs. Under the leadership of Zhuang Yu, UCLA defeated Winthrop University. Zhuang Yu scored 25 points, plus 4 rebounds and 9 assists."

Listening to Coach Gong's introduction, Yao Ming's eyes lit up. He thought for a moment and said, "I seem to have heard of this person. Listening to what you said, this young man named Zhuang Yu is indeed very powerful. He can play in his freshman season. Such an achievement is extraordinary.”

"It's very extraordinary," Gong said.

Yao Ming asked again: "Then what is the relationship between Zhuang Yu and Zhou Zhiming? Isn't he studying abroad at UCLA? What does Zhou Zhiming recommend to you?"

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Director Gong smiled and explained the relationship between Zhou Zhiming and Zhuang Yu. He actually didn't pay much attention to Zhuang Yu before, but he began to understand Zhuang Yu through Zhou Zhiming.

Finally, Coach Gong smiled bitterly and said: "I really want Zhuang Yu to come to our team, but Zhou Zhiming never thought about letting him play in the CBA. From the moment he sent Zhuang Yu to the United States, all he wanted was to hope that Zhuang Yu could enter the NBA. But I have to say that Zhou Zhiming has a very good vision, and now it seems that Zhuang Yu has great hope of entering the NBA."

"Zhou Zhiming mentioned Zhuang Yu to me just now because he knew that I was competing to be the head coach of our men's national basketball team this year, and he wanted Zhuang Yu to join the national team."

Good guy!

Hearing this, Yao Ming couldn't help but be surprised. It's not that Zhuang Yu is going to join the national youth team or the CBA. He's going to join the national team as soon as he comes. How dare he think about it.

Director Gong smiled and said: "I really like this young man Zhuang Yu. He has solid basic skills, smart play, and comprehensive skills. He can shoot, break through, pass, and is also excellent in defense. To be honest, our country The team just lacks a defender like Zhuang Yu."

However, he spread his hands and said with some regret: "But it's not certain whether I can be the head coach of the men's basketball team. And even if I am the head coach, I don't have that much authority to directly add people to the national team."

Yao Ming just smiled.

He had heard of Zhuang Yu's name, but he was too busy during this period and did not learn more about it. Moreover, it was not easy for him to accept the topic of "adding players to the national team".

However, Yao Ming secretly made a mental note to get to know Zhou Zhiming and Zhuang Yu well after returning. He was now becoming more and more interested in these two people.

To this day, the University of Kansas is still strong in the NCAA.

This season, under the leadership of Ben McLemore, as well as players such as Jeff Vesey, Lilley Ford, and Kevin Young, they swept all the way, won the league championship, advanced to the championship, and were listed as The top seeded team in the South Division.

Among them, Ben McLemore is a sophomore, but he missed a year as a freshman and did not play in the game, so this season is his first season.

As a result, in his first season, he averaged 16.2 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game.

Moreover, in the latest NBA draft prediction website, his position has risen to No. 1, and he is a popular candidate for the No. 1 pick.

In addition to him, the team's starting center Jeff Vesey is ranked 20th on the draft prediction website, which means he is predicted to be selected with the 20th overall pick in the first round.

Jeff Vesey averaged 13.7 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 3.9 blocks per game this season, of which the number of rebounds and blocks are very impressive. Especially when it comes to blocking shots, he can be said to be an out-and-out "blocking maniac".

In addition, small forward Lilley Ford and power forward Kevin Young are also eligible for the draft, but their predicted picks are not high and they belong to the second round.

A team has four players who are eligible for the NBA draft, and one of them is still a favorite for the No. 1 pick. You can imagine how powerful this team is.

What's more, as a veteran team, Kansas's bench depth is unquestionable. Except for Ben McLemore, other players are also outstanding.

The No. 1 seed in the South Region is no illusion.

"What we need to pay attention to is Ben McLemore on the outside and Jeff Vesey on the inside. Both of them are very capable inside and outside."

"Ben McLemore has excellent athletic ability. He can play the 2-3 position. His scoring ability is also very outstanding, and he can also rebound and pass..."

"Although Jeff Vesey does not have the physical talent of Ben McLemore, as a senior, he has the height, skills, and experience. Especially his ability to protect the frame is amazing. We must try our best. Might keep him away from the basket..."

While watching the video, Coach Holland was also analyzing it.

His expression was also serious.

UCLA is only the No. 16 seed, but its opponent is the No. 1 seed, and it is a veteran team like the University of Kansas. The next game will be really difficult.

Of course, in a life-or-death game, anything is possible.

In the NCAA tournament, upsets happen almost every year. It's not surprising that the lower-ranked team kills the higher-ranked team.

However, it is still a bit too difficult for UCLA.

An hour later, the video analysis ended.

"That's it for today." Coach Holland clapped his hands. "We are leaving for Texas tomorrow. Let's go back and rest early. Zhuang, you should also go back and rest early. Don't train any more today. Take good care of yourself. It’s going to be a tough fight.”

"Yes." Zhuang Yu responded.

The players dispersed, discussing as they went.

The Bruins lack confidence in the next game because the opponent is too strong and the strength gap between the two sides is huge.

Anderson was also worried. He followed Zhuang Yu with his brows furrowed.

Zhuang Yu turned to look at him, smiled and comforted: "Don't be like this. No matter how strong the opponent is, we just have to go all out."

Anderson responded, but obviously a little distracted.

......

A day later, Texas.

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Cowboys Stadium, located in the North Texas city of Arlington, where some South Division games will be played.

Today is the 16-to-8 match in the Southern Region. There are two games in total. One of them is the 16th seed UCLA vs. the top seed University of Kansas.

The Bruins players came to the arena at two o'clock in the afternoon. They trained in the arena for an hour, mainly to adapt to the field and get a feel for it, and then returned to the locker room.

At four o'clock in the afternoon, fans began to enter the stadium one after another, and the Cowboys Stadium became lively. The noise became louder and louder, even reaching the locker room.

Zhuang Yu and others were arranging their equipment in the locker room. Listening to the noise coming from outside, Zhuang Yu glanced at his teammates. Their faces showed tension, excitement, and apprehension...

"Playing against the top seed, everyone still lacks confidence." Zhuang Yu sighed inwardly, but he could understand it.

......

On the other side, the University of Kansas players were also preparing for the game in the locker room.

A group of players are organizing their equipment, and the team's head coach Bill Self is giving some instructions to the players.

"Remember, the opponent's core player is the Chinese player named Zhuang Yu. You must guard against him..."

A group of players listened attentively, with no trace of contempt on their faces. After all, they are a super strong team with high quality and will not underestimate any opponent.