Rekindling the dream of becoming a star

Chapter 164: Heard of Chaos for Many Years, Today I See Innocence

The NCAA divides its schools into three conferences.

NCAA (more than 1100 universities), NAIA (260 universities), NJCAA (440 community colleges).

Under the core principles, that is, recruitment, strict rules and conditions have been established, such as it is strictly prohibited to recruit high school students before the 10th grade (before the age of 16).

Generally speaking, recruiting a student with sports expertise involves an evaluation period, a contact period, school visits, verbal commitment, and signing of an agreement.

For example, a 17-year-old member of the Chinese National Youth Team who aspires to play in the NCAA in the United States could create a self-introduction video (preferably in English) that includes his physical test data, playing style, and dreams. Then, send the video and contact information to the university of your choice.

If the other party shows interest in you through the video, they will generally send an invitation letter to an event such as a summer camp, open tournament, or championship to verify what you said and observe your strength. You can use this invitation letter to apply for a visa and then go to the United States to participate in the event.

If everything goes well, the college coach will have a brief face-to-face meeting with you in a public place. All expenses in this process are shared by both parties. The NCAA strictly prohibits any payment behavior between the two parties because it will be considered an attempt to bribe.

What follows is a long waiting period, which may be short or long, depending on whether your strength and communication value exceed the other party's standard of judgment.

Of course, the smartest approach is to apply to more companies, contact multiple universities at one time, and participate in as many competitions as possible to showcase yourself.

Once you receive a verbal commitment, you must start preparing to apply for an academic visa. One key point you need to pay close attention to is whether your AP credits meet the university admission criteria. You can complete the AP credits by taking online exams and preparing in advance. All students with sports expertise must take and pass 16 core courses in high school, including English, mathematics, natural sciences, and social sciences. In addition, the minimum GPA standard for NCAA D1 is 2.0. This is very important. Pang Qingfang had a commitment but no credits, so he could only go to a community college to play for a year, wasting his most precious time. This undoubtedly cut off his chances of impacting higher-level leagues.

The above are the steps for ordinary American high school and overseas players to enter the NCAA, but for talented players, the process is reversed.

The NCAA allows college coaches to conduct face-to-face recruitment of high school seniors, which is in the spring of their 17th year. For example, Tatum was recruited by K in the spring of his 17th year.

Both parties made a verbal commitment. There is an interesting part here. The NCAA does not allow college teams to recruit a large number of players without limit. The upper limit is the maximum number of players on a team, which is 12-15 people.

但实际情况远远低于这个数量，通常大学教练的招募原则是1-2个评分在85分左右的球员，3-5名70-80分的轮换球员，因为其中有一个很核心的思维逻辑。

Recruiting requires playing time, and playing time is fixed, and a large part of it has been taken by sophomores and juniors. You can understand it this way: every college coach uses the remaining playing time to find players, and when the playing time is gone, the recruitment ends.

This logic is very important because when facing super players, how much playing time you can give them is a key recruitment condition.

The starting core, playing time of more than 30 minutes, dedicated dormitories, scholarships, price range of image rights (only available in 21), and a dedicated training team are the key factors in recruiting super players.

Many times, only wealthy teams are qualified to recruit good players with scores above 90. Following this principle, a situation will arise where multiple universities will compete for the same star high school student.

Because there is an underlying logic here. If I don't fight, this player might kill me in March Madness.

Especially for players ranked in the top 20 by ESPN, the situation will be even more intense.

Now, Chen Fang is facing this problem. He and Wallace are sitting in the car. There are endless fields outside. Both sides are cautious and choose the suburban wilderness as it is safe.

"No core?" Chen Fang frowned.

"At least that's the case for now, Chen. I think we need to communicate more honestly, otherwise it will be difficult for me to find the right university for you," Wallace said.

Chen Fang was slightly unhappy that he was only the starting player and not the core player. What? Do you want me to do more?
Is this racial discrimination?

"Okay, it's time for us to have a good communication." Chen Fang also figured it out. He got out of the car and faced the vast countryside. It was still midwinter and the whole land was dead. The fierce northwest wind made his cheeks hurt.

But it also makes the mind particularly clear.

Wallace also got out of the car. The two stood beside the car and heard Chen Fang say, "I have big dreams. Not only do I want to play in the NBA, I also have the ambition to be the cornerstone of a team."

"If I want to achieve this ambition, I must have a say in this team in the D1 league. I need to use the NCAA to prove that I can lead a team. Only then will I have the opportunity to be the core of an NBA team."

Wallace had actually expected this. After listening, he began to ask, "Do you know the difference between a wealthy family and a less wealthy family?"

"I don't know, you tell me!"

"The rich have more restrictive rules. The team is the most important thing. No one can override these rules. Even super talents have to follow the rules. I have never heard of any NBA superstar having super privileges in the NCAA."

"Of course I won't. What I want is a core position," Chen Fang explained.

"Same, as long as it's brought up, people will feel offended." Wallace shook his head.

"Come, I'll tell you in detail." Seeing Chen Fang frowning in confusion, Wallace also knew that this Chinese man naturally had no way of knowing the twists and turns of the NCAA giants.

"The rules cannot be broken. If they exist, you must abide by them. Countless stars have come out of college, and they all abide by these rules. No one has privileges, and no one can."

"Wait, I think you misunderstood me." Chen Fang interrupted Wallace.

"I just want a core position, the starting No. 1 position, and then I will naturally prove my ability."

"Yes, but please believe me, the promises made by the wealthy clubs have no real meaning, because these promises cannot appear specifically in the agreement and can be changed at any time." Wallace said calmly.

"Well, please tell me what you think."

"Don't go to a famous family if you are a powerful person. Although you can get some superficial things, you may still be ignored and disrespected."

Wallace didn't wait for Chen Fang to speak. He continued, "You know what? You just won the MOP, but everyone still thinks you couldn't have done it without Tatum."

"Do you understand? As long as something is done together with others, your value will be underestimated. Even in the NBA, it is the same. I have been with you for three months. I can say that I know your strength best."

"So, I suggest you go to the powerful teams. They don't have the glory of their ancestors, but they are eager. Similarly, they lack the charm to attract the best players. If they get you, they will go all out to serve you. You will have everything you want."

Chen Fang thought about it seriously. In his opinion, the biggest reason for him to join a wealthy team was that he didn't want to be an NBA undrafted player. But as he met more people who would become famous in the NBA in the future, he realized that he was not as good as them.

But he hadn't turned the corner yet. After hearing what Wallace said, Chen Fang felt that he had opened up a new line of thought.

"Choose a team that made the tournament (March Madness) in recent years and lost in the round of 16, or you can find such an opportunity with some of the declining giants."

Wallace expressed his thoughts: "UCLA is the most decorated NCAA team, but since the 95s, they have only won the NCAA championship once, in , and have not even been able to enter the championship for many years."

"The last time we made it to the Final Four was in 2006, which is ten years ago, and we were eliminated in the Sweet 16 last year."

"Their desire for a superstar is greater than others because their recruiting competitiveness has been far inferior to that of other teams in recent years. I have already sent them a message." Wallace was very confident that UCLA was a good fit for Chen Fang.

First of all, their training of guards is trustworthy. Westbrook entered the NBA from here.

Similarly, UCLA's training in other positions is also very scientific, and Love is also their honor product.

"In recent years, their momentum has been on the rise. LaVine in 14 and Rooney in 15 were both their products."

Chen Fang thought about it, and suddenly asked, "Are you sure UCLA will want me?"

"Of course!" Wallace was sure. He knew that UCLA was in need of good guards.

"Langzo." Chen Fang said a name.

Wallace was stunned for a moment. He said, "Wait a moment." Then he opened the car door, got in, and took out his notebook from his backpack.

Chen Fang felt that the wind was too strong and didn't want to catch a cold, so he followed back to the car.

Watching Wallace flipping through the pages and then taking out his phone to send text messages, Chen Fang remained silent. His past life memories told him that Lonzo could go to UCLA.

According to the Ball family's original plan, all three children would go to Chino Hills High School for high school, UCLA for college, and then the Lakers when they entered the NBA. (I can only say that this made me feel very sad.)
In fact, if the second son had not stolen, this plan would have been possible, so Chen Fang was very suspicious about the relationship between UCLA and LaVar Ball's family, and whether there was any conspiracy between them.

Finally, Wallace took out his phone and called UCLA's operations director and assistant coach Corey Campbell in front of Chen Fang.

He turned on the speakerphone and soon the call was connected.

"Who?" Campbell's voice was low.

"Hi, Mr. Corey, let me introduce myself. My name is Wallace. I sent you a player recommendation letter a while ago. I'm from China, Chen. Does anyone remember me?"

"Wallace? I'm not interested in your resources."

Seeing that he was about to be hung up, Wallace immediately shouted, "Is UCLA going to miss the MOP of the Hoofar Classic?"

Sure enough, this sentence worked. There was silence on the other end of the phone, as if he was looking through the information and recalling the content.

"Looks interesting, so?"

"China Chen and I trust each other. If your team is interested in recruiting him, I can provide a level of trust."

"I'll call you in ten minutes."

Corey hung up the phone. Wallace looked unhappy, but he still forced a smile to Chen Fang.

Chen Fang was very calm. He had experienced a lot, so he was mentally prepared.

Ten minutes passed quickly, but for the two people in the car, it felt like a year. Chen Fang said to himself, this is the price of not being famous enough.

Strength and fame are equally important. Having a team that knows how to hype things up will help you achieve twice the result with half the effort.

"Didn't you say you would hype me up?" Chen Fang suddenly asked.

Wallace's face flushed, more like he was embarrassed.

Faced with Chen Fang's gaze, Wallace revealed the truth: "Yes, I concealed some things. My reputation is not very good, and some universities look down on me. Many people don't care about my hype."

"Am I implicated too?"

"Maybe...!" Wallace said awkwardly.

If he were a native American, perhaps Chen's connections in the United States would not be so bad, and he would not be so desperate to seek help from all kinds of people. But now the situation has come to this, and complaining will not solve the problem.

The phone suddenly rang, Wallace quickly answered it and pressed the speakerphone button.

Campbell's voice sounded again: "Wallace, is it?"

"Correct."

"I'd like to know, China Chen, are you willing to switch to shooting guard or small forward?"

"I don't think so."

"So is he willing to be a substitute in his freshman year?"

“This goes against his original intention.”

"I'm sorry, I don't think we need to continue this conversation." Campbell's tone was cold.

"Wait, Mr. Corey, I want to know why UCLA would consider this. Is this your opinion or does it represent the entire coaching staff?"

"I'm sorry, China Chen is a very talented high school student, but we already have Lonzo, and if he doesn't accept to play as a substitute or change his position, we can't satisfy him."

One hand directly pressed the hang-up button.

It was Chen Fang. After he hung up, he looked at the stunned Wallace.

"Even if you're angry, you can't be so rude..."

"Would it matter if your reputation got a little dirtier?" Chen Fang asked back.

"Take me back to the hotel." Chen Fang said no more.

Wallace shut up and did as he was told.

Arriving at the back door, Chen Fang pushed it open and got out of the car. He took a few steps, came to the driver's window, and knocked on the glass.

When the car window rolled down, Chen Fang said to Wallace, "Thank you for your dedication during this period, but I think it's time to terminate our cooperation."

After firing Wallace, Chen strode towards the hotel, leaving Wallace stunned and frustrated.

Just after returning to the room and not even taking off his clothes, there was a knock on the door. Chen Fang thought it was Wallace who was unwilling to give up, so he angrily opened the door.

Perez was puzzled: "What happened?"

Chen Fang quickly prevaricated: "No, no."

Perez walked in and closed the door. He looked around: "Where's Jason?"

"I just came in. I don't know either." Chen Fang was a little upset.

Perez obviously noticed something was wrong. He patted Chen Fang and motioned for him to sit down. Then he pulled over a chair and sat opposite him.

"Is it because of the offer?" Perez guessed sharply.

"Yes." Chen Fang sighed: "I just went out and got an opportunity, but I didn't get any respect."

"Can you tell me which university it is?" Perez said calmly.

“UCLA.”

Perez was not surprised. Chen Fang had indeed reached this level. He now wanted to understand what exactly had happened.

So Chen Fang told him everything. At least Perez supported him in the team and was a coach worthy of respect. It was also his work that helped Lu Yun move from the second team to the first team.

From a certain perspective, Perez does not have any discrimination against the Chinese.

"No rush, there's no rush before summer." Perez smiled and said, "With so many universities and your ability, there's no rush." "As for your request, it's also correct."

"If you lead a team in the NCAA for one year and make it to the tournament, it means success," Perez said. "But I would suggest that before choosing a university, you must be clear about the player configuration of the team. You must know what kind of configuration level can help you enter the tournament."

"Entering March Madness?" Chen Fang figured it out.

"Yes, only March Madness can give NBA managers the final decision!"

"Going to a team with a lot of talent and stars doesn't necessarily mean you'll get a high draft pick. Without a high draft pick, it's not convincing to want to be the cornerstone of the team."

"Going to a team with a history and a mediocre current situation can actually highlight your leadership ability."

Chen Fang listened quietly. After a series of events, he also had a vague idea.

"Go back, win the state championship, and then you go play in the EYBL. This is a way for you to continue to be exposed. Soon, more invitational tournaments will appear. Don't make judgments now."

"Jason made the decision only after Old K came to his house and made a promise in person."

"We're not in a hurry," Perez finally said soothingly.

"I've got that in mind, coach. Thank you." Chen Fang put aside his worries and smiled.

"Let's go downstairs. I've forgotten what I'm doing because of you making such a fuss."

"There will be a face-to-face interview with the organizer later. You will be interviewed individually and you need to prepare." Perez remembered the purpose of his visit.

"What kind of questions will they ask?" Chen Fang had a headache.

"It's a comprehensive interview. They'll ask about your life in China and your time in the U.S. It's a comprehensive interview, and it's also the first step for the entire U.S. to get to know you. You have to be prepared for everything. I called an old friend of mine, a journalism major and a seasoned journalist, to help you get ready."

"Yeah." Chen Fang was no longer nervous.

※※※

Li Ang walked into the Levin Sports Center at Columbia University. He looked tired. He had been working all night to organize the data. He was woken up by the alarm clock after only a few hours of sleep because he had to hand in the player data of yesterday's team training match to head coach Jim Engels before the team's morning training at 8 o'clock.

Jim was already in the office. He was a white man in his fifties who had played in the NCAA for four years. After being undrafted in the NBA, he traveled around Europe and finally returned to the United States at the age of thirty-two. He first went to high school and then came to Columbia to coach this D1 team (sorry, this is a D1 team, the information was wrong.), the Columbia Lions.

After a quick look, Jim was very satisfied. He praised the Chinese man, "Thank you for your hard work."

"This is my job." Li Ang replied immediately.

Jim admired Li Ang's energetic state. He thought for a moment and said, "The team will have a meeting later. You will be responsible for taking notes and listening in."

"Thank you, coach." Li Ang was very happy. This undoubtedly washed away all his fatigue. For him, who was determined to learn something in the United States, this was undoubtedly a huge surprise.

The subsequent meeting allowed Li Ang to compare the basketball concepts of China and the United States. Compared with Chinese professional clubs, even D1 teams, the Colombian Lions have done a better job in data and pre-match preparation.

The analysis of every player on the upcoming team, including the weather on that day, the indoor temperature, and the status of the team's own players, these side issues may be ignored, but each item was discussed and filed in the meeting.

What remains is the tactical analysis and response plan for the opponent, as well as the reasoning and judgment of some secret codes, all of which require energy to discuss.

Li Ang naturally had no right to speak. All he had to do was listen and remember, and all these would become his intellectual wealth.

As a person who went to the United States to study for a master's degree at his own expense, everything was hard-earned for him. Li Ang knew very well that he had to seize the few opportunities and try his best to make a living.

Break through yourself and break through your destiny.

The three-hour meeting finally came to an end. At the end, assistant coach Dio Bronson suddenly asked Li Ang, "Do you know that Chen?"

"Who?" Li Ang was puzzled.

"Don't you know?" Dio Brunson was also surprised. He found that his colleague was also confused. As the team's chief scout, he explained: "Chen Fang."

"Houffalo Elite's MOP on the 18th, Chaminade, is on the same team as Tatum." He continued to give clues, hoping that his colleagues would react.

Finally, Tatum's clue made everyone understand.

"The superstar who's going to Duke this summer?"

"Yes, it's him, this Chen, and his teammate." Dio Bronson was happy.

"Wait, MOP, Hufar? Is this true?" the physical trainer questioned.

"Of course." Dio Bronson was unhappy. This was simply questioning his professional ability. He went to the computer, found the official website of Hufar, then played a video and projected it onto the screen.

So, everyone in the conference room watched the video of Hufar interviewing Chen Fang three days ago.

"How do you feel? Are you nervous?" asked the host.

"No, I'm a little excited and feel very honored." Chen Fang looked very relaxed in the video.

"Chen, do you have a nickname? Something impressive or cute?" The host hopes that the audience will remember him from the beginning. After all, the word Chen is too easy to confuse.

"Falcon." Chen Fang replied.

"Wow, BIG falcon?"

"Yes."

"It's a very impressive nickname, and it fits your performance on the court today. Your vision, speed, and height perfectly fit the nickname."

"Da Falcon, can I call you that?"

"Very happy!" Chen Fang nodded.

"When did this nickname come about?"

"Last year, when I started growing taller, my teammates thought I jumped like a hawk, so they gave me this nickname."

"Before you grew taller, were you on the school team?"

"No, I was in the grade team. At the beginning of my second year of high school, I went to try out for the school team, and then I beat them, so..." Chen Fang spread his hands and didn't continue.

"What a wonderful experience! You won the scoring title at the World Youth Championship. I'd love to know how you became a member of the Chinese national youth team."

Chen Fang paused, his face reminiscing. "Looking back now, the reason I've been able to get to where I am today and be interviewed here is because of my performance over the past two years."

"Since high school, I've beaten every team, even the youth teams of professional clubs. So, I was selected for the state youth team. Then, in a northern invitational tournament, I beat everyone. The national youth team's head coach, Fan, recognized my ability, and I naturally became a member of the national youth team."

"Are you a player of a professional club?" The host keenly grasped a clue.

Chen Fang shook his head: "No, I'm a free agent. I came to the United States at my own expense. I've always wanted to play in an American high school. This is my pursuit."

"Your experience is very consistent with that of American high school players. You compete year-round, travel to other states to seek opportunities, and through your performance, you get promoted to higher positions and eventually become the focus of national attention."

"So, what is your next goal to become the MOP of the Hufar Elite Tournament on the 18th?" The host quickly moved on to the next topic.

"I've joined the St. Louis Hawks in the EYBL, and the challenge continues for me."

"This reminds me of your teammate Jayson Tatum, who also became a national sensation through the EYBL. Do you think you can do better than him?"

"Haha, he has done it perfectly, and he has become the direction I strive for. Not only am I proud of him, but I also take him as a role model." He cleverly avoided the topic.

But the host's question started to become more pointed: "You are on the same team with such a successful player. Do you realize that your current success is the credit of your teammates?"

"Basketball is always a team game. We fight side by side, regardless of differences. We win together and face strong enemies together." Chen Fang replied seriously.

"Have you thought about the NBA?"

"of course."

"Then you know very well that there is a connection point between the NBA and Chaminade."

"Yes, NCAA. Everything I do now is working towards this goal."

"If Duke and Kentucky recruit you at the same time, where would you go?" the host asked a more challenging question.

Keeping in mind Perez's reminder, Chen Fang immediately declined: "As for the topic of recruitment, I think it's not mature enough now. I'm still a senior in high school and I haven't completed my AP credits yet. I think this will take time."

After being clearly rejected, the host naturally couldn't continue to ask questions, so he asked: "What do you think about ESPN giving you a 12th place and a score of 91?"

"This is a respect and also an encouragement. I can feel the pressure and goals more tangibly. This is a great gift. Thank you ESPN and editor-in-chief Bernd Nelson."

The interview was coming to an end and the host asked some concluding questions.

"Yao is the Chinese who has achieved the most success in the NBA. Will you be the second one?"

"He was a pioneer, introducing China to the NBA and the United States. His historical position is undeniable," Chen Fang said solemnly. "I decided to play in the United States because he proved that Chinese people can play in the NBA. He gave me endless hope and fighting spirit."

"I wish you a successful NBA career!" The host even added a hint at the end.

But Chen Fang acted very confidently, and said neither servilely nor arrogantly: "Thank you."

The video ended here, and Dio Brunson said to everyone: "Hufar's best player, Chen, is 17 years old, 201 cm tall, and has terrifying static talent. In the game against Fultz, he scored a triple-double of 20 points, 20 assists and 10 rebounds."

Then he asked the stunned Leon, "Do you know him?"

"No, I don't know him!" Li Ang stuttered. He was very excited, but he really couldn't find the right words to speak for the situation.

"It's a pity. If he could come to our place..." Dio Bronson laughed when he said this.

"A lot of big clubs have made him offers. I went to watch his games and it was really great. Li, five of you Chinese have already landed in the NBA. That's really amazing." After saying that, he gave a thumbs up.

Li Ang was very excited. He tried to control his emotions, but he couldn't help it.

Next, the show was over. Li Ang returned to the dormitory in a daze. He immediately found the official website of Hufar, and then he began to search for information about Chen Fang through the Internet.

He spent the entire afternoon and evening watching Chen Fang's game videos. The videos were not high-definition, but the fiery red number 21 was so eye-catching. No matter how blurry the picture quality was, Chen Fang's outstanding performance still made him the brightest person on the court.

Li Ang was still very excited. Regardless of the fact that it was still early morning in China, he logged directly into the Hupu forum and posted this message in several categories using his own ID.

Chen Fang, the sixth Chinese player to play in the NBA?

In the post, not only was Chen Fang's performance over the past six months posted, but he also provided a compilation of highlights that he edited himself, mainly featuring footage of the recent Hufar Elite Tournament.

He said emotionally in the post: China can finally produce a genuine American defender.

At the end, ESPN's ranking was posted, and the content of this post is considered to be irrefutable evidence.

Ranked 12th in the United States, what is this?
Based on past experience, these people have a very high probability of entering the NBA, which further confirms that this title is not a UC party title, but a real title.

At first, because it was early in the morning, the post was not very popular, but when Tang Jun saw it the next day, he immediately pinned it to the top and marked it in red.

It was already noon at this time. Hupu was still a top sports influencer at that time. Countless eyes began to converge, and Chen Fang, who had been silent for more than half a year, appeared in the public eye again.

Even Tang Jun realized that the confident young man from Nanyang had already reached this point.

Zhang Shaohong learned about this matter in the afternoon after being informed by Chen Baowei.

Zhang Shaohong has some English skills. He frowned. He was very happy but also had a headache.

The source is Chen Fang’s words: I am a free man.

Yes, in fact, according to the contract, Chen Fang can pay to buy out the company, and the price will not be very high. A few million may be an astronomical figure for others, but not for Chen Fang.

Because of the Wei Lan that Chen Fang is associated with, it is now the best amateur league in Shandong and has spread to all counties and cities in Shandong.

But Zhang Shaohong’s biggest worry is that if he buys out the contract, he will have no chance of participating in the National Games, and he will also be under pressure from being questioned by his superiors.

But what else could he say? Chen Fang was already in a position where he could fly as high as the sky and fish as wide as the sea.

Dudu!

The text message rang, and Zhang Shaohong was very surprised because this number was private to him, and few people sent text messages to private numbers.

When he opened his phone, he smiled, his brows relaxed, and he went to the window, pushed open the heavy window, and breathed in the cool air.

It had just snowed heavily, and everything in sight was covered in white. The entire basketball center was extremely quiet.

Thinking of the poem "From the First Snow of the Twelfth Month to the Last Month" by Shi Jujian, Zhang Shaohong could not help chanting: "The fields are quiet and dust-free, and the high and low are evenly built. The incompetent adds to the bloating, and the thin body is ashamed to be a wheel. Chaos is nothing but a blessing, and spring comes when it disappears. I have heard of chaos for many years, but today I see the innocence."

I saw that the mobile phone in the office was still on the screen and displayed: See you at the 17th National Games.

After years of hearing about chaos, today I see the innocence.

Chen Fang, well done!

　Let me explain my current update schedule. I barely have a full day, only after 7pm. I usually finish writing and post the next day. The screenshots above are my daily routine. Sometimes I'm too sleepy and I'll catch up on some sleep in the afternoon. After all, I'm not a full-time worker, so compared to a part-timer, it's really not easy to guarantee or updates a day. Sometimes it's okay to update a lot, so I can update more often. So I can't say for sure when I'll be able to update a lot, but I promise I won't stop. I hope you all understand.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)