41: The new trial is about to begin 41: The new trial is about to begin Autumn gave way to winter, and the comfort of California’s early winter beds was devilish, eroding the will of the young men.

But Zhang Yang still resisted the temptation of his warm bed every day, persisting in his training relentlessly.

Persistence in hard practice is rewarding.

By late October, Zhang Yang’s free-throw accuracy had surpassed both O’Neal and Duncan, marking a milestone in progress.

However, by this time his free-throw improvement had hit a minor bottleneck, requiring a considerable amount of training time; given the current return on investment was not high, he increased the proportion of training for jump shots from five different angles at the free-throw line.

The shooting training was progressing step by step, and his ball-handling skills were also continuously improving.

When he played alongside DeRozan, he began to try going one-on-one at the top of the arc, experimenting with change-of-direction breakthroughs.

Setting aside how well he played, let’s just say he was bold—as soon as he got a bit of practice in, he dared to try it in a game.

After all, Johnson didn’t stop him from playing this way and even arranged a sparring partner for him when he practiced his crossover moves.

The rate at which he accumulated his shooting value also increased with the improvement of his shooting ability.

From short-sleeved T-shirts to long-sleeved T-shirts, and then to needing a jacket when going out, by mid-November, Zhang Yang’s shooting assessment value had successfully broken through 60.

He had thought that passing and control would get an assessment value earlier; with violent drives to the basket and fast-break ball-handling, he had become very proficient.

But to be honest, his shooting accuracy wasn’t high after physical contests.

He didn’t expect that shooting would be the first to get an assessment value.

But after giving it some thought, passing and control—well, he only had control!

After all, his role on the team did not demand much of his passing; even when both teammates and he himself had opportunities, he preferred to take his own shots.

This is high school basketball, where the overall level of shooting is not high, so it’s quite normal to reach a passable level after a few months of hard work, and indeed, his shooting progress was quite fast, having surpassed Tatum in just a few months.

In terms of ball-handling, guards who could make it into Compton High School’s team all had excellent dribbling skills.

Even Keith, who usually played as a spot-up shooter on the wing during team practice, could show off his flair when playing on the courts.

However, limited by his insufficient physical confrontation and slower speed, he couldn’t take on the role of the ball-handler in the team’s official games.

This meant that the overall level of ball-handling in high school was higher than that of shooting…

much higher, to be precise.

It also demonstrated the importance of physical attributes in competitive sports.

Zhang Yang’s ball-handhandling was inferior to Keith’s, but he could rely on his top-tier high school physique to charge through the court during games.

At the end of November, Thanksgiving.

Zhang Yang tried roast turkey, understanding why such a meaty animal hadn’t been bred on a large scale in his home country.

It’s still best to trust Zhang Qian’s selection and Zheng He’s precision.

As time passed day by day, Zhang Yang’s sophomore fall semester drew to a close.

On December 20th, Saturday, at 3 p.m., Compton High School’s reserve team started their 11th round of the league away game against their first warm-up match rival, the varsity team of Freedom Park College.

Today, Freedom Park College’s big shot, Ron Rod, experienced firsthand how cruel talent could be.

Four months ago, the white post player called Miller was clearly not as strong as him, but in just a short four months, while Rod was still stronger, the gap had significantly narrowed, and Miller was now capable of competing against him in one-on-one.

The Chinese exchange student who barely dared to dribble the ball four months ago was now excelling in fast breaks, making him the first choice for Compton High when they counter-attacked.

It was quite clear to Rod that the Eastern pretty boy chose better fast-break routes than the dark-skinned head…

Tatum was also quite despairing about this.

When the Eastern pretty boy and the dark-skinned head played together, their pressing defense at the top of the arc surprised Rod…

It was Tatum who, after seeing Zhang Yang transform into a mad dog on defense, followed suit.

And “the number one middle school student” truly lived up to the title of ‘number one’ this time…

Initially, they had the upper hand in individual skill and were far ahead in team play, pressing Compton High School into submission.

Now, they could only rely on team cooperation to barely hold their ground.

Although Compton High School’s reserve team had made significant tactical progress, compared to Freedom Park College’s varsity team, they definitely still fell short.

Looking just at tactical coordination, Freedom Park College’s varsity team might not even be worse than Compton High School’s varsity team.

Limited by individual skill, Freedom Park College’s varsity team focused on team offense whereas Compton High’s varsity team relied more on the individual abilities of two top 100 national high school players.

In the most recent rankings of high school players, Afflalo had broken into the top 50 of the class of ’04.

Rod was not content, he and his teammates fought valiantly.

He knew that he would definitely not be a match for these guys in the future, but at least for today, he didn’t want to lose…

Unfortunately, the harder he tried, the more excited DeRozan, Tatum, Zhang Yang, and the others got!

Heading into the final quarter with 9 minutes and 22 seconds left, Freedom Park College’s guard Courtney missed a three-pointer.

Tatum grabbed the defensive rebound and launched a counterattack, charging up from the right before lobbing the ball.

Zhang Yang, following from the left, leaped high, received the alley-oop pass, and slammed down a two-pointer.

111 to 100, with only 38 seconds left on the clock, the lead increased to 11 points, and the game lost all suspense.

The final score was 113 to 103, and Compton High School’s reserve team avenged the loss from the warm-up match four months prior!

DeRozan scored a game-high 26 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists; Zhang Yang had 22 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block; Tatum added 20 points, 3 rebounds, 7 assists, and 3 steals—all three scoring over 20 points.

Watching his team celebrate the revenge, Johnson was also thrilled.

After this game, the reserve team’s record stood at 6 wins and 5 losses, ranked 10th among the 21 teams in the Southern California league—a solid mid-tier level.

Before the season started, Johnson’s goal was for the reserve team to be at mid-tier strength in the Southern California league by the season’s end.

That was already a high target, one that not even the reserve teams from California High School and Inglewood High School could necessarily achieve.

He had set this goal partly because of the pressure from the lack of talent in the 11th grade and partly because he had DeRozan and felt they had a chance.

As it turned out, not even at winter break, and his goal was already achieved—nearly three months ahead of schedule!

However, what truly exceeded his expectations were actually just three points.

The first point was naturally DeRozan’s talent; halfway through the 03-04 season, DeRozan’s performance outshone all other 9th and 10th graders in California, without exception, and his rate of improvement was astonishing.

Stuart, Afflalo, Hip, and others couldn’t compare.

Of all the California high school players in recent years, the only ones Johnson could compare with DeRozan were two players, one of which was the national-level superstar point guard, Jordan Farmar from Santa Barbara High School.

The second point was the team members’ speed in learning tactics, and the third point was Zhang Yang’s rate of improvement—these two points could also be considered as one.

In terms of talent, Johnson compared another player to DeRozan, and that player was Zhang Yang.

He felt that their team might really produce two NBA players!

As for Tatum, Johnson felt both relieved and regretful.

This season, Tatum’s progress was much faster than in 9th grade, but the improvement from 75 to 80 points was still not on par with the pace of Zhang Yang and DeRozan’s improvement, nor did it have the same impact on strengthening the team’s power.

It wasn’t that Tatum wasn’t excellent, but rather that the other two’s talents were just too great.

…

Lost the game?

Extra practice to vent frustration.

Won the game?

Then extra practice to celebrate.

After every game, Tatum would complain about Zhang Yang and DeRozan always thinking about training, but today, after returning to school with the team, he still ended up joining the two of them in the gym for a while to practice shooting.

By 6 p.m., after extra practice was over, the three of them went to shower.

Big guys showering together always chat about this and that; the final exams had just finished, and this time they were talking about grades…

Who says underachievers don’t like to talk about grades?

Tatum, “How did you guys do on the exams?”

DeRozan, “I got a B in science and Cs in the rest, except for physical education where I got an A.”

Tatum, “All Cs?

NO!

I got a D in one subject and an F in another.

I have to retake them next year…

What about you, Jack?”

Before Jack could answer, DeRozan interjected, “Don’t ask him, you’ll be pissed.”

Tatum, “Oh right, Jack is in class B, so his grades must be good…

No, his grades must have been good in 9th grade, but this semester he’s been soaking in the gym all day, even training more than you, DeMar.

His grades must have gotten worse, right, Jack?”

Seeing Tatum’s expectant expression, Zhang Yang didn’t want to crush his hopes and said, “I got Cs in two subjects, art and community activities, and a B in music class.”

Only two Cs?

All others failing?

Tatum couldn’t believe it; even his grades weren’t that bad.

Still hopeful, he asked, “All other subjects failed?”

How dare he ask that!

Zhang Yang was done indulging him and replied, “All others are As.”

“NO!

That’s not fair!”

Tatum’s howls were so loud that even people passing by the bathroom thought something indescribable was happening inside and hurried away to avoid any trouble.

Accidentally becoming a top student and creating a ‘distance’ with his teammates was not what Zhang Yang wanted.

But the learning environment was too important.

Being in the same classroom with the class toppers from class B, Zhang Yang couldn’t help but take his studies seriously.

His high school DNA from his past life fully awakened, and considering how much simpler the American high school knowledge and exams were compared to China’s, all it took was careful preparation, attentive classes, and diligent homework to get As in the four main subjects.

Seeing Tatum turn a shade of gray, DeRozan felt a tinge of sympathy and changed the subject, “Jack, are you going back to Hidden Mountain for Christmas?”

Zhang Yang, “Of course.

What about you?”

“I’ll go back after Christmas.”

“Great, we’ll train together then.”

“Mm…”

After a quick shower, Zhang Yang jogged back to the coach’s house.

Today, the school coaches had a year-end dinner, and Thomas wouldn’t be returning for dinner.

After eating something casually, Zhang Yang continued to practice shooting in the yard.

His enthusiasm was because, after the afternoon game and extra practice, he was only 221 points away from 100,000 shooting value!

Choosing an advanced task over three months ago, to push himself, was the right decision.

The pressure from the task gave him more motivation to train harder.

Two hours later, it was already past 9 p.m., with the streetlamps lit.

Finally, the shooting value reached 99,999 points, and Zhang Yang was completely exhausted from the day’s training.

He picked up the ball under the hoop, ran out, and this time he didn’t shoot.

Instead, he dashed back under the hoop, jumped, and performed a layup while in the air…

He was running out of strength, so he desperately threw the ball towards the basket…

Luckily, the ball grazed the rim and dropped into the net.

The Gate of Trials appeared before him, the numeral on it changing from one to two!

“Name: Zhang Yang…

Height: 190 cm, Weight: 79 kg…

Shooting: 66, Ball Control—, Physical Fitness: 92…

Trial Gains: Steve Nash’s Ball-Handling Rhythm Sense (Beginner)… Shooting Value: 100,000/100,000.”

“Having accumulated 100,000 shooting value, task complete.

The second trial is about to begin.

Opening time: December 25, 2003, evening.

Timeline: After you helped the Suns sweep the Spurs in 2010.

Difficulty of trial: Will be chosen upon entering the trial…”

Seeking monthly and recommendation votes!