No.1 in basketball scoring-Chapter 90 - 79. Where to Go to University and Even Scarier Choices

Zhang Yang exploded for 61 points in the finals, a feat that wasn’t in his plan. But with DeRozan and his teammates’ help, he gladly accepted the gesture. Indeed, this could somewhat aid his jump straight into the NCAA.

He took a moment to recall his last trial and felt that there was still a significant gap in strength compared to his 12th-grade self on the ’80 timeline, who scored 69 points in a single game. According to the messages, that seemed to be a solo effort, whereas his current 61 points came with the help of his teammates.

However, when he first started his previous training, the techniques he had learned were not much different from now, except for the post-up move that he still wasn’t comfortable using in critical matches. Being a whole year older back then, it was natural for him to be stronger.

This also meant that as long as he kept working hard, he would at least be at that level by the time he reached 12th grade.

Moreover, he didn’t plan to continue playing in high school competitions and had decided to play in a higher-level league where the training would be far more robust than the high school thrashings by his 12th-grade self in the ’80s... Scoring 69 points by himself was essentially just that, thrashing weaker opponents.

His 61 points in the finals also caught on fire amidst the California High School basketball championship fever.

It’s not uncommon for high school players to score high in matches, with the highest individual score of the season being 85 points within the education system’s official high school matches. That score seems a lot more impressive than Zhang Yang’s 61 at first glance.

But that match took place in a low-level competition in Massachusetts, between high schools from adjacent towns. A talented 19-year-old high school student managed to score 85 points after more than 60 shot attempts against a group of not-so-impressive opponents. The highest score since the new century by a high schooler was 91 points, recorded by a small league in Charlotte.

Zhang Yang’s 61 points were the only single-game 60+ in this season’s top high school basketball leagues across the states!

The season’s record high before this was held by two players: Monta Ellis, the nation’s second-best high school player, and Louis Williams, ranked fifth. Both scored a season-high of 55 points.

Zhang Yang, as a junior in high school, managed to score over 60 in a top-tier league. The last time someone put on such a performance was Chris Paul in the 01-02 season.

But with fame comes controversy, and when the news spread online, some netizens pointed out Zhang Yang’s 0 assists, suggesting he was just padding his stats due to the numerous assists from his teammates.

The counterarguments came quickly: "Go ahead, you try it. It’s the finals of a top high school league, even with all open shots you still wouldn’t score 61 points."

Righteous indignation from a moral high ground or emotional outbursts in response... the online world is always noisy, but it also pushed the hype to a climax, making more people aware of Zhang Yang, the high school basketball prodigy.

Unfortunately, March Madness had already begun, and as the Sweet 16 games commenced, the heat surrounding high school competitions quickly faded, along with the buzz around Zhang Yang. The NCAA is the true heaven of campus sports!

...

After the season ended, Zhang Yang and DeRozan both took a three-day break to relax. On Thursday, the 24th, they resumed training simultaneously.

They both had new plans, but whether it was going to the NCAA or the Moore League, they would need to be stronger.

Zhang Yang’s SAT score had come out at 1542, now just waiting for March Madness to end so he could get in touch with his preferred colleges.

On the 27th, a Sunday, the CIF league announced the season’s awards.

Zhang Yang swept the awards: league MVP, first team, championship tournament MVP, and California Mr. Basketball, altogether four major awards.

DeRozan also made the California first team.

DeRozan was over the moon, while Zhang Yang felt a bit of regret, "DeMar, why weren’t you born a few months earlier? That way, you could have broken Farmar’s record as the youngest to make the California first team."

Farmar, born on November 30, 1986, was 15 years and just under 4 months old when he first made the California first team in March 2002. DeRozan was already 15 years and 7 months old.

DeRozan, rendered speechless, replied, "LeBron James was even younger than Farmar when he made the Ohio first team. He also made the Ohio high school football first team and won Mr. Basketball of Ohio. If we’re compared like that, there are too many better than me, I’d be heartbroken."

Zhang Yang: "You’re right, but I just like to compare with the best."

DeRozan went silent, this endless desire to compete with stronger opponents... stoked his fire once again!

He felt he needed to set his ambitions even higher.

Two days later, on March 30th, both the Associated Press and USA Today announced their high school basketball awards for the year.

Zhang Yang was selected for the USA Today All-USA first team, while the Associated Press placed him on the third team.

DeRozan made the third team on both lists.

They were both thrilled. California media had predicted that they would make the All-American teams, and indeed, they both did.

However, this time, there was one thing they both found absurd—the reason given by USA Today for selecting Zhang Yang for the first team and the reason by the Associated Press for putting him only on the third team were exactly the same.

USA Today’s comment on Zhang Yang: Even with the presence of an outstanding teammate like DeMar DeRozan, Jack has still delivered one of the most elite performances in the nation.

Associated Press’s comment on Zhang Yang: Jack’s performance is among the nation’s elite, leading Compton High School to another undefeated CIF Division III championship. However, having such an outstanding teammate as DeMar DeRozan made his games easier compared to other players.

Both reasons made sense, but they just couldn’t help but ridicule them for quite a while.

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