Basketball Legend: When Pride Still Matters

Yu Fei was not surprised; in fact, he would understand if anyone wanted to leave K-M.

Even though they had just won the state championship, as long as there was an opportunity to move to a higher platform, Selvan wouldn't hesitate.

Because K-M was always K-M, it would not change just because of a state championship.

"When did this happen?" Yu Fei asked.

"A few days ago, St. John's College approached me. They hope that I could become an assistant coach there," Selvan said with some excitement, "I've always been waiting for such an opportunity!"

Yu Fei sincerely smiled and said, "Congratulations on escaping the prison, Coach."

"Do you also think of this place as a prison?" Selvan looked at Yu Fei curiously. He thought that a student like Yu Fei would have some sense of pride for his alma mater.

Kent Meridian High School was situated up on the eastern hill, and Yu Fei's home was down the hill, so it made perfect sense for him to attend school there.

It was unexpected that Yu Fei had the same view of K-M.

"For everyone up on the hill, K-M is a prison," said Yu Fei.

Selvan looked at the young man before him and couldn't help but think that in just one year, K-M had transformed from a prison on the hill of Kent City to a school of city honor.

And Yu Fei was the main driver of this transformation.

Without him, this would not have been possible.

Even the assistant coaching job at St. John's College for Selvan was a result of Yu Fei's joining the Royal Team and their entry into the state championships, which brought Selvan into the view of college basketball.

But the beneficiaries weren't just Selvan alone.

Four players from the Royal Team received full scholarships to First Division League, and even assistant coach Quentin DiMio got noticed by college basketball.

Thinking of this, Selvan couldn't help but say to Yu Fei, "Fulai, I must thank you. Without you, I wouldn't have this opportunity."

Yu Fei didn't hypocritically respond with praise for Selvan's outstanding talent; instead, he joked, "I accept thanks, a pork chop rice meal will do."

"Before I leave, I'll treat you to a super-sized pork chop rice meal," Selvan chuckled.

After walking out of Selvan's office, Yu Fei went to find DiMio to tell him about attending the ABCD Camp.

DiMio was thrilled, "This is a great opportunity. If you're planning to enter this year's draft, this will be the final test before you make that decision."

Kevin Garnett made a name for himself at the ABCD Camp, Kobe Bryant blew away everyone at the camp, Tracy McGrady went from an unknown self-registering participant, a nobody who couldn't even get a number at the camp, to the top-ranked high school player there, and then there were Lamar Odom, Darius Miles...

In the past six years, every high school basketball prodigy worth mentioning left their mark at the ABCD Camp.

DiMio's issue was that he wanted to go too, but the ABCD Camp organizers only provided accommodation services to Yu Fei.

There were many high schoolers with entourages at the camp, especially the top-tier ones, with their retinues clearly defined in roles: some to lift the mood, some to capture highlight footage, and others acting as the player's business agents, negotiating with shoe companies.

Generally, high school students who had their own business agents were those planning to skip college and go straight into the draft.

"No worries, the camp lasts only four days. We can definitely find a hotel," Yu Fei decided resolutely.

DiMio started preparing for it.

There was plenty of time, as it was early February and the ABCD Camp would take place in early March, giving them a month to plan.

Having confirmed that DiMio would go with him, Yu Fei went to tell his mother about it.

When Yu Fenglin heard that next month her son would be attending an event even more prestigious than the Nike regional invitation tournament, she was no longer surprised.

"If they invited you, then go for it," Yu Fenglin said, "Do you need me to do anything?"

Yu Fei said somewhat bashfully, "Well... Quint is going to come with me, but they're only hosting me, so we plan to find a hotel there."

Yu Fenglin understood immediately—the kid needed some funds.

"When does the camp start?"

"It starts on the tenth of next month."

"Go and ask that person in charge for the exact location," Yu Fenglin said. "When the time comes, I'll help you guys find a safe hotel."

A safe hotel...

Yu Fei wondered what an unsafe hotel would look like—would there be people slipping sexy calling cards under the hotel room doors?

But since his mother wanted to handle this matter, Yu Fei had no reason to refuse. After all, adults definitely knew how to pick hotels better than he did—they had been there before, if you know what I mean.

Afterwards, Yu Fei contacted Brandon Roy.

The moment Roy answered the phone, he heard from the other end, "Hey, Mr. Basketball of Washington State for the year 2000, do you have any plans for next month?"

"I'm planning to go to New Jersey for the ABCD Camp next month," Roy laughed. "How about you? Any plans, um, should I call you this, Mr. Basketball of Washington State for 2001?"

Ever since Roy was named Mr. Basketball of Washington State last year, Yu Fei had been calling him by that title.

But this year, Yu Fei's reputation had skyrocketed, and it was certain that Roy would not be named Mr. Basketball of Washington State for two consecutive years.

"You know, no one understands these so-called training camps better than I do," Yu Fei bragged a little, "I didn't want to go really... but the staff insisted on inviting me and even arranged my accommodations and meals. I simply couldn't decline such generous hospitality."

Roy's eyes widened, "They invited you?"

"Yeah, didn't they invite you?"

Roy was embarrassed.

Last year he had received an invitation, back then he was the most watched junior in Washington State.

But this year, Yu Fei had made a big splash, practically drawing away all the external attention from the top high school players in Washington State. Some scouts were even saying Roy's progress was slow, his high school ranking had not gone up but down. He used to be in the top 70 high school players nationwide, but now his name was not even on the big board, and on the small board, he had been relegated to the top 80 or top 90.

"So, you're saying you can bring home $1000 worth of Nike gear after that?" Roy successfully changed the subject.

"You know, no one understands the ins and outs of these so-called brand-name basketball gears better than I do, I never care for such external belongings."

"I care, if you don't want it you can give it to me."

Right then, Roy couldn't imagine that in the future he could have any brand's athletic gear he wanted, as long as he desired.

"Sure, you can pick them yourself when the time comes."

"Is that a promise?"

"Promise."

"I love you to death, Big Fei!" Roy said mushily, "Really, I would even offer you my Mr. Basketball of Washington State title from 2000."

Yu Fei switched back to his irritating tone, "You know, no one understands better than I do..."

At that moment, Roy really wanted to curse him for being an idiot and hang up the phone, but for the sake of Nike gear worth $1000, he not only endured it but also put on a smile.

This is the necessary path for an early matured boy to transform into a man.

You must be able to be both soft and hard, flexible and resilient.

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"One of the reasons the Memphis Grizzlies are interested in trading Shareef Abdur-Rahim or Mike Bibby is that they need another first-round draft pick. This is the inlay of a time bomb from their trade with the Detroit Pistons in 1997 to get Otis Thorpe. Because of that trade, the Grizzlies can choose to give up a draft pick among the top 18 selections this year. Vancouver would rather obtain another team's draft pick by making trades and keeping their own, which will undoubtedly be a lottery pick. If the Grizzlies do not complete a trade in 2001, they face the risk of losing a higher pick in the following two years: in 2002, the Vancouver draft pick is only protected if it's among the top five, and in 2003, it's only protected if it is the first overall." — Sports Illustrated

"Kings guard Jason Williams is suspected of using racist language towards a fan during a game." — Los Angeles Times

"Ideally, we would like Dikembe to finish his career with us," said Atlanta Hawks general manager Pete Babcock. — Atlanta Constitution

Kobe Bryant has grown into a perfect team player and is seen as an important reason for the Lakers' back-to-back NBA championships (if it happens). — Associated Press

"Good morning, Seattle. The most outstanding high school basketball player from the State of Washington will be heading to New Jersey next month for the ABCD Camp." — The Seattle Times