Chapter 28 28. Disrupted Plans
Although it was a sudden disaster, Thomas was still very happy. The more aggressive Johnson was now, the more interested this colleague was in Zhang Yang. This was definitely a good thing for Zhang Yang.

Through Johnson's analysis, Thomas is more optimistic about Zhang Yang.

Talents such as technology and shooting are not the reasons why Thomas is interested in Zhang Yang. What he likes is that Zhang Yang has excellent physical fitness, tactical awareness, hard work, and possible leadership ability.

High school head coaches rarely look at skills when recruiting players, and most junior high school geniuses rely on their physical fitness to crush everything.

On the basis of good physical fitness, it is rare to be able to shoot three-pointers like Harden or have the passing awareness like Tatum.

There are very few players like DeRozan who have excellent physical fitness and rich offensive means at the age of 14. In a state as big as California, it may not be possible to produce one in a year.

Originally, Thomas just expected Zhang Yang to become an outstanding player in high school and even college. Now, he feels like he can expect more?
He is a coach who truly loves basketball and is eager to train good players. The brighter the future prospects of his players, the happier he is.

...

After training with DeRozan for an entire afternoon, Zhang Yang did not continue training after returning to Thomas's home in the evening. Instead, he took out the textbooks and senior's notes that Thomas had brought back for him in advance to preview the courses for the new semester.

Controlling daily training time and preventing the body from becoming overly fatigued will help ensure the continuity of training and avoid affecting physical development.

Although he is past the fastest growth stage at his age, he still has room to grow, at least to reach the 196 cm he "should" grow to.

Picking up the book again, he felt less irritable than in the previous two days and was able to concentrate on reading.

Maybe it’s because school starts tomorrow and I feel like going to school?

Or maybe you want to focus on learning the basic courses earlier so that you can have more time for training?
Anyway, this is a good thing. If he keeps getting bored with classes, he might really have a headache with his grades in two years. He doesn't want to be associated with big-cheeked people...

The next day, August 8, the fall semester of Compton High School began, and Zhang Yang reported to class on time.

康普敦高中作为康普敦最大的公立高中，虽然只有9-12年级，但学生人数比大部分有着6到12年级7个年级的中学都多，有着超过2000名学生。

There are more than 10 students in Zhang Yang's 600th grade class, almost catching up with the total number of students in the Banshanyao High School where he previously studied.

There are 10 classes in grade 14, divided into four levels: Class A, Class B, Honors Class, and Class.

There is no substantial difference between Class A and Class B. There is only one class in each class. They are two classes composed of the best students in the same grade, with a total of less than 60 students. The best educational resources in the school are in these two classes.

Students in ordinary classes account for more than 6% of the total number of students, most of whom have poor academic performance and are not interested in learning.

Most of the students in the honors class want to study but have average grades, as well as students with various special talents. Students like DeRozan who are specially recruited by the basketball team will be placed in the honors class, and the teacher resources will be much better than those in ordinary classes.

Zhang Yang originally thought that he would be in the honors class, but the original body "dug a hole" for him. His 9th grade report card had a series of A's and he received an academic scholarship... The head teacher of Class B asked him to go there before the school started.

He wanted to explode right there. In this class, if his grades were just barely enough to meet the NCAA requirements, wouldn't he be ranked last? And he had dropped from almost all A's to last. He had no face left!

He didn't think about excelling in academic performance, but he also didn't think about standing out from the crowd.

Fortunately, after he focused on reading the textbooks last night, he found that the required subjects were all very simple. There were only four subjects: English, mathematics, science, which is physics and chemistry, and social studies, which is history. No matter which subject, the difficulty was lower than the 4+X in domestic high schools. It was not very difficult to master these four subjects.

For non-compulsory courses, such as music and art, he could basically get a C as long as he didn't offend the teacher; for physical education class... he was an excellent student in physical education; there was one technical training subject, and he just needed to get a driver's license after he turned 1.

Some of the elective subjects were very difficult. In order to get a scholarship, the original subject chose the difficult literary translation. He would not choose such a difficult one. He planned to learn from the seniors in the school team and see which subjects were not time-consuming and difficult, just to get enough credits.

As a sports student who focuses on basketball, it is enough for him to have excellent grades in the required subjects.

...

There wasn't much to do in the class on the first day of school. The school didn't have an opening ceremony because there was a school anniversary at the end of the month. The head teacher took the roll and handed out the class timetable, and that was it. School was dismissed at around 10 o'clock, allowing students to do what they wanted freely.

As a transfer student, Zhang Yang didn't make any new friends on the first day of school. Only two girls approached him and exchanged phone numbers and email addresses.

He doesn't care much about this. After all, classmates go to school together for a long time, and they will naturally become familiar with each other. Some classmates may not even talk to each other for several years, so there is no need to make too much effort.

The identity of a student is very independent. To take it to the extreme, a student does not need any friends to complete his or her job.

He had just come out of class and was about to wander around the school to feel the atmosphere after school started... and received a text message from DeRozan.

On DeRozan's 14th birthday, his mother bought him a cell phone so that he could make friends and contact his family after entering high school.

Zhang Yang went to DeRozan's home once. He felt very comfortable with the atmosphere there. Both his parents were nice people. Although the family was not wealthy, they were willing to spend money on DeRozan. They would try their best to give DeRozan things that everyone else had, but they would not spoil him.

Zhang Yang arrived at Allen Gymnasium and saw that DeRozan had already started training.

Zhang Yang stepped forward and teased, "Demar, you are the top junior high school student! Shouldn't you be very busy today?"

DeRozan calmly replied: "Those things are too boring and a waste of time. It's better to come to training."

Zhang Yang complained: "I seriously suspect that you have a split personality. You are like two different people during the game and in normal times."

DeRozan snorted and continued training.

Zhang Yang also took a ball and started training.

But not long into his practice, Johnson came to the training ground and asked him to go to the office.

Zhang Yang followed Johnson to the coaching office, where Johnson handed him a form. Zhang Yang asked, "What are the class times every day? What time do I go home and where do I live... Does the team still need this information?"

Johnson responded: "Reserve members need to give us this information so that we can develop a training plan specifically for each of you."

"Oh, so that's how it is... What? I'm in the reserve team?" Zhang Yang reacted suddenly and his eyes widened.

Seeing Zhang Yang's stunned expression, Johnson wanted to laugh, but he couldn't. He waited until the people left before laughing.

Johnson deliberately put on a straight face and asked, "You don't want to join the reserve team? Then I can remove you from the list."

Zhang Yang immediately said, "No! I want to get in! It's just a little sudden... I'm going to start playing this weekend?"

Johnson: "Yes, the Southern California High School League Division III warm-up games start this weekend. You should be ready and hand in the information sheet before 6 p.m. I'll be here before then."

Zhang Yang responded and left the office, feeling both excited and worried.

It would be great to go straight into the reserve team, but his previous plans were disrupted.

He asked Thomas about the team's season plan. The high school league in California is quite complicated. In Southern California alone, there are hundreds of CIF schools and a large number of leagues, from the Southern California League, which is second only to the first-level league, to the competition within a county or even a city... There is a reason why the two coaches lost their hair.

Of the three teams on their team, only the main team does not need to consider the season schedule. The CIF First Division League will begin the warm-up match phase in mid-September.

The freshman team and the reserve team need the coaching staff to decide which league to sign up for.

The freshman team has registered to participate in the Los Angeles County High School League this season. The official 10-man roster will be determined in early October and the new season will begin in mid-October.

Zhang Yang's initial plan was to train hard for a month, strive to get into the freshman team, and try to enter the reserve team in the middle of the season.

Now I have been directly admitted to the reserve team, and there is no time for hard training and preparation.

Perhaps because of the acquisition of the super genius DeRozan, the coaching staff took a wild approach this year and directly let the reserve team sign up for the Southern California League, which is second only to the first-level league.

Generally speaking, the teams participating in this league are the strongest teams among non-first-tier schools. It is not uncommon for the reserve teams of first-tier schools to sign up for this league, but they are rare.

The first team of non-first-level schools is definitely not as strong as the main team of first-level school teams, but they are older, with players in grades 11 and 12, while the reserve team of first-level schools is usually composed of players in grades 9 and 10.

However, after Zhang Yang carefully thought about the competition system of the Southern California League, he felt that joining the reserve team to play in this league might be better than playing in the Los Angeles County League with the freshman team.

The Southern California League is very 'traditional', with an extremely long schedule, from mid-August to the end of February, a total of six and a half months, but the warm-up matches, league games, and championship games add up to just over 8 games.

This schedule allows high school students to have enough time to train and prepare after each game.

The reason why I say ‘traditional’ is because many high school leagues are ‘non-traditional’, mainly the top leagues in each state.

In the mid-to-late 90s, after Garnett, Kobe, and McGrady skipped college and entered the NBA and achieved success, the attention paid to high school games increased significantly, even boosting the tourism industry, and the municipal government invested more in high school games.

In 2001, after the NBA produced its first No. draft pick from a high school student, things became unstoppable, with major leagues revising their schedules and significantly increasing the number of games.

For example, in CIF Division I competitions, the number of league games has increased from 24 to 36, a 50% increase. Add to that 10 or so warm-up games and a maximum of 5 championship games, and a team may have to play up to 5 games in five and a half months.

The Los Angeles County League is also 'untraditional', probably because the schools are close to each other, and about 10 games are scheduled every month.

Zhang Yang walked into the training ground thoughtfully and came to the half court next to DeRozan.

Seeing Zhang Yang distracted, DeRozan asked, "What did the coach say to you?"

Zhang Yang responded: "I was notified that I was selected for the reserve team and will participate in the competition this weekend."

DeRozan's eyes lit up and he said happily, "Oh? That's great. When I play with you, I don't have to worry about no one receiving my pass."

Seeing DeRozan's excitement, Zhang Yang suddenly understood.

What is he worried about? Isn't it that he might not have playing time or shooting opportunities in the reserve team because of his lack of strength? With DeRozan as a pillar, he doesn't have to worry about these things at all.

DeRozan excitedly pulled Zhang Yang to start practicing two-man cooperation. Zhang Yang was naturally happy to do so. He was the one who caught the ball and shot. Practicing cooperation did not interfere with his layups and shooting.

After practicing for more than half an hour, it was almost 12 o'clock. The two were going to eat two hamburgers and then continue practicing. Just as they were about to go to the bathroom to clean up, a dark-haired man rushed into the training ground and came in front of DeRozan.

Tatum: "DeMar, let's have a one-on-one duel! I will definitely win this time!"

DeRozan ignored him and walked away. Tatum said, "What? Are you scared?"

DeRozan stopped and said to Zhang Yang: "Jack, throw me the ball!"

Zhang Yang: “…”

He understood what Johnson meant yesterday when he said, 'Carmelo won't be defeated easily.'

Maybe Tatum will really become DeRozan's "court shadow" in his high school career.

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(End of this chapter)