Even Pierce, despite being able to chat in any group, truly knows very few people here, mostly those he met at the Adidas Training Camp last year.
At the Great Western Forum, guided by the staff, the four of them each received their competition number tags. They had to prepare their own game outfits, so all four wore their school team uniforms.
There are very few participants in the three-point contest, only 6 people in total, all advancing directly and just need to prepare for the competition on the evening of the 28th.
The dunk contest has 25 participants, with a preliminary round in the afternoon. Each contestant gets two dunk attempts, judged by retired players invited as judges, to decide which 6 will advance to the finals on the evening of the 28th. The 26th and 27th are for preparation.
There are 45 candidates for the High School All-Star selection, randomly distributed into 5 teams based on position. Each team will play two selection matches today and tomorrow. After tomorrow's games finish, students from Los Angeles invited to the event will vote for 10 All-Star starters and 8 substitutes, divided into two teams based on the votes.
Among the candidates for the high school All-Star, two are participating in the dunk contest, one is Carter, and unexpectedly, the other is Tyronn Lue!
Zhang Hao only participated in the dunk contest, while Muhammad only participated in the All-Star selection.
While the dunk contest is fairly official, Zhang Hao feels like the All-Star selection is just McDonald's playing around, as if it's just a filler event. It's far from the professional level of selection Pierce told him about at the Adidas Training Camp! No wonder Pierce has refused the McDonald's All-Star for two years; he only came for fun this year since he was invited to the dunk contest.
After Tyronn Lue received his All-Star selection competition number tag, he went over to collect his dunk contest number tag, unexpectedly spotting Pierce!
Tyronn Lue asked in surprise, "Paul, you're in the dunk contest?"
"Yeah, what's with the look in your eyes?" Pierce saw that expression that annoyed him again!
"Did you get drunk last night? That can't be right, we didn't even drink." Tyronn Lue was genuinely surprised.
"You think I can't dunk either?" Pierce coldly snorted after speaking.
Tyronn Lue honestly nodded.
Pierce was quite unhappy, spat, and said, "Don't be fooled by my build, I'm keeping the strength. My bounce is amazing, just wait and see! I'm a seeded candidate for this year's dunk contest champion!"
"Oh? Really? Then I'll definitely watch your game."
"No, it's just because I'm too good that I disdain participating in high school competitions. I'm only here accompanying Aix, so I've chosen to withdraw."
"..."
Chatty + Comedian... This is completely different from the Pierce in Zhang Hao's future memories!
All this, did the guy change after being stabbed a dozen times? Just like Teacher Sa who changed after being "stabbed" a billion times by Jack Ma?
Zhang Hao felt it's better to be a quiet handsome guy next to Pierce, to avoid people thinking they're alike!
Indeed, the boisterous Pierce withdrew from the event right after collecting his number tag.
However, Zhang Hao wasn't expecting much from Pierce competing anyway. This chatty friend would just embarrass himself if he did join. Apparently, he got slimmer in college but right now he's really overweight! It's good he's not participating.
Despite withdrawing, Pierce didn't leave; he still planned to enjoy two nights at the hotel. As long as players accept the invitation and report in, they can stay until checking out on the 29th. Apart from a few champion prizes, this event mostly offers free labor.
Still, no matter his leader-like aura, Pierce is just a high schooler, purely visiting to take advantage of the hotel stay.
At the training ground, Zhang Hao arrived for preparation, surrounded by 23 Black players, most of whom he doesn't know. Among those he met yesterday are Desmond Mason, Ricky Davis, Tyronn Lue, and Carter, only getting familiar with Tyronn Lue.
Zhang Hao wanted to know more 'talents', hoping some would become NBA players he didn't recognize, yet he hesitated and gave up.
Last night Tyronn Lue was alone, making it easy for him to strike up a chat and bond. Now with a crowd around him, being of a different color... keeping things normal suffices.
As for the dunk contest... Zhang Hao has full confidence!
His bounce has always been great; Scott Collins spotted him for his judgment of ball positions and excellent bounce when he started 9th grade. His skills then showed nothing notable, captured Collins' attention purely through athletic ability.
Looking at it with future memory, Zhang Hao was surprised to see the bounce rating of 93, yet he's used to it since during this era he's always been able to jump like that.
Regarding California high school circles where his bounce isn't quite famous, that's to avoid causing trouble for Pierce. Initially, when first joining league matches, he loved dunking, once getting excited and dunking over the opponent's center, leading to a foul by the rival, and then Pierce took teammates and started a fight...
Ever since, Zhang Hao seldom dunked, his personality also played a part. Initially, loved dunking due to excitement from entering the United States high school league stage, later the urge to dunk fiercely gradually faded. Dunk or Layup, both yield two points, sometimes dunking over opponents triggers fights, essentially unnecessary.
Even if Zhang Hao gained future memories, his approach and style in matches remained commendable as formerly, not weak, simply avoiding trouble.
If Zhang Hao in present day faced this, he wouldn't obsess over showy performance in games, playing well matters more. However, given the chance to dunk an open hoop, capitalize and showcase athletic talent.
Layup makes two points, dunking an open hoop makes two points, but hey, dunking looks cool!
Previously triggering fights when dunking over opponents, back then he didn't grasp the difference between dunking over people and dunking alone.
Truthfully, his former dunks lacked flair, just like other players from China, with straightforward play, cutting in, catching, shooting, blocking, rebounding methodically, dubbed small forward yet playing as power forward or even center. At home, with height, comes center play from childhood.
Without high school players like Jermaine O'Neal or Garnett inside, the dual inside combo of Zhang Hao and Pierce is unbeatable.
The 25 contestants completed warm-up under professional trainers hired by McDonald's before undergoing physical tests.
The focus isn't high on three-point contest and All-Star match, inviting many just builds atmosphere. Despite the low stature of their All-Star event now, they aim to replicate the Adidas Training Camp. The complete testing process remains exceedingly professional.
Jump tests measure standing touch versus assisted jump touch height difference.
These 25 energetic teens showcase their physique exhaustively during tests...
Yet when Zhang Hao jumped, many were shocked, a 43-inch running jump! That's 109 cm!
Three surpassed Zhang Hao: Desmond Mason, 45 inches equating to 114 cm; Carter with 46 inches equaling 116 cm; and another only 16-year-old sophomore student named Corey Maggette, possessing a 45-inch bounce.
Others' jumping also excelled, at least reaching 40 inches or 100 cm, similar to Zhang Hao, amidst many. Zhang Hao realized… surrounded by beasts!
His skin color combined with such bounce indeed startled others, due to the large Chinese and Asian populace, people recognize Chinese individuals globally. In athletic ability realms, Zhang Hao differs from their conventional perception.
Nonetheless, others' jumping prowess remained remarkable.
Zhang Hao observed these rivals, notably Corey Maggette. However, seeing the dense-haired, frail sophomore boy, Zhang Hao didn't recognize the future muscleman challenged strength against James, Artest, Anthony, and Pierce before 2010.
As the saying goes, birds of a feather, in mere two days he met many future prominent basketball players. Zhang Hao understood the importance of participating in such events, offering chances to meet many during this formative phase.