Once both teams got out of their respective benches… both of them were emitting strange auras.
Legend's team had undergone a very early four man change, catching Khalil off-guard.
But he didn't break his stride. Whatever he has planned, he'll push through it, no matter who's in front of him. Even if it was three rookies, it doesn't matter to him in the slightest.
Khalil was once again the screener in the pick and roll game, but this time, he didn't roll, and instead remained at the top of the key until Miguel had doggedly drawn three defenders into him like a magnet, opening up a lot more opportunities on where to go.
He sent the ball to Dwayne Evans' left corner, which was picked up by Tremaine Mills, who rotated quick enough to bother the attempt.
Tre himself knew that switching here left another hole wide open.
'Top of the key.'
Khalil got the ball back at the top of the key instantly as he thought. And he's alone.
Miguel's drive funneled three defenders onto him— it could've been four, had Tremaine Mills also followed— leaving three players wide open in the process.
Lamont, Khalil, and their power forward Samuel Andrews Jr.
Khalil straightaway shot the three with a confident, high arcing stroke that hit nothing but nylon.
Tre noticed that Andrews—who moved from underneath the basket— had picked rookie Kristian Geis out on a rough screen on the other baseline, allowing Lamont to roam out closer to Khalil had he elected not to shoot and pass instead.
"What an execution of the motion offense."
Tremaine knew how Khalil's demonic basketball IQ, and decision making translated nicely for him in the NBA in his first life.
His infamous moniker he gained through his laid back attitude in low pressure situations, and the drastic change in attitude in high pressure situations, made fans believe that his aggressive, serious alter ego only came out when he needed it to.
Tremaine watched Khalil lift the championship trophy as the ever present glue guy of his team. His leadership, tactical ability, instincts, and well-rounded prowess took him to the next level.
But the demon was still a youngling now.
"Watch me put on a different show, demon."
Tremaine's inexperienced group were thrust into the fore of the practice match. Four greenhorns and a sophomore backup center.
He had to admit, even if Jaylen Mitchell played closer to an NBA player than a freshman, technically, he still counted as one. DJ was his fellow walk-on, while Kristian Geis was a four star guard born and raised in Germany before his family migrated to the states.
Inbounding the ball to him was their massive, yet lanky center Tarik Diallo, whose staggering wingspan allows him to stifle players attacking the rim with less effort required.
He doesn't want to use up their full shot clock either.
So he pushed hard and aggressively with the ball in his hands.
A series of passes just outside the arc ended up with an entry bounce pass inside, where Jaylen was posting up on Dwayne for the nth time today. Everyone watched as the newfound rivalry these two had blossomed once more.
But this was Tremaine's show.
At some point in time, he lost Miguel, and snaked into the left baseline without much opposition. Kristian got the cue, moved over Tremaine's sudden back screen that caught Lamont Harris unaware, and cut through the baseline.
The baseline cut was instantly noticed by Jaylen's peripheral vision, ending up with an energizing one-handed slam for Geis.
On the sidelines, Coach Mike Roughan liked the last two plays made by their players on the fly. Every single action that led to Khalil Ogwuzeni's three ball was fantastic, if you also add the off-ball screen that freed up Lamont Harris at the end of the play. The keen awareness of Tremaine's sudden back screen was fantastic, and the recognition of the following cut by Jaylen was equally superb.
Roughan's chubby face slowly curled up in a wide smile, scaring the assistants beside him.
These kinds of plays are what makes his basketball zealot blood boil. Players making their own successful in-game decisions, and executing it to devastating effect. Players going above and beyond their predispositions make him enjoy being a coach that can harness these new bloods' potential.
He was analyzing every single piece of movement, and body language, his players were showing that his mind could process.
Every small detail could be big enough to be a reason for consideration in his roster plans.
Within the next few minutes, the substitutes on Khalil's team also started to enter the game. Khalil was vocal on the sidelines, acting somewhat like a player-coach demanding everyone's 100 percent.
Tremaine, on the other hand, had started to make this game his masterclass, the scrimmage that would send him into Coach Roughan's rotation.
A couple of dimes, two triples, a steal, and several key off-ball screen assists that teed up his teammates for easy scores. His underrated defense and quick twitch decision making was ideal for a high tempo scoring attack.
Legend's crew had reached 38 points in a little less than thirteen minutes of action, while allowing only 22. They had the clear upper hand, in both scoring and momentum, with their second unit not losing a single step, and instead had increased their margin further.
Once Tremaine finally got the breather he deserved, he realized that he was already huffing and puffing. His lack of stamina could be a major issue for him at the start of his NCAA career. "Time to buckle up even more on stamina drills then. I can't be a starter with the level of endurance I currently have."
He watched as Khalil recharged and orchestrated an 8-0 run off the bounce, while shutting down Ryan's driving lanes. After two more free throws made by Sean Nguyen, the once mighty sixteen point gap was reduced to six, prompting Legend to take a timeout.
"Stay focused. You all know that Khalil does incredible things when he's in his demonic state." Legend was exuding unparalleled calmness in his person. "Let's weather the storm, and finish the half strong!"
They weathered Khalil's storm in the next few minutes. Even though the lead fluctuated from a mere one point, to as high as ten points, it stabilized at six with a minute and a half left in the half.
Tre was slotted in opposite of Sean Nguyen for the last minute of the half.
As the floor general, Tre knew that he had a lot of power on his hands. And with such power comes great responsibility.
He called a double high screen and directed his other two teammates to do something stupid.
Three screens in total were set.
And once it reached that point, Tremaine knew that a highlight play was about to come.