"Is this Butler University? It looks pretty good, but the campus is too small, like it's ten times smaller than VT, right?" Sonya looked at the 290-acre campus in front of her with scrutiny. university campus.
"Butler University only has more than 4400 students. Of course, it is incomparable with VT, but it is willing to give Stephen a chance." Dale said.
Curry stood at the end, looking nervously at the school in front of him, his fingers clenched, then loosened, and then clenched again, his knuckles turned white from too much force.
The family had just arrived from Indianapolis International Airport in a 25-minute taxi ride.
After learning that Butler University invited Curry to try out, they immediately booked tickets for the first flight for the next day, which is today, and came to Indiana.
"Don't be nervous, Stephen, Butler University is not a famous basketball school, and there won't be too strict requirements, you'll be fine." Dell said.
Curry took a deep breath and said firmly:
"Dad, I will take this opportunity."
Although Butler University is also an unknown small school in the United States, it entered the NCAA championship four years ago. Best option so far.
You know, Davidson College's enrollment is only 1700 people, and the last time it broke into the NCAA tournament was in 1969, when Dell was only 5 years old.
The three of them entered the school, and the coordinator of the Butler University Basketball Operations Department was already waiting at the door. He went forward and led the Curry family through the quiet campus to Hinkle Arena, which stands on the east side of the school.
When several people entered the arena, the players were training, and several coaches were guiding them.
Dell noticed that a white man demonstrated the technical moves in person, and the players listened convincingly, while on the sidelines, a young man of yellow race with his arms crossed, watched the team's training without saying a word.
They obviously also noticed Curry and his party, and all their attention was shifted here, and the yellow man even walked over here.
Dale felt a little strange in his heart. He smiled kindly at the yellow-skinned young man, walked towards the white man, stretched out his hand, and said:
"Coach Ronan, hello, I'm Dell Curry, Stephen Curry's father."
The Bulldogs changed their head coach not long ago, and the outside world does not know the specific situation. Dell just learned the name of the head coach by asking the person who received him on the road.
In his opinion, this white man with very standardized technical movements must be Ronan, the head coach of the Bulldogs.
The white man froze for a moment, held Dell's hand, and said with a smile:
"Hi Mr. Curry, I'm glad you're here for the workout, but I have to say, I'm Brad Stevens, the Bulldogs' assistant coach, and this is our head coach, Ronan. "
He pointed to Zhang Yu with a smile in his eyes.
Dell looked at the yellow man, feeling extremely absurd in his heart.
This young man who seems to be in his early 20s is actually the head coach of the Bulldogs? !
Is he just out of date, or is Butler just crazy?
But Dale couldn't find a reason for Stevens to tease him. He calmed down his surprise and said awkwardly:
"Sorry, Coach Ronan, your age is really surprising. I have never seen a coach as young as you."
He stretched out his hand to Zhang Yu, but Zhang Yu didn't respond, but kept looking at Curry, with a strange emotion mixed with excitement and memory in his eyes, unaware of Dell's words.
Matthew Graves stabbed Zhang Yu with his elbow, and lowered his voice to remind:
"Ronan!"
Zhang Yu was so excited that he held Dale's hand as if he had just woken up from a dream, and said with a smile:
"Huh? Oh...it's okay, Dell, but you want to give me your signed jersey. I'm your fan."
Dale froze for a moment, then said with a smile:
"Haha, no problem, this is my wife Sonya, and this is my son Stephen... Stephen, come here."
Curry walked over. He was already a little nervous, but Zhang Yu kept staring at him, and he became even more nervous. His hands were tangled together at a loss, and he said:
"Coach Ronan, hello, I'm Stephen Curry, I'm from Charlotte Christian School, I'm a shooting guard on the field, good at shooting and running without the ball..."
His voice was a little sharp because of tension, and there was a slight trill.
Hearing Curry's youthful voice, Zhang Yu finally broke free from that strange emotion.
He is no longer that investment analyst. In front of Curry, he is not a fan, but a head coach who can determine his future basketball career.
He needs to face Curry with the attitude of a head coach.
"Stephen, take it easy, just call me Ronan, I'm only 23 years old, not much older than you." Zhang Yu said
Curry took a deep breath, put down his crossed hands, and said:
"Okay, Coach Ronan."
"Actually, my surname is Zhang, and Ronan is my first name."
"I remember, Coach Ronan."
"Haha..." Julian Beko chuckled, and shut his mouth quickly when he saw everyone looking at him.
"What are you doing here? Come with me!" Stevens shouted, and Brandon Miller and Terry Johnson led the players to continue training.
"Let's do a physical test first?" Matthew Graves suggested after the players left.
Curry naturally had no objection, and came to the sidelines to change his clothes and prepare for the physical test.
The Bulldogs recruit new players every year, and they are very familiar with the physical test process. Curry has participated in trial training at an unknown number of universities, and he is not a novice, so the physical test is completed quickly.
"Ronan, is this what you call a 'true genius'?" Matthew frowned after reading the physical test report in his hand.
"He is 6 feet 1 (1 meter 85) and weighs 159 pounds (72 kilograms). Are you sure he is playing basketball, not baseball? Have you seen his thin body? I am afraid that he will be killed on the court. With a slam, and his wingspan is only 6 feet 2, it is difficult for him to create enough shooting space in fierce confrontation... This kind of thin shooter is difficult to play after entering the NCAA, it is the easiest Overrated player type, I suggest you think carefully about it." Matthew expressed his opinion unceremoniously.
"Congratulations, Matthew." Zhang Yu said unhurriedly.
"Huh?" Matthew was a little puzzled.
"Your vision has risen to the level of coach K. His opinion is the same as yours. He even thinks that Stephen Curry can't adapt to the intensity of NCAA confrontation. Not even the head coach of any famous school is optimistic about him." Zhang Yu said.
"In this case, why did we invite him to try out?" Matthew was a little confused by Zhang Yu's words.
"Because I am the head coach, I want him to play for me." Zhang Yu said seriously.
Matthew Graves: Are you polite?
"I won't joke about my position as head coach," Zhang Yu said in a low voice, "Steph Curry is indeed a genius, a different kind of genius."
"But he is not suitable for playing basketball, he has no physical talent at all!" Matthew's voice became louder.
Although he is only an assistant coach, he has been responsible for the recruitment of the Bulldogs for many years, so he naturally has his own persistence.
"Physical talent is only a part of talent. Shooting touch, hand-eye coordination, reaction speed...these are also talents." Zhang Yu retorted.
In Zhang Yu's previous life, Curry was also considered to have no talent at the beginning, but after Curry started the small ball era, there was no super shooter like Curry. People gradually discovered that his hand-eye coordination ability and shooting touch look at history. Also a top talent.
"What? Is the touch considered a talent? Shit..." Matthew Graves finally took into account Zhang Yu's status as the head coach, and changed his wording, "Shooting can be trained, but height and long arms can't be trained. come out!"
In 2006, basketball was still a traditional basketball. Everyone paid attention to the body, the inside line, and the confrontation.
As for shooting... What's the use of that thing in a high-intensity confrontation?
The Curry family, who were a little further away, could vaguely hear the coaching staff's dispute. In the intermittent voice, Curry keenly captured the word "talent".
Now as soon as he hears this word, the words failure and rejection will appear in his mind reflexively.
"Sure enough, isn't talent enough..." Curry murmured.
Dale didn't know how to comfort his son. He was originally a gentle and inarticulate person, so he could only repeat:
"There must be a chance, there must be a chance!"
"Well, let Stephen take a shooting test, and you will see his talent." On the other side, after a stalemate, Zhang Yu suggested.
Matthew Graves agreed, and he wanted to see how well this baby-faced shot could make Ronan insist on his ridiculous opinion.
Afterwards, Zhang Yu and Matthew came to the three of Curry. Zhang Yu looked into Curry's eyes and said slowly:
"Stephen, you should know how disadvantaged you are in terms of physical talent, right?"
Curry nodded dejectedly.
"But I never think that only the body is a talent. In my opinion, shooting touch, hand-eye coordination, reaction speed, basketball IQ...these are all talents! And you, the most talented shooter I have ever seen, "Zhang Yu's voice was low and firm, but then the tone changed, "But unfortunately, my assistant coach doesn't see it that way. He stubbornly believes that it is difficult for you to gain a foothold in the NCAA."
He glanced at Matthew Graves, and the latter didn't feel embarrassed, but said with a serious face:
"Sorry, but out of duty, I have to state my opinion as it is."
Curry was not angry. He was attracted by Zhang Yu's words. No one had ever told him that his shooting touch is also a talent!
Zhang Yu turned around and continued:
"So, we will conduct a shooting test on you later, please show your best level and let my stubborn assistant coach see what a real shooter is!"
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