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Chapter 36: Sooners vs Wildcats (Stars in the making)
🕑 Added 2025-04-26 09:35:04 +0000 UTCReggie Miller slowly got up from his seat—right now, all eyes were on him.
Across the U.S., fans were dying to hear what he'd say next.
"Yo! Whoever said this rookie gonna flop—stand up right now! I swear I won't trash you… maybe!" Reggie shouted, barely able to contain his excitement.
Man, that was insane!
Lin Yi's mid-air switch-up had people thinking of Jordan.
Then Blake's monster dunk? That was straight outta Vince Carter's prime.
And when they both hit each other with the throat-slash gesture? Felt like a throwback to when Reggie himself used to go at MJ.
The NBA and NCAA never run outta stories.
Hell, the NBA lives for these kinds of stories.
Qi Jun caught it all on camera. He had no idea this footage was about to explode across every sports network in the country.
At that moment, neither Lin Yi nor Blake Griffin had any clue they'd just set the entire basketball world on fire.
Right now, there wasn't even social media blowing up the moment—no internet hype—but if there was? It would've been trending in a second.
Sure, it was just a college game. Not a championship. No buzzer-beater. But this? This was the top two big men of the 2009 class going head-to-head. That energy? Unreal.
Sick handles, crazy dunks, sharpshooting—none of it means much unless there's a story behind it. And right here? We had one.
At Davidson's home court, the cheerleaders were hyping up the crowd, and the place was straight-up electric.
But hey, great moments come with a price.
Lin Yi and Blake both got hit with techs for the throat-slitting gestures.
......
"Okay, but real talk," someone in the scout row muttered, "Blake's dunk might've been more impressive."
"C'mon, are you blind? Did you see where Lin took off from? And the way he hung in the air like that? No seven-footer should be able to move like that."
"Still, Blake's the better athlete. Plus, he came back with that answer dunk—crazy."
"Don't forget, Lin was torching 'em earlier. He's efficient and smooth."
The scouts started arguing.
Javier Stanford, Lin's biggest hype man in the building, was loving it.
Because once they're comparing you to Blake Griffin? You're legit.
Lin wasn't some soft big man like Hasheem Thabeet. He had size, speed, court vision—high basketball IQ too.
Blake was no slouch either, but both of them? League-bound.
College ball always sets the stage for something bigger.
.....
Back on the court, Steph Curry leaned over to Lin and chuckled, "Dude, you're straight-up stealing my spotlight out here."
Lin just shrugged. "Hey, I was just answering his challenge."
But deep down, every time Lin hit the hardwood, he just felt... alive. Like he had to give it everything.
"I'm not mad at it. Kill him," Steph grinned, giving him a fist bump.
Lin grinned back. He wasn't gonna keep forcing a 1v1 battle, though. That wasn't smart basketball. He played for efficiency, and he'd already danced with Taylor Griffin. Blake could wait his turn.
Before this game ended, though? He had a plan—nail a three right in Blake's face.
Not for show, not for the crowd. Just to complete the moment.
After all, Lin Yi didn't wanna be all flash and no finish.
So, he chilled for a bit and caught his breath. No shame in trusting your teammates—especially when your teammate was Steph freaking Curry.
Across the court, even Blake had backed off. No trash talk, just focus. He looked just as gassed.
I mean, let's be real—going one-on-one like that nonstop? That's exhausting. They couldn't keep trading haymakers every play.
Steph picked it up right where Lin left off. Bottom corner. 45-degree spot. Top of the arc. Deep pull-up? All money.
The Sooners hung in with their firepower—Griffin bros were relentless, and their role guys stepped up too.
Once that Lin vs. Blake heat cooled off, the crowd dipped a little. Like, the foreplay was over, and the climax came and went too fast.
But behind the scenes, every scout was scribbling notes.
"This isn't just a show," one of them said. "It's smart basketball. Pacing. Picking your moments. That's the real game."
Griffin wasn't just raw power—he played under control. Smart, calculated.
FIRST HALF OVER
Back in the commentary booth, Reggie Miller stretched and grinned, eyes still wide.
"Whew. Man, that was wild."
He turned to his partner. "Both of these kids have sky-high potential. One's a freak athlete with raw power, and the other's got polished skills, wingspan, and IQ. What do you think?"
He nodded. "Comes down to how they develop once they hit the league. Talent gets you in the door—but staying in? That's a whole different beast."
Reggie leaned back. "Facts. Tons of college stars vanish in the NBA. We've seen it. Guys like Oden? Unstoppable in school. Just couldn't stay healthy."
He paused and continued.
"Durant made it work. Rose too—until the injuries. Roy? Man, if his knees had held up…"
Sometimes? It's just fate.
And right now, the scouts couldn't wait to see the second half.
Because Lin and Blake might've cooled down—for now.
But they weren't done.
Not even close.
After the Wildcats' cheerleaders wrapped their halftime dance, both squads stepped back onto the court, ready for Round 2.
