After leaving the system, Han Sen notices that the press conference has ended. He exits with his coach, Theus.
"A smart strategy," he remarks once they're outside.
Han Sen is confused.
"Your approach will definitely attract some attention," Theus elaborates, though Han Sen realizes the coach has misunderstood his intentions. However, he doesn't correct him, since it's a common tactic nowadays to draw attention with bold statements, unlike in the past when top talent scouts focused on lower leagues as well.
"But you'll also face more pressure for taunting Davidson's star player," he warns.
Han Sen thanks the coach, confident that his summer of hard work has prepared him for this moment. He's determined to leave a good impression on his new coach. Theus, pleased with his response, pats him on the shoulder.
Barry University is an NCAA division two college but large in scale, being the second-largest in the Miami area. Han Sen shares a two-person dorm with Chris Rondo, a 1.75-meter black guard from the basketball team, common in the second-tier league where most players are not tall. Han Sen, in fact, is the tallest at the university.
Reflecting on his transfer, he finds it ironic. In his previous life, he would have done anything to stay Gonzaga University rather than transferring to a second-tier league. Gonzaga had exposure, and with any playing time, making it to the NBA was feasible.
However, the former Han Sen was introverted and couldn't handle the pressure, fearing failure in the top league. Barry University also offered him a rare scholarship, which further influenced his decision to transfer.
Back in the dorm, he logs into his first Facebook account using his new 3rd Gen iPhone, which he bought with the scholarship money.
While others believe he's using a publicity stunt to attract NBA scouts, Han knows that scouts rarely focus on second-tier players. Even though reporters from the press conference might ignore him, Han plans to stir up controversy online by himself.
He checks Stephen Curry's Facebook page, where he's now famous for leading Davidson College to the Elite Eight last season. He heads to his post about the upcoming season.
Han comments on that post, claiming that Han Sen from Barry University boasted about defeating Curry and being the best shooter in the NCAA. Afterward, he logs into several other accounts to like his own comment, creating buzz. Slowly, the likes and replies begin to increase.
Soon, other users join in, questioning who he is and where this university is located. Han, using another account, replies that Barry is Davidson's opening game opponent from a division two league and that Han Sen is a four-star prospect. As more users engage, the conversation escalates, with some mocking Han's bold claim.
Han continues switching between accounts, building momentum and creating a mix of praise and hate. All the while, he monitors his system's [Hater Points], which increase as he generates more negative attention.
Suddenly, his roommate Chris Rondo arrives, interrupting Han's flurry of online activity. He quickly stops and tells Chris to close the door.