At the center of the court, as the two teams’ starters took their positions...
The challenge between the Devil’s Deacon Team representing the ACC and the SEC’s Florida Gators began.
Tonight, in the starting lineup, the Devil’s Deacon Team’s backcourt was partnered by Chris Paul and Gray.
And the three forwards were Reeve, Qin Yue, and Ellis.
After gaining weight over the summer, now standing at 206 cm tall and weighing 91 kg, Reeve, who excels at cutting and off-ball movement, has become a reliable partner for Qin Yue at the forward position.
He can even rotate to the inside when necessary, using his mobility to contend with the opponent’s power forwards.
Just in the stands...
Looking at the starting five of the Devil’s Deacon Team on the court, Vaccaro commented, "How far Wake Forest can go this year still depends on Qin and Chris...
Although their roster is not short of experienced upperclassmen, most of these older players are mediocre and difficult to rely on."
In fact, if Merritt hadn’t hyped Qin Yue up so much before the game...
Vaccaro might have instead appreciated tonight’s Florida Gators’ lineup more.
Inside, Lee and Horford make up the team.
This new and old combination consists of an SEC star power forward and a highly promising rising star.
And on the perimeter, they have college star backcourt players like Anthony-Roberson and Matt-Walsh.
Additionally, on the forward line, the Gators also successfully recruited Corey Brewer, a talented high schooler from Tennessee who had been part of the McDonald’s All-American team.
"All five starting players from the Gators have the potential to play in the NBA in the future." Vaccaro commented with admiration on the Gators’ starting lineup tonight.
At this moment, Vaccaro proved the value of his reputation as a legend in American basketball business with his comment.
Because as Vaccaro said...
Tonight, the Gators’ five starting players will eventually take to the NBA stage one by one.
And if you include Joakim Noah, Taurean Green, Chris Richard sitting at the sidelines guarding the water cooler...
This Gators team not only has eight future NBA players but, incredibly, they have three potential future NBA All-Star inside players.
And on the sidelines, on the Gators’ bench...
Despite knowing that his disciples are challenging the Devil’s Deacon Team led by Qin Yue and Paul, Gators’ coach Billy Donovan is also full of confidence for this opening battle.
In March Madness earlier this year, Jim Calhoun’s strategy to besiege Qin Yue was notably successful.
Thus, in Donovan’s view, with the Gators’ ample lineup of inside players, they can replicate Kang University’s victory pattern from back then.
You might be a top pick favorite next year.
But we also have David Lee, Horford, and Brewer.
Donovan believes that the Gators have laid a comprehensive net around Qin Yue.
Will the outcome of the game go as he wishes?
On the court, as the game just started, faced with the Gators’ defensive net inside, Qin Yue immediately refreshed people’s understanding of him.
After receiving the ball from Paul, standing at the right 45-degree angle, Qin Yue repeatedly teased David Lee while in a triple-threat position.
As a result, Lee, who dared not get too close nor stray too far from Qin Yue, suddenly felt a sense of frustration swelling in his chest.
But before Lee could react, Qin Yue, after releasing the ball, successfully created distance between himself and Lee with a lateral dribble between the legs.
Then, without hesitation, Qin Yue jumped straight up and, while maintaining vertical balance in the air, executed a graceful jump shot.
In the stands, witnessing this scene, Vaccaro finally sensed something extraordinary about Qin Yue through his combination of moves earlier, "He’s 6 feet 11 inches tall, yet can dribble like a guard?"
In the NBA, many inside players received evaluations like "can dribble like a guard" when entering the draft.
After all, being unable to handle the ball well in the basketball world’s highest court is quite embarrassing.
But at this moment, Vaccaro’s comment on Qin Yue does not merely praise his excellent dribble fundamentals.
It’s about his agile maneuverability.
One must know that being able to dribble like a guard and being able to move adeptly on the court like a guard to shake off opponents and make a shot are two completely different things.
The former merely praises basic skills.
Implies unlimited potential.
At this moment, Vaccaro saw limitless possibilities in Qin Yue.
Especially when Qin Yue, returning back, astonishingly blocked Horford’s bank shot with remarkable recovery speed...
My God! He got back from beyond the three-point line to the paint in an instant?
Vaccaro couldn’t believe what he just saw, but he knew for sure... in recent years of college basketball, this skill was only exhibited by Duncan!
Immediately after, on the court, Qin Yue, who had blocked Horford, quickly turned and rushed toward the Gators’ half.
And in a blink of an eye, Qin Yue’s "shadow," Chris Paul, also showcased his passing prowess to the world...
When Wake Forest’s light and shadow completed this court-spanning connection, as Qin Yue, soaring in the sky, skillfully switched the ball from under his legs to his right hand...