In the basketball hall of Davidson College, Lin Yi had become the center of attention. While the basketball team had already seen him once, standing beside him now made them truly grasp how unbelievable his transformation was.
"Well, I'm glad Lin will be a new member of our school team." Coach McKillop led the team in welcoming Lin Yi with a round of applause.
Lin Yi leaned down and whispered to Curry, "Why does Anthony look at me so strangely?" It was ironic—Curry was the one tilting his head up to talk to Lin now. Lin still wasn't completely used to it.
"Because you're his competitor now," Curry replied. "But honestly, I don't think he has any advantage over you except for strength."
McKillop decided to have Assistant Coach Jennings take Lin Yi for a physical evaluation before determining his role on the team. Over an hour later, Jennings returned, looking visibly shaken.
"How did it go?" McKillop asked, feeling a little uneasy.
Jennings exhaled deeply and handed over the test results. "Boss, you need to see this for yourself. I've never seen a player like him."
McKillop scanned the report:
Height (without shoes): 211.4 cm
Height (with shoes): 214 cm
We might have the tallest center in school history.
Weight: 97 kg
A bit light, but he's grown so fast, that his weight hasn't caught up yet. We'll need to focus on nutrition and weight training.
Body fat percentage: 6%
Lean, but no reference point yet.
Wingspan: 223 cm
An incredible reach. Dunking must be effortless now.
Standing reach: 287 cm
Vertical leap (running): 36 inches
Decent, but there's room for improvement. His long Achilles tendons suggest he can develop even more explosiveness.
Vertical leap (standing): 30 inches
Sprint (3/4 court): 3.19 seconds
Bench press: 180 kg
McKillop paused. "Wait a minute... 180 kg on the bench press?"
He looked up at Jennings, who just shrugged helplessly. "I checked it twice. It's real."
McKillop was momentarily speechless. For reference, LeBron James had benched 190 kg when entering the NBA. Lin Yi, despite his long arms and lack of specialized training, was already close to that.
"Alright," McKillop said finally. "Let's see what he can do with the ball."
They started with a three-point shooting drill—25 attempts. Lin Yi made 17.
For comparison, Davidson's record was 21 out of 25, set by none other than Stephen Curry.
Then came dribbling drills. To everyone's shock, Lin Yi outperformed Michael Donald, Curry's backup. His ball-handling was smooth, his movements precise. Fancy dribbling? No problem.
McKillop rubbed his chin. "This... feels strange."
Jennings hesitated before saying, "Coach, it's like he's—"
"A seven-foot version of Stephen?" McKillop finished, hardly believing the words himself.
But it wasn't just about height. Lin Yi's speed and coordination were shocking. He hadn't slowed down despite his rapid growth. His agility was still there. He could move like a guard, dribble like a guard—but with the body of a dominant center.
McKillop swallowed hard. I found a treasure.
If Lin Yi underwent professional training, he could become Davidson's second superstar.
Like last year's Kevin Durant? No—Lin Yi was bigger, his frame larger. If he could maintain his speed while developing his strength, he'd be nigh unstoppable.
Because he beats almost everyone.
Centers wouldn't be able to keep up with him. If teams tried to guard him with smaller forwards? Lin Yi could take them inside. His height, wingspan, and shooting ability made contesting his shots nearly impossible.
Just as McKillop had foreseen that giving Curry unlimited shooting freedom was the future of basketball, he now recognized that Lin Yi was a once-in-a-century talent.
If Lin Yi and Curry perfected the pick-and-roll, they could dominate the NCAA.
Because nobody could defend it.
McKillop made a decisive call. "Jennings put together a special training program for Lin."
"First," McKillop told Lin Yi, "we need to change your diet. You'll be gaining weight soon."
Lin Yi nodded.
"Next, you need specialized training for your new height. Jennings was an outstanding college center, so he'll coach you one-on-one in post-play—back-to-the-basket moves, fadeaways, footwork, and pick-and-roll fundamentals."
Lin Yi nodded again but glanced at Jennings skeptically.
He was a center?
Jennings, who was barely 2 meters tall, coughed awkwardly. "Not everyone is a giant like you," he muttered. Many NCAA centers were around his height—that's why true seven-footers often dominated college basketball.
Thus, Lin Yi's special training began. McKillop had a plan.
Lin Yi was Davidson's secret weapon.
And when the time was right, McKillop intended to shock the entire NCAA.