Chapter 4: The Three-Step Layup and the Little Hook Shot
Returning to the basketball court, there were far fewer people this time. After all, it was midday and most people were resting. Yuhang casually dribbled the ball and said to Minghan, “Let me show you how to do a layup.”
He dribbled a few times, then grabbed the basketball, took two strides toward the hoop, and on the third step, scooped the ball up, sending it cleanly through the net.
The sequence wasn’t difficult, and Minghan quickly got the hang of it. Afterwards, the two of them began practicing hook shots.
“The hook shot is the best measure of a player’s skill under the basket. Compared to a regular shot, it’s used much closer to the hoop. If you can master the hook shot, your scoring percentage will skyrocket. In Class Six, Brother Qiang is a master at this move—combine that with his six-foot frame, and he’s nearly unstoppable in eighth grade. Last year, he scored twenty-seven points by himself in the finals and led his team to the championship.”
“Honestly, the ultimate goal in basketball is just to get the ball in the net. The form doesn’t matter all that much. But having solid technique lays the foundation for improvement down the road.”
Yuhang was so passionate as he spoke that he nearly spat in his excitement. Minghan burst out laughing, “I always thought you were only passionate about Japanese culture, but when it comes to basketball, you really know your stuff!”
Daxu shot Minghan a look. “He’s the best ball handler in our whole school.”
He said our whole school, not just our grade.
Though Minghan had long heard that Yuhang was an outstanding basketball player, he hadn’t realized just how impressive he was.
Yuhang smiled awkwardly. “I get around thanks to my endless hours of watching games and my excellent basketball skills. Otherwise, how do you think I know so many people?”
He did have a lot of friends; upperclassmen often came by to invite him for a game.
For a moment, Minghan thought that being able to play basketball was truly a great thing. School life was so monotonous and dull, but basketball wasn’t just exercise or fun—it was about the people you met on the court.
“Don’t worry, Yuhang! I’ll practice hard,” Minghan said earnestly.
Yuhang rarely saw Minghan so serious and burst out laughing. “What’s with that look? You make it sound like we’re about to become sworn brothers or something. The only reason you’re practicing is so Zhang Xiaozhen will cheer you on from the sidelines, right?”
“Zhang Xiaozhen?” Daxu was stunned for a moment before he understood. “Minghan, you like that short girl? Your taste is terrible! Chen Li is obviously the prettiest in our class.”
Zhang Xiaozhen was indeed quite short, probably around five-foot-one. But to each their own! Hearing Daxu insult his goddess, Minghan pounced on him and gave him a beating. “That’s for insulting your future sister-in-law…”
They played for over an hour before heading to Yuhang’s dorm to shower and get ready for afternoon classes.
Yuhang said to Minghan, “Let’s play in a team game tonight. You need to use those moves in real action for them to matter.”
Minghan was a little nervous, but he still agreed.
That afternoon, their homeroom teacher happened to be giving the lesson. Adjusting her glasses, she began earnestly, “Your main focus must be on your studies. There are less than five hundred days until the high school entrance exam. However, when it comes to honor, we must give our best effort. We must become a model class.”
Yuhang slumped over his desk helplessly. “She makes it sound so easy. Our class lineup is basically a punching bag for the other classes, just there to boost their confidence!”
Minghan remembered how their class had come in second-to-last in last year’s track meet; the homeroom teacher’s face had turned black as coal. She kept telling the grade director, “These kids are always studying; they’ve completely neglected exercise.”
The grade director didn’t say a word, just awkwardly nodded.
You’re the head teacher of the honors class—whatever you say has to be right!