Chapter 54 - Progress (1/2)

Shun entered the gym for the first string. Today was the sorting test for the new first-years, but the first-string functioned as usual.

The first string members didn't care about the sorting test. They only cared about the members who made it to the first-string.

Of course, there were exceptions. Mibuchi and Shun were very interested in the new prospects, as the captain and vice-captain, they had to make sure that the future of the team was strong and the second-string inductees were the very future of the first-string team.

Of course, that didn't mean that they were going to see the sorting process for the first year.

They just wanted to see who got into the second string as a first-year.

Shun had arrived late as today was his turn for classroom cleaning duty. He looked around to see all the regulars had already arrived.

They were warming up for the day. Shun went to where Kaitani and Yuki were stretching and greeted them.

Shun: ”Hey, guys! How are you doing today?”

Kaitani and Yuki looked up at Shun as he started to warm up.

Kaitani: ”We are doing fine. What about you? Why didn't you come to the club solicitations, on the first day.”

Shun remembered the club solicitations, the fight among the clubs to attract new members for their clubs. The basketball club didn't need to look for new first-years, as they were pretty famous, and those who wanted to join would join on their own.

But they did go to the solicitations as one never knew when they might succeed in recruiting a newbie who might become a good player and help the team.

The prime example of this was Otsubo. He had started playing in middle school and then rose to the captain of the team, participating in two Nationals, and leading the team as the captain once.

Shun: ”I was busy with some work with my class. Our homeroom teacher is really particular about the class' image. She grilled us about the ground rules after school. I wasn't able to come because it took too long.”

The three of them finished their warmup and moved on to the workout with the whole team.

Between the workout, Yuki asked them about the new second-year that was entering the first-string in a few days.

Yuki: ”Did you hear about the second-year that is going to join the first-string?”

Shun: ”I saw the guy when I went out to the second-string gym, he was insanely tall, he is as taller than Otsubo-san despite, being two years younger than him.”

Kaitani whistled and asked.

Kaitani: ”That means he is taller than Aone-san.”

Shun nodded and made a prediction.

Shun: ”If he doesn't stop growing, he might reach two-hundred centimeter by the time he reaches high school.”

Yuki thought about if the tall second-stringer could become an asset to the team.

Yuki: ”Do you think he will be able to join the bench for this year's National preliminaries.”

Shun nodded and spoke his thoughts.

Shun: ”Definitely, I sometimes go and see second-string's practice in my off time. He is has become good enough to at least pull his weight in the first-string, he will definitely join the bench, before the preliminaries.”

Shun: ”I know about the dude, but I don't know his name. You guys were with him in the second-string, you must know his name.”

Yuki looked at Shun and revealed his name.

Yuki: ”Hyakuzawa Yūdai.” [1]

-*-*-*-*-

It was time for the mini-game of the day, and Tokiawadai's coach smiled as he looked at the progress shown by the first-string.

Coach: ”They have definitely grown.”

He looked at the captain of the first-string and saw the difference in skills between the time he started shooting off the dribble and now.

Mibuchi received the ball at the three-point line, but a defender was right on his mark. Mibuchi moved along the three-point line, trying to get away from his defender and successfully evaded him by stopping and preforming a pivot to go forward in the opposite direction creating plenty of space between them.

Mibuchi took the shot from the three-point line, successfully making the shoot and scored three-point.

Coach: 'His accuracy has become better, and he has a good feeling about when to shoot off the dribble, and when to wait for the ball to come to him from his teammates.

And, if he completes the move, he showed to me before the spring vacations, then he might just become the most all-rounded shooter I have seen in a while.'

-*-*-*-*-

Coach turned his eyes towards Aone. He had seen Aone jumping for rebounds, as other members did there shooting drills.

Now he saw Aone dominating the rebounds in both power and height.

Coach: 'He hasn't grown in height in the last couple of months, but his jumping ability is getting better, he is jumping higher and higher. He had completely changed his style from balanced to defense.'

Coach felt good as he saw Aone taking the responsibility as a third-year seriously and changing his style to suit the team better.