Illinois vs North Carolina (2) - Deshaun’s Pride

A week ago.

For the first time this preseason, scouts were allowed inside the Fighting Illini training facility to watch, and evaluate their talent. Since the NBA today is much more focused on scouting for new talents than ever before, the teams themselves are more devoted to not letting prospective diamonds in the rough escape through the proverbial net.

On the Illinois' roster alone, NBA draftniks rave about three people. All three are expected locks to be selected in next year's NBA rookie draft barring unforeseen circumstances.

Jaylen Mitchell, Khalil Ogwuzeni, and Legend Stone Jr.

Those three are the primary reason for most of the scouts that came here today. It was to evaluate where they're at currently.

Khalil and Legend both had been extensively scouted for years now, and their reports will not easily change by much throughout the season, barring some insane additions to their game. However, it's different for Jaylen Mitchell.

He might be one of the most nationally scouted players in high school, but like every other high school prospect—either they went pro in the G-League, or abroad, or went to college— would continue to be extensively followed by scouts for them to know if their high school levels of play would translate into a higher level of competition.

So calling Jaylen Mitchell the biggest reason for most scout visits is not an understatement at all.

At this moment, an exciting three versus three was ongoing in the main court.

And neither of the three players the scouts were looking for was stealing the show.

"Who's that small, good looking guy?" A seasoned scout from a western conference powerhouse asked.

"I haven't seen him before." A friend of his, who was another western conference scout, affirmed. "Could he be a walk-on?"

"No way, right? Check the high school recruiting database rankings." An older man told his younger male counterpart.

"Uhmmm… sir? I don't know his name…" Immediately, the younger scout realized they knew literally nothing about this small guard.

"Fuck…"

While they're bantering, Tremaine had drilled another contested three, and threw an alley-oop to Khalil.

"Who's this guy?"

"Search for Tremaine Mills, East Plains High School, Illinois." The voice of assistant coach Simmons entered the ear of the gathered scouts. "He's our secret weapon."

East Plains High? Isn't that 4-star Deshaun Richardson's school?

Everyone looked at the assistant coach like she's lost her mind.

Secret weapon? What the fuck?

The young scout typed in the small guard's name on the database...

He's a fucking 1-star recruit… what is this… he's also 5'9… and his stats were not even that good...

How is this guy your secret weapon?

"Something doesn't add up." The veteran western conference scout seriously wondered. "How is he this good? I mean, he's just trashing Ryan Brown like their seniority is reversed! He's a supposed 1-star!"

Behind them, Tremaine just put the team's best defender Ryan on skates, and buried a deep three afterward.

"The guy's a serious late bloomer, I tell you." Coach Simmons enthusiastically announced, before leaving the scouts to their own devices.

The scout group quieted down after the big reveal. Most of them typed about their new intel on their phones, while some curiously watched the scene unfolding upon their eyes.

Jaylen Mitchell, the freshman sensation, and Tremaine Mills, the undersized 1-star unknown— facing off at the top of the key.

***

50-58.

The scoreboard tells the story of an electric, high scoring affair.

There's still more than a minute left in the half, but both teams were already poised to break the hundred point barrier.

It was even more ridiculous that this lead was built by two freshmen. The seventh ranked in the nation, and the tenth ranked in the nation.

North Carolina's Trent Powell had been dominant. The nation's tenth ranked freshman had 24 points in just 11 field goal attempts, and his contributions were all over the field, with 6 rebounds and 4 assists. The Tar Heels reliance on him showed from how much confidence their head coach had in his top small forward recruit.

Opposite him, the seventh ranked Jaylen Mitchell was showing who's the better prospect, and who's the more polished of the two. His raw stats might be less than Powell, but his contributions go beyond the stat sheet. He had 20 points, 7 rebounds, 8 assists, 2 steals, and 2 shot blocks in a lesser amount of time on the floor.

Illinois might be down 8, but their team was expected to be down bigger than this.

The scouts on the bleachers were nothing but ecstatic. To them, a bullish fight between top freshmen like this one between Powell and Mitchell is always an absolute treat. As the game went on, these scouts furiously scribbled on their phones, laptops, and some even on notebooks.

For these men, showing up here is already worth their while.

Some player movement within the Illinois bench woke some of the scouts up from their reverie.

Tremaine, who was sitting just behind the benches, also felt a mix of jealousy, and excitement.

'Damn it, Deshaun!'

Deshaun Richardson ran straight to the scorer's table and looked back behind his own bench to find his childhood friend Tremaine. He wore an aura of confidence and determination, something which Tremaine had rarely seen before.

Deshaun wore the number 23, which was an ode to both LeBron's number, and his mom's age when she became a mother to him.

He gave Tremaine a nod, right as the announcer announced him getting subbed in for Jaylen Mitchell.

"I'll go on ahead, bro!" Deshaun was giddy, to a point where he found Tremaine, but forgot to look for her girlfriend, which was just behind Tremaine too…

Deshaun's journey had begun.

Only one minute remained of the first half, and both teams had already dug deep into their benches.

Sean Nguyen dribbled down the court while calling the shots. Apparently, it was the first time today that either of the teams settled down on halfcourt, and tried to utilize the shot clock to its fullest effect.

Deshaun Richardson got the handoff at the top of the key, and immediately sent the ball deep inside the paint, where Quandre Thornton was sealing another defender.

Quandre backed down on his defender, who was astoundingly, as bulky and as jacked as he was. Good thing, Caleb Wilson was wide open on the other side.

Caleb's insanely quick release ended up with a monstrous three. Caleb even waved three fingers of his right hand up.

The scouts watching didn't miss what actually happened, before the kickout.

Deshaun Richardson read Caleb Wilson's path to the right corner, and after going through one screen from Sean, Caleb then had Sean's defender in tow.

Knowing that the new defender would be faster, Deshaun set up another quick off-ball screen to send Caleb on his way.

The Tar Heels backups moved the ball pretty well the next possession, and found a way past Tarik Diallo for a layup.

As the last play of the half, with a few ticks remaining on the clock, Sean Nguyen sent a streaking bounce pass to Deshaun, who's cutting in from the baseline.

Deshaun's smile was electric, after he slammed it down to end the half, scoring the first points of his collegiate career.

Tremaine's hands curled up in a ball, in both jealousy and excitement.

***

Extras:

After Deshaun Richardson stood up and went to the scorer's table before checking into the game, his girlfriend Emily's eyes sparkled.

'You earned this, babe!' She said to herself while snatching some lovely glances onto Deshaun.

Apparently, Deshaun promised him that he'd look for her and give her a smile before he checked into the game, if that chance ever came today.

Now, she's waiting for him to honor his end of the promise.

Deshaun turned around to face them, and Emily thought she was the most beautiful woman in the arena.

'Here it is…' She was absolutely elated…

But why is he looking at Tremaine… look at me, you bastard!

Her eyes slowly watered… when she saw her man nod at another man with a show of determination…

It was like he's saying… bros before hoes…