As Sendoh held the ball on the wing, Gu Jin suddenly cut like a ghost from the weak-side baseline towards the free-throw line, forming a double screen with Uozumi that instantly tore open the defense. Fukuda seized the opportunity, cutting diagonally into the paint, and received Sendoh's bounce pass for a thunderous dunk—this variation of the triangle offense seamlessly blended the speed and height advantages of Ryonan's players.
Immediately following the offensive-defensive transition, Ryonan's first team suddenly changed formation during their retreat. The players moved in a crisscross pattern, like drawing a figure '8'. Uozumi, who should have been guarding the paint, unexpectedly popped out to the three-point line, forcing the opposing center to follow him, and the vacated paint was immediately filled by a fast-breaking Sendoh.
"This tactic..." Coach Morita grew more and more excited as he watched, his fingers unconsciously tapping on his knee. "A figure-eight crossover logic hidden within a triangle formation? It can seamlessly switch between fast breaks and set plays?"
He had coached for over twenty years and had never seen such a method of breaking down and reassembling two classic tactics, especially with the detailed adjustments tailored to Ryonan's players' characteristics. It was as if it was custom-made for them.
Chairman Shenmu saw him staring intently at the court and patted his arm: "Coach Morita, we're here to talk about Uozumi—"
"Wait." Coach Morita raised a hand to interrupt, his eyes still glued to the court, his voice trembling with disbelief, "Who designed this tactic? When did Ryonan acquire this level of tactical reserve?"
Taoka happened to turn around, saw the scene, and deliberately cleared his throat, raising his chin and saying, "What? Coach Morita, do our Ryonan tactics meet your approval?"
Coach Morita sharply turned his head, looking at Taoka with a gaze full of stormy waves. After a long moment, he finally managed to blurt out, "Taoka... you've been hiding such a treasure of a tactic. Are you planning to turn Kanagawa upside down?"
His mind had completely forgotten the idea of recruiting Uozumi, filled instead with the terrifyingly intricate details hidden within this tactic—this was no ordinary tactical movement; it was a complete calculation of the opponent's defensive logic.
Coach Morita looked at the tactic still flowing smoothly on the court and couldn't help but give Taoka a thumbs-up: "Taoka, you're truly incredible! After coaching for so many years, I've never seen a tactic so thoroughly refined. Especially the fusion of the triangle and figure-eight, it's as if you've dug into the very essence of Ryonan's personnel—number 7's vision, number 13's drive, Uozumi's ability to draw attention, all come alive in this tactic!"
Taoka's cheeks flushed slightly from the praise, but he deliberately put on a stern face and snorted, "It's alright, just some casual practice."
While he spoke modestly, the smile in the corner of his eyes couldn't be hidden. "What did you figure out?"
"There's so much to figure out!" Morita immediately grew excited, pointing at the court. "Just take that last possession, when Uozumi popped out to the three-point line. It seemed like it was disrupting the rhythm, but in reality, it was forcing the opponent's interior players to switch. That's when number 7's cutting lane opened up completely—this isn't just a tactic, it's factoring in defensive psychology!"
Taoka laughed heartily, finally relenting: "Don't flatter me, I didn't come up with this tactic.
It was a first-year student on our team named Gu Jin. He came to me with his notes, saying he modified it based on existing foundations. When I saw it, I was astonished. This kid's understanding of tactics is more profound than many veteran coaches."
Morita's eyes suddenly lit up: "Gu Jin? A first-year?" He subconsciously scanned the sidelines, trying to find Gu Jin, but Chairman Shenmu gently nudged his arm.
"Coach Morita," Chairman Shenmu reminded him, "We're primarily here today to see Uozumi."
Morita finally came back to his senses, slapping his forehead: "Oh, my memory!" He turned to Taoka, his tone becoming serious. "Taoka, to be honest, Shonan Institute of Technology is here to recruit Uozumi.
His height and dominance in the paint would absolutely make him a core player even on the university court. We can offer him the best training resources and guaranteed admission."
Taoka called out to the court: "Uozumi! Come here!"
Uozumi stopped, wiped his sweat, and ran over, looking surprised when he saw Morita.
"Uozumi," Taoka said directly, "Coach Morita from Shonan Institute of Technology is here to scout you."
Then he looked at Morita again, "Not just you, Fukazawa Sports University also sent word that they are very interested in our Uozumi."
This statement surprised Morita: "Fukazawa Sports University is also after him?" After a moment's thought, he immediately raised his offer. "Student Uozumi, Shonan Institute of Technology's basketball club budget is top-tier in Kanagawa. As long as you're willing to come, your training allowance and game bonuses can both be increased. We can also arrange for you to major in sports management. If you decide not to play basketball later, you can directly transition to administrative or logistics positions with professional teams after graduation."
Taoka slowly said from the side, "Good benefits are a good thing, but it also depends on Uozumi's own thoughts."
Morita suddenly changed the subject, looking at Taoka: "By the way, that Gu Jin you mentioned, we want him too."
Taoka's face darkened: "Gu Jin is only a first-year! You're already thinking about him?"
"You have to move early for talent." Morita smiled. "If he's willing to sign an agreement, and comes to our Shonan Institute of Technology after graduating from his third year, we'll cover all three years of his tuition and provide an additional monthly living stipend."
"That little money?" Taoka sneered, raising his chin towards Chairman Shenmu. "Chairman Shenmu already said that the school would cover all of Gu Jin's tuition and miscellaneous fees for these three years, and even provided him with a private tutoring team. What's your little stipend going to do?"
Morita wasn't annoyed; instead, he looked at Taoka with interest: "Oh? So you're planning to hoard Gu Jin like a treasure?"
Taoka jutted out his neck: "Of course! Why should Ryonan's promising talent be a stepping stone for your university?"
As the two bickered, Uozumi stood in the middle, his cheeks slightly tense, his fingers unconsciously twisting the hem of his athletic wear.
He lowered his eyes, his Adam's apple bobbed, and his voice was even deeper than before: "Coach, Coach Morita... I..."
He stopped before he could finish his sentence.
A scene from a few nights ago flashed through his mind—his father sitting at the low table, rubbing his aching back, his thumb tracing the ledger of their sushi shop, his voice weary: "A-Jun, my back is getting worse and worse. When you graduate high school, come back and help out. Dad knows you want to go to university... but the family business is just as important." At that time, his father's graying temples were particularly stark under the lamp. He hadn't dared to respond then, just ate his rice in silence.
Coach Taoka was incredibly perceptive. Seeing Uozumi's expression and recalling his family situation, he understood.
He softened his tone and patted Uozumi's arm: "Uozumi, are there concerns at home?"
Uozumi suddenly looked up, a hint of surprise in his eyes, then lowered them again and nodded: "My dad... wants me to inherit the family business."
"What's so difficult about that?" Morita smiled, his tone confident. "Don't worry, if you agree to come to Shonan Institute of Technology, leave the matter of convincing your father to me.
Our university has courses on F&B brand operations that you can take. You can absolutely play basketball while learning how to run the shop better—who knows, maybe in the future you can even open branches nationwide and let more people know the taste of the Uozumi family's sushi."
These words were like a stone thrown into Uozumi's heart. He suddenly looked up, his eyes shining for the first time: "Really?"
"I, Morita Shishio, have been involved in the Kanagawa basketball scene for so many years. Would I lie to a high school student like you?" Morita patted his chest. "Your father is worried that playing basketball will interfere with your livelihood, but I can make him understand that playing basketball not only won't interfere but will also allow you to learn how to better inherit and promote the family business."
Taoka interjected from the side: "Morita is right. Uozumi, at your age, you should stick to your dreams!"