After the game, the team returned to the locker room and celebrated again.
Since they were both under the legal age to drink in public, they drank water instead of alcohol and had a great time.
The scene turned into a "Water Splashing Festival" in seconds!
Woody was still in the center position, and his teammates gave him a "heart-breaking, heart-lifting" greeting.
After the celebration, everyone returned to the hotel to rest.
Woody finally had time to take a closer look at his first MVP trophy.
Looking at the pinyin of "Woody" engraved on the trophy and recalling the scene when he was surrounded by reporters, he gained a huge sense of fulfillment and satisfaction from his "star disease".
He admits that he doesn't like basketball, but he does like the feeling of standing under the spotlight and enjoying the focus of the audience.
For this feeling, he is even more eager for success!
And in order to succeed...
He had to seriously consider his next choice.
Just skip the NCAA and enter the NBA!
Or should I say, go to the NCAA for a year first, prove yourself on a higher level stage, and then go to the ultimate goal of all basketball players:
NBA!
There are two paths, given the current situation, he can take.
On the NCAA side, he has received offers from no less than 11 NCAA Division I universities, and they basically guarantee him a starting spot and a full scholarship;
As for the NBA, since he has not announced his candidacy, no NBA team has contacted him in advance, because this is an illegal operation, and if the league officials find out about it, he will be fined.
But in ESPN's simulated predictions for the 2003 draft, Woody had already entered the "lottery zone" in mid-February, and before this final, he had become the top ten "favorite."
Don’t forget, this is Woody’s current draft prospect under the control of public opinion from LeBron James’ team.
After Woody's own operation in the finals, coupled with this state championship trophy, he believes that his draft prospects will become brighter in the future.
Eh?
Woody analyzed it for a while, and finally found that there seemed to be no problem with either choice.
It seems that I still have to ask people in this circle for advice!
Woody turned to look at Stephen Curry, who was in the same room with him.
This kid didn't know when he took his MVP trophy and was stroking it with an envious look. Woody said: "Man, I may need your dad's help..."
When Stephen Curry heard Woody speak, he instinctively let go of Woody's big trophy, but when Woody finished speaking, he took the trophy in his hand again: "Don't worry, Woody, I'll follow you when you get back."
Dad is on the phone. If you have any questions, you can ask him!"
Early the next morning, St. Mary's High School got on the bus back to Akron.
As soon as he got in the car, Drew raised a pile of newspapers in his hand: "Guys, take a look, these are all news about our championship. We made a big noise this time!"
As a "wild card" team, they completed the jump in the middle of the season, which is unique in the history of the Ohio High School League. What's more, they were able to win consecutively in the first-level high school league, and finally won with a "complete victory"
Winning the final state championship, this is definitely a period worth recording.
Of course, the most important thing is that this little Akron actually has two talented newcomers in LeBron James and Woody this year.
This is the most fundamental reason for the huge commotion.
Especially Woody.
With his "monster performance" of 34 points and 21 rebounds, he defeated LeBron and became the MVP of this finals. He became the first Chinese high school student to win the MVP in the history of the Ohio High School League. He also received huge attention.
.
As Woody expected, his stock has been on the rise in the 2003 draft, and he has now climbed to the top five in 2003.
Mainly under his control, the current public opinion has changed from "LeBron's sacrifice made Woody's performance" to "As long as he has a good configuration, this man can perform well and lead the team to win the championship!"
"
This time Brian took the lead: "The state championship of the Ohio Division I High School League, this is something that even LeBron has not been able to achieve!"
It is also a factual statement.
But in fact, even without Woody, with LeBron's ability, if St. Mary's High School completes the "skipping" in the middle of the season, he will most likely lead the team to win the championship.
But the problem is...
All this happened after Woody arrived!
Without Woody, St. Mary's High School would not be able to achieve such dominance, and it would not be able to trigger the plot of "skipping" in the middle of the season, and there would be no possibility...
In this case, all the credit belongs to Woody!
Therefore, some things, even factual remarks, can lead to bias. And this group of reporters can be said to be "well versed in this".
LeBron James looked at the newspaper and noticed that the media now boasted about Woody more than him. He frowned slightly. Although he had expected this situation, he still waited until it happened...
Knew it!
This is a world that relies on data to speak!
Only with data can you be qualified to be noticed!
This is the deepest feeling LeBron James has had on this matter.
Through the newspaper, he already knew that Woody's current momentum briefly surpassed him, but at this moment, he did not have a clearer understanding until the team bus drove into the campus.
In an instant, a dark crowd of people surrounded them, shouting at the players on the bus and cheering one after another.
Among them, shouting Woody's name overwhelmed the rest of the team, including LeBron!
His exaggerated statistics, great looks, and his famous sayings:
“It is my duty to restore the glory of Saint Mary!”
"Saint Mary, this is for you!"
All of which made him a new generation of "god man" in St. Mary's.
Especially those women who were already crazy about Woody, their eyes were shining. If before, their eyes were like a big bad wolf seeing a little sheep, then at this moment Woody feels...
They are about to take action!
It's better not to act alone these days...
Otherwise, who knows what crazy actions these women who can’t even afford a house will do!
In the afternoon, the school also specially arranged a championship speech.
This is also an opportunity for LeBron James and Woody to say goodbye to their alumni.
"Aking" has announced that he will take his talent to the NBA, and although Woody has not yet announced his decision, his high school career is over.
Drew announced the school's decision to retire the jerseys of LeBron and Woody in the future, and then left time for the two of them, and found a corner to secretly wipe his tears.
It's not excitement or reluctance. He just remembered that LeBron James and Woody will leave St. Mary's High School this summer. This is not the worst. It's okay for these two generals to leave.
, three of the "Four Akron Brothers" have also graduated from high school, which means that next year's St. Mary's High School will lose two core players and three starting players at once.
How is this different from pushing directly to rebuild?
What makes him even more uncomfortable is...
St. Mary's High School will play in the Ohio Division I High School League next year!
this……
Crying is considered good!
He was really afraid of himself. He would be chasing Woody and LeBron’s taxi later, shouting from behind:
"Woody, LeBron, you must be happy and laugh from now on, okay?"
"Woody, Woody! LeBron!"
"How can I live without you?"
***
After finishing his championship speech, Woody and Stephen Curry went to his dormitory. Curry called his father's phone number. Dell Curry first congratulated the two of them on winning this year's state championship.
"Especially you, Woody, you are so famous now that many NBA scouts are asking me for news about you!"
When Woody heard this, he just raised his doubts:
Should I enter the NBA directly or go to the NCAA to practice first?
Dell Curry patiently listened to Woody's thoughts and did not directly give his own opinions. Instead, he analyzed the advantages and disadvantages of the two methods: "NBA trainers are undoubtedly the most professional in the world.
Trainers, they can give you more professional advice and help you grow better, but in the NBA, the situation you have to go through becomes more complicated. It is a business alliance after all; if you choose to play in the NCAA, then
Needless to say, the benefits are that you can have more time to grow. There, you can also learn more systematically how to become a professional player. At a school like Duke, you can even know what teamwork is.
This will help you integrate into the team in the NBA!"
Dell Curry admires Duke very much, but he prefers to let Woody make his own choice.
Although Woody didn't get a clear answer, Dell Curry's words did make him a lot clearer.
After saying goodbye to Stephen Curry, Woody found Magic Johnson's phone number when he returned home, and after a little hesitation, he called the latter.
"Hey, rising star, you've made a lot more noise than I thought! I've been waiting for your call!"
"Magic" Johnson's thick voice sounded. After learning the purpose of Woody's call, he said directly without any pause:
"Man, you probably don't realize what a situation you're in!"
"LeBron James has been stepped on by you!"
"All the attention of scouts across the country is on you!"
"I know you have countless concerns and a lot of room for growth, but...guy, the most important thing in the draft is never what you have, but letting the outside world know your name..."
At this time, he paused for a few seconds and spoke again:
"If you have time recently, come to Los Angeles. You need to have a correct understanding of yourself!"