Where the noise did not reach

Chapter 46 The Eagle Should Soar
After their celebratory night in Atlanta, the Texas Tech players, carrying the heavy championship trophy and smelling of bottled water, returned to Lubbock on a chartered plane. The moment the plane landed, the entire city seemed to hold its breath, then erupted in deafening cheers.

From the airport to the campus, the champions' parade stretched for miles. Countless residents and students flooded the streets, dressed in red and black team jerseys, waving flags, and chanting the players' names. The usually quiet neighborhoods were completely ignited, as if they were in a grand carnival.

Three days later, the championship rally was held at the United Spirit Arena, home of Texas Tech University. This arena had witnessed countless victories and defeats, but today, its significance was entirely different. The arena was packed, with tens of thousands of fans holding up homemade signs, every face beaming with happiness. When the lights dimmed again, and the enormous banner proclaiming "2007 NCAA National Champions" slowly descended from the dome, the entire arena erupted in cheers.

Beneath the banner, the players, dressed in their team uniforms, were introduced one by one by the host. Cheers from the audience rose and fell, and when he called out Xu Ling's name, the roar of the entire stadium reached its peak.

Then, Coach Bob Knight took the stage, picked up the microphone, but didn't speak immediately. He scanned the entire arena with his hawk-like eyes, and when he saw the excited fans, a rare tenderness appeared on his face.

“I don’t think I need to say much,” Coach Knight’s voice was deep and powerful, “because you’ve all seen it. These kids have proven that anything is possible if you believe and work hard!”

Thunderous applause erupted from the audience and lasted for a very long time, until Knight raised his hand again to signal for silence.

“Especially this kid,” Knight said, putting his hand on Xu Ling’s shoulder, “He came here and changed us. He brought us this trophy with his talent, his perseverance, and his determination. I’m so proud of him!”

The scene was once again engulfed in a deafening roar.

Then, Knight handed the microphone to Xu Ling.

Just as Xu Ling was about to say something, someone in the audience suddenly shouted, "Let's play for another year!"

This sound acted as a fuse, quickly igniting the entire arena. Tens of thousands of fans began chanting in unison:
"Fight for another year! Fight for another year! Fight for another year!"

The commotion lasted for several minutes. When the scene quieted down, Xu Ling had no choice but to follow Knight's lead and say, "If you guys had been any louder, well, anything is possible."

The scene then descended into a new wave of frenzy.

Everyone was laughing, but only those on the Red Raiders team knew it was impossible. Xu Ling had no reason to stay in the NCAA.

After the college season ended, the basketball team went on vacation. The Red Raiders' coaching staff entered the recruitment season, needing to use the next few months to scout the next batch of players.

Jarius Jackson is about to retire from the team, and his senior year was a resounding success. As the starting point guard for the national championship team, he averaged 12 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 assists per game. Although he was completely overshadowed by Xu Ling, an NCAA championship title would be a significant asset if he were to pursue a professional career.

Daryl Dora is graduating soon. Compared to Jackson, who still has the possibility of playing in the NBA, Dora is more pragmatic; he has decided to look for opportunities overseas.

Martin Zeno will be the next captain. His top priority right now is to find out about Xu Ling. Although Xu Ling will definitely participate in this year's draft, what if? What if he's moved by the scenes at the championship celebration and stays to play another year like last year's Florida Five? If that happens, he, as captain, will have to learn a lot from Jarius Jackson. How does one, as the nominal leader, support a younger student? That's an art.

These past few days, Xu Ling has been going to and from classes like any other student, except for continuing his training. But strangely, Zeno, the soon-to-be captain, keeps bothering him, asking about his whereabouts.

"MZ, you've been bothering me for days. Is this answer really that important to you?" Xu Ling looked at him strangely.

“This is important,” Zeno said seriously. “It will determine whether I’ll be Ricky Davis of Texas Tech or Lamar Odom next season.”

Now that he'd said that, Xu Ling wanted to ask him what he thought his role was this season. Smush Parker? Hmm, that sounds a bit impolite.

"Mm." Xu Ling simply nodded in response.

"Huh? That's it?" Zeno exclaimed suddenly.

Xu Ling glanced at him: "Otherwise what? Do you want me to write you a farewell letter?"

Xu Ling leaned back lazily in his chair, deliberately drawing out his words: "Alright—I'm about to pack my bags and head to the NBA to be a pathetic millionaire rookie. How about that, is this version sentimental enough, esteemed captain?"

“That’s more like it.” Zeno nodded in a mocking manner, then suddenly lowered his voice and imitated the commentator’s tone: “Let’s wish this rookie good luck; he’s really only barely passed this year.”

The guy couldn't help but burst out laughing after he finished speaking. Indeed, it was just leading a team that was eliminated in the first round of the playoffs to win the championship, barely passing the mark.

“Seriously,” Zeno suddenly said seriously, “you have to formally announce this news, right?”

Xu Ling looked at the championship banner hanging from the dome of the arena and nodded gently: "Of course. But before that, can I be Eli of Texas Tech a little longer, my captain?"

“Of course, no problem, I’m off.” Zeno scurried away. Back in his dorm that day, his roommate Roderick Craig said, “Another agent just called.”

"Who is it?" Xu Ling asked.

"Bill Duffy".

"Is he Yao Ming's agent?" Xu Ling didn't think much of it. Besides Zeno, these agents had been the biggest nuisance to him these past few days. First, there was a guy named Arne Treme, claiming to be the agent for McGrady and Amar'e Stoudemire, who expressed great sincerity on the phone. Xu Ling didn't think he was a fraud, but clearly, the career plans of the two players he mentioned weren't very promising, so Xu Ling wasn't interested in his offer.

Then there was David Falk, who was supposedly Jordan's agent. But now, Falk has long since fallen from his peak as an agent after Jordan's downfall with the Washington Wizards, and he is now just a so-called "big-name agent" in name only.

Today's Duffy is quite interesting. At least as an agent, he has precedent of working with Chinese players like Yao Ming, so he knows how to manage Chinese players. However, Xu Ling doesn't know if he still has room to maneuver.

With the championship series over, the 2007 NBA draft landscape has become increasingly unpredictable. Oden could still be the number one pick; although he was defeated by Xu Ling in March Madness, his performance was by no means inferior, racking up 29 points, 15 rebounds, and 6 blocks. Durant, on the other hand, was eliminated early in March Madness. While he displayed formidable offensive talent, Xu Ling was more well-rounded and led the seemingly weaker Texas Tech team to the national championship.

This led scouts to rank Xu Ling first in terms of immediate impact among the 2007 draft class, with his talent slightly inferior to Oden and Durant. But how many talents can be fully realized? The battle between Xu Ling and Durant for second and third place will continue until the day of the draft.

Given this market situation, what further action is needed?

Xu Ling asked, "What did you say?"

“As you said,” Craig repeated, “'Let’s wait until Eli officially announces his participation in the draft.'”

"Thank you for your help, Roderick." Xu Ling smiled.

One afternoon in late April, the sun in Lubbock was as dry and scorching as ever. Xu Ling went to Coach Knight's office alone. The door was ajar, and Knight sat behind his desk, wearing his signature black sweater, staring at the computer screen, seemingly studying something.

“Come in, Eli.” Knight didn’t turn around, his voice calm and authoritative, as if he had expected Xu Ling to come.

Xu Ling walked into the office, closed the door, and sat down in the chair opposite Knight. The air was filled with the smell of old paper and coffee.

“I know why you’ve come.” Knight turned around, his deep gaze meeting his directly. His expression was complex, a mixture of pride and a barely perceptible hint of disappointment.

"Coach, it's me."

“Remember what we said after the Pete Newell Invitational?” Knight interrupted him, his voice low. “I asked you if you were ready to be the leader of the team, and you said, ‘Wait until I win one.’ I thought you were just being clever, or just a young guy having a moment of inspiration. But you did it, you fucking did it.”

“You led us to a national championship,” his tone softened, “you brought Texas Tech something it had never had before. Now, you have no reason to stay. You have fulfilled your promise, and I have no reason to stop an eagle that wants to fly higher.”

Xu Ling originally thought Knight would try to persuade him, but the old man had been teaching at the university for over forty years, and he knew when to say goodbye, and that was now.

"Thank you, coach."

"Alright, enough with the nagging." Knight waved his hand, his voice regaining its usual sternness. "Get ready, we're going to throw you a press conference. I'm going to personally send my national championship and MOP to the NBA!"

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"Agent Zero Gilbert Arenas becomes the cover athlete for NBA Live." — The Washington Post

"NBA executives have selected Dirk Nowitzki as this season's Most Valuable Player." — Associated Press

"Under the watchful eye of Bob Knight, Eli Xu, the 2007 NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player, officially declared for the 2007 NBA Draft." — Texas Daily News

"After years of struggle and failure, Kobe Bryant has had enough and officially requested a trade from the Lakers this Saturday." — Los Angeles Times

"Oden, Eli, Durant: Will the 2007 NBA Draft be the greatest draft class of all time?" — Sports Illustrated

(End of this chapter)