He Ximeng shook his head, "There are still some minor disagreements, I need to discuss them with my family!"
"May I ask, are there any special conditions?"
"Yes!" He Ximeng said frankly, "I hope to play as soon as possible and contribute to the team, but Coach Dean wants me to follow North Carolina's rules and prove myself in the first year of training first..."
"Excellent!" Dave Odom got the answer he wanted and said eagerly, "If you are willing to join Wake Forest University, I can give you the starting position you want..."
"Hey, Dave, that's not fair! After all, North Carolina invited Simon first! You can't make empty promises just to poach him!"
Bobby Jones saw Dave Odom's stance and knew the situation was not good. He truly believed in He Ximeng's future and wanted He Ximeng to join North Carolina and play for them! Americans are very attached to their alma mater.
"Calm down, Bobby! I am by no means making empty promises! Tony Rattray is injured, and our team desperately needs a good point guard to pass to Tim right now... I think Simon is the one to pass to Tim! I have a hunch that Simon might be even better than Tony Rattray at passing... Besides, North Carolina's current core, Vince Carter and Antawn Jamison, are both players who can handle the ball and attack. Their need for a point guard is completely different from ours... More importantly, due to Tony Rattray's injury, we have a medical hardship exemption this season..."
"What do you mean?"
"It means that if the paperwork is processed in time, you can directly compete in the remaining games of this season as a substitute for the medical hardship exemption..."
"Play immediately?"
"Yes! Next weekend, our first divisional game is about to start..."
In He Ximeng's original plan, he was supposed to try out for multiple teams and finally choose a team willing to give him consistent playing time, then enroll in the fall and participate in the NCAA next year!
But he didn't expect that without even playing a single tryout, Wake Forest University would be willing to offer him a starting position and the chance to play this season. This was simply He Ximeng's dream come true!
Plus, Wake Forest University had the flying white devil, Duncan... He Ximeng had no reason to refuse!
"Wait a minute! Wait a minute! Dave, although I admit you have a point, there's a matter of first come, first served! Right, Simon?"
Bobby then turned to He Ximeng to ask for his opinion. Although after listening to Dave Odom's explanation, Bobby also understood that compared to North Carolina, He Ximeng was indeed more suitable for Wake Forest University... But emotionally, he still hoped He Ximeng would join North Carolina, so he wanted to try one last time.
"How about this, I'll call Dean again and hope he can put aside that damned arrogance..."
Between choosing Duncan and choosing Carter, He Ximeng internally preferred the former. As Coach Dave Odom analyzed, the combination of He Ximeng and Duncan was clearly a better fit.
However, for Coach Bobby's help, He Ximeng nodded, "If Coach Dean is willing to offer the same treatment as Coach Odom, then I am willing to join North Carolina... I'm sorry, Coach Odom... after all, North Carolina was the first school to sincerely invite me to join..."
"It's okay, Simon! Based on my understanding of Dean, he has a stubborn and tough temper, and he won't change his decision! In fact, if I were in his position coaching North Carolina, I wouldn't agree to your request either! The degree to which our two teams need you is completely different... For North Carolina, you are icing on the cake, but for us, you are a lifesaver..."
As expected, Coach Dean's reaction was exactly as Dave Odom predicted.
Although Bobby hoped he would make an exception this once, Dean stuck to his principles and would rather He Ximeng join Wake Forest University than make an exception for him...
"Welcome to Wake Forest University!" Dave Odom finally hugged He Ximeng warmly, welcoming him to the Demon Deacons!
"Regarding the scholarship..."
"Scholarship is not a problem!"
"My TOEFL scores haven't come out yet..."
"Can you reach the minimum score?"
"The basic line is definitely no problem!"
"Then there's no problem... Have your family copy your high school transcripts according to the school's requirements..."
"Uh... do I need to go back to my country to handle these procedures?"
"No need! You train with the team first, and when the enrollment procedures are completed, you can play directly..."
"So urgent?"
"Time is tight, and the task is heavy! I will instruct the academic affairs office to expedite all your procedures through the emergency channel..."
Within the time it took to drink a cup of coffee, Dave Odom had finalized He Ximeng's commitment to Wake Forest University.
Dave Odom couldn't wait to have He Ximeng sign the enrollment application form immediately to prevent any unforeseen circumstances, but he had left in a hurry and hadn't thought it through completely...
Therefore, Dave Odom and He Ximeng agreed that at 8:30 the next morning, Dave Odom would bring the Wake Forest University enrollment application form to He Ximeng's international dormitory at North Carolina to formally initiate all enrollment procedures... This meant He Ximeng still had one night to think... If he wanted to go back on his word, he had to do it soon!
When he came out of the coffee shop, He Ximeng felt a little dazed.
A strong team's foundation, a starting position, the chance to play this season, and being teammates with Duncan...
He Ximeng truly hadn't expected that the Nike Basketball Summit would bring him such an unexpected surprise!
Before this, He Ximeng had planned to use John's and Tink's connections to help him apply to a reliable university. Now, it seemed He Ximeng had been worrying unnecessarily.
Back at the hotel, John asked him how the conversation went. He Ximeng said it was basically settled.
"To North Carolina?"
"No, to Wake Forest!"
"Huh? Weren't you talking to North Carolina's head coach, Dean?"
"I talked to Dean, but after talking, I also chatted with Coach Odom from Wake Forest University... As a result, Wake Forest University is willing to provide me with all the conditions I want..."
"Awesome! From what I know, it's not easy to get qualified as an international student at Wake Forest University!"
"Fortunately, their starting point guard is injured..."
"Wow... then you should treat this guy to a drink..."
"Makes sense, after I join the team, I must treat this guy to a drink..."
"What's his name?"
"Tony Rattray!"
"Tony Rattray? Well, he's a good guy..."