October 2012 – February 2013.
Michael Schmidt's junior season didn't start with noise.
It started with silence.
No mixtape drops. No interviews. No public workouts. Just the quiet hum of weighted vests, film study, and late-night jumpers.
But when the first tip-off came, everything changed.
Michael looked taller—closer to 6'10 now. His frame had filled out. His handle was tighter. His vision sharper. And the Michael Jordan template?
[Template Progress: 47.72% → 61.31%][New Traits Unlocked – Defensive Anchor I, Clutch Instinct II, Gravity Manipulation I]
He didn't just dominate. He redefined control.
In his first ten games, Michael averaged:
38.4 points
10.2 rebounds
6.4 assists
4.1 steals
2.0 blocks
No game went to the fourth quarter.
Every gym was packed. Every road game was sold out.
Even NBA players started tweeting during his games.
[@RealCP3]: "Who is this kid Schmidt?? That spin into pull-up is nasty." [@KDTrey5]: "MJ vibes with a twist… watching greatness."
But Michael didn't react. Didn't even respond.
He spent every off-day rewatching tape. Every win was just another brick in a wall he was still building.
Reporters tried to bait him into controversy.
"Isn't it time to announce your college?" "Do you think it's fair to call you the best prospect ever?" "Why not go pro now if you're so ready?"
Michael gave them nothing but a smirk.
"Y'all can talk. I'll play."
Behind the scenes, offers kept coming.
UCLA sent two assistant coaches to every home game. Duke's head coach called personally. Kansas mailed a letter a day for a month.
Michael's mom kept the letters in a shoebox under the bed. He never asked to read them.
Not yet.
As the regular season progressed, defenses grew more desperate. Some teams triple-teamed him. Others ran stall tactics to limit his touches.
It didn't work.
Michael adjusted.
In January, he dropped 45 on a team running a triangle-and-two. In February, he recorded a quadruple-double—points, rebounds, assists, and steals.
It was surgical. Cold. Relentless.
He wasn't chasing highlights. He was dismantling blueprints.
[System Update: Template Milestone Approaching – 70% Unlock Imminent]
Michael didn't celebrate. Didn't post. Didn't even crack a smile.
Because the playoffs were next.
And this time?
He wasn't aiming to prove something. He was aiming to end discussions.