If Jay Wright is considered a legendary coach in the NCAA,
then John Calipari, ruling over Kentucky, is the true boss of the game.
In terms of experience and coaching ability, he's one of the few in the NCAA who can genuinely go head-to-head with Duke's Coach K.
The reason Chen Yilun called him 'Coach Calipari' was because both he and Popovich had once been mentored by Larry Brown.
By seniority, that made Calipari the equivalent of Tang Zhou's grand mentor.
"Calipari suddenly called us over?"
On the flight to Kentucky, Chen Yilun pondered why Calipari had reached out so unexpectedly.
The NCAA might not be as commercialized as the NBA, but anyone who underestimated those people would end up getting cleaned out without a cent to spare.
With that thought, the two soon arrived in Kentucky.
"Oh my, Yilun! Long time no see!"
Calipari, his hair now streaked with gray and wearing a polo shirt emblazoned with the University of Kentucky logo, hurried forward and embraced Chen Yilun.
"And this must be your protégé?"
After exchanging a few pleasantries, Calipari glanced at Tang Zhou standing behind Chen Yilun and joked with a grin,
"Time really flies. Feels like just yesterday you were following Popovich around with a briefcase, and now you've got a protégé of your own."
"Come on, let's go! Jenny's already got dinner ready and waiting for you two."
Without giving them a chance to respond, he pulled Chen Yilun along toward the exit.
Faced with such warmth from a senior figure, Chen Yilun was almost caught off guard.
"John! Slow down! At least let us drop our luggage at the hotel first."
"Oh, right! Look at my memory!"
Calipari slapped his forehead dramatically, then waved to the back.
An assistant coach rushed over in response.
"Take these two bags to the hotel and check them in. Tell them they're my guests."
After giving his instructions, Calipari turned back to Chen Yilun with a wide smile.
"All settled now? Let's eat first. I'll drive you back to the hotel afterward."
Seeing how insistent the Hall of Famer was, Chen Yilun knew there was no escaping this dinner.
"Alright, I can't turn down an invitation from Coach Calipari. I'll just shamelessly enjoy a free meal, then. Hahaha!"
As one of the NCAA's highest-paid head coaches, Calipari's home was nothing short of opulent.
In the spacious dining room, Chen Yilun neatly laid a napkin over his lap.
"You've really gone all out tonight, Coach Calipari."
He couldn't help but admire the table filled with an extravagant spread.
But what truly caught Chen Yilun's attention was the seating arrangement.
Though Calipari had called it a family dinner, several seats were still empty—and the neatly arranged cutlery made it obvious more guests were coming.
"Coach Calipari, you didn't tell me everything, did you?"
Chen Yilun casually twirled the silver dinner knife in his hand. "Who else are we expecting?"
"Oh, right! My mistake for not mentioning it earlier."
Calipari tapped his forehead again in mock embarrassment.
"Here's the thing—I've got a few five-star high school recruits joining Kentucky this year. It's my tradition to invite them over for a home-cooked meal, helps build a little chemistry."
He grinned. "Since you're here, lend me a hand. You've got the sharpest eye in the business—help me size these kids up."
So that's it. Using me as a prop.
Chen Yilun sneered inwardly. No wonder the old fox had rushed to call him over—he wanted to use Chen Yilun's name to impress the recruits.
Though slightly annoyed, Chen Yilun kept a calm expression.
"Of course. If Coach Calipari asks for help, I'm more than happy to oblige."
The two exchanged a glance, silently reaching an unspoken agreement—
Chen Yilun would give Calipari the respect he sought tonight, and in return Calipari would owe him a favor.
...
While they chatted, an SUV pulled up outside Calipari's home.
A tall, dark-skinned young man stepped out a bit nervously and entered the house.
"Wenyen, glad you made it. Grab a seat."
Calipari stood from the head of the table to greet him before resuming his conversation with Chen Yilun.
Chen Yilun, still seated, cast a quick glance at the newcomer and instantly recognized him.
Wenyen Gabriel—future star of South Sudan.
Not long after, another tall interior player entered.
Chen Yilun took note of him too.
Bam Adebayo—the future starting center of the Miami Heat.
The final two arrivals, however, truly caught Chen Yilun off guard.
I should've remembered—they joined Kentucky this same year.
One had a slim frame with an afro; the other, a clean crew cut and a sturdier build.
The Kentucky Twin Guns—the backcourt duo who ruled Texas high school basketball, and in another timeline, became the cornerstone of the Kings' revival.
De'Aaron Fox and Malik Monk walked in.
Looking at the two youthful guards, Chen Yilun couldn't hide the admiration in his eyes.
"Everyone's here, let's get started!"
Calipari raised his glass, and everyone followed suit.
Chen Yilun took a light sip, staying quiet.
This was Calipari's stage—it wasn't his turn to speak yet.
"I'm really happy today."
As expected, Calipari was the first to open the conversation.
"Originally, this was just an internal Kentucky dinner, but it just so happens a junior I greatly admire—someone exceptionally talented—is also in town. So I invited him to join us."
He extended his hand toward Chen Yilun.
"You may have heard of him—the President of the Sacramento Kings, and the youngest team president in the league: Chen Yilun."
As soon as Calipari finished, the four young players immediately stood up and raised their glasses in greeting.
If Calipari held their present, then Chen Yilun held their future.
"John, you've got quite the lineup this year," Chen Yilun said after the pleasantries.
"Of course," Calipari replied proudly. "Next year, our goal is nothing less than a championship!"
When it came to his team, Calipari brimmed with confidence.
"Jay Wright may have stolen the spotlight this season, but next year—it's our turn."