One of Them is the Real Deal
We'd dropped into the 13th-to-16th place match and first faced Senegal, with our next opponent—either Czech Republic or Ivory Coast—depending on the result.
Still, we psyched ourselves up to go out with a bang. But Senegal? What can I say.
They weren't much of a team.
The players had decent size, but zero skill and no teamwork to speak of.
Final score: 96-71. We cruised to a 25-point blowout and advanced smoothly to the 13th-place game.
And that's when I spotted some unfamiliar faces in the crowd.
Scouts—at a match no one should've cared about.
They're here for me.
It felt that obvious.
Hell, the guy was so blatant he approached me after the game through our coach.
I was back at the hotel chatting with Chang-min and Subin about the national tournaments coming up when the coach relayed the message.
"Seojun, someone wants to meet you."
"...A scout?"
"Something like that. What do you think? If you don't want to, I can chase him off."
"I'll meet him."
My first contact from a foreign scout.
Guess it's time to think about my next stage.
Two months into basketball, it felt way too soon from my perspective. But that was just me— in reality, I was probably running late.
I'd sensed it vaguely.
The scout was a white guy in his late 30s. Fresh off a flight to Czech Republic, judging by the dark circles under his eyes. He offered a handshake and griped right away.
"Whew! They send me to Czech out of nowhere—thought it was weird... Ah, so the target's an Asian player, huh."
He introduced himself as a recruiter for the University of Florida basketball team.
Why's it odd for a college team to scout in Czech? Simple—no real targets. American and Canadian kids were already committed. Europeans usually stuck to their domestic leagues instead of U.S. colleges.
So the only prospects worth watching were Asians or Africans. But why bother when you could focus stateside?
"Anyway, nice to meet you. Name's Nelson."
"Lee Seojun. Nice to meet you."
"Hm? Lived in the UK? Your accent's got that vibe."
"...Something like that. Can we cut to the chase? Team schedule's tight."
"Right, yeah. You probably guessed once I introduced myself..."
Come to Florida.
A NCAA Division 1 powerhouse. Loaded with championships and famous alumni.
"You know Al Horford?"
"...Yeah."
Atlanta's center. Teammate of my role model Kyle Korver, so I'd watched plenty of his tape.
"He played for us. Won back-to-back NCAA titles with Billy Donovan—you met him at the U.S. game. Donovan wants you. Says he'd love to develop you."
For a high school grad planning to bolt overseas, it was the perfect offer.
Top-tier Division 1 stage. Championship contender. Coach with NBA cred. And he liked me.
My heart was 99% sold right there.
But that last 1%? A nagging doubt that I was already too late somewhere.
It flipped everything.
"Got a few questions."
I grilled him on U.S. basketball structure—what my schedule would look like in NCAA, admissions process, NBA draft rules.
After hearing it all and mulling it over, I decided.
"Thanks for the interest, but I'll pass."
......
Back in the hotel room, Chang-min rushed me. Even stoic Subin showed rare curiosity.
"Dude! What happened? Who was it!?"
"Florida University recruiter... Just a scout."
"Florida!?"
Chang-min's jaw dropped.
"Florida's a powerhouse! Top ten in NCAA, right?"
"That's what they said."
"Whoa... Knew you'd blow up, but Division 1? Best output in Korean high school hoops history?"
"You know NCAA pretty well?"
"Kinda. March Madness is like Champs for college kids."
"Hm."
"So? When you heading to the States?"
"Not going."
"Huh...?"
No idea why he assumed it was a done deal.
"Turned it down."
"Are you insane!? Nothing better than that! Don't tell me you're holding out for Duke or Kentucky?"
"Nah. Not doing NCAA at all."
Chang-min blinked blankly.
Silent Subin finally chimed in.
"Then what? You said after high school graduation, you're going abroad."
"Was planning to. But the terms sucked. And I said abroad—not the U.S. specifically."
"...?"
I wanted NCAA too. March Madness sounded fun.
But the dealbreaker?
"This year's admissions are done. Only 14-15 season left for me to play."
The recruiter said enroll in a Korean college first, then transfer. Hone skills domestically till then.
Unacceptable.
Sure, I could learn something in Korean college ball. But wasting nine months? No thanks.
More than that...
Those guys will already be in the NBA by then.
LaVine, Gordon, Randle.
LaVine was iffy, but Gordon and Randle were locks for one-and-done after freshman year.
By the time I transferred into NCAA, they'd be in the 2014 NBA Draft.
Me? Earliest 2015.
That lag? Unbearable.
One lesson from my soccer past: hit big stages ASAP.
NCAA was off the table.
"So what now?"
Subin couldn't wrap his head around it. What else besides NCAA?
I answered flat-out.
"Only one way."
The room went dead silent. Murderous.
"I'm declaring for next year's NBA Draft."
After a stunned pause, Chang-min croaked.
"F-for real?"
"Dead serious."
NBA Draft eligibility: a few rules, but for non-Americans, turn 19 by December 31 of draft year. Early entry approved.
Fast birthday would've killed it, but mine's October 26—qualified.
I told the recruiter my intent. He called it insane.
—You'll be undrafted for sure! And regs say no NCAA after that!
D-League orphan, he spat. Spittle flying as he ranted about drafted vs. undrafted treatment, D-League hellhole with no hope.
Saw my resolve, shook his head, muttered I'd regret it, left.
Chang-min thought the same.
"Dude, way too rash! Think it over more. First scout chat ever, and you go extreme? Talk to others first..."
"No need."
Path was clear once NCAA vanished.
"Not charging blind, either."
Sure, I'd likely go undrafted like he said.
But I had a plan. Beyond combines or tryouts.
Operation: Ajax.
"Help me out, yeah?"
They nodded, baffled but on board.
###
Key: step up by draft in June next year.
Nail it, D-League undrafted? Fine. Skill gets you call-ups.
Fail? Means I'm not NBA caliber anyway.
"So? What's that got to do with this situation?"
Chang-min couldn't connect dots.
Day after beating Czech 86-77 to wrap 13th place. Two days till flight home.
I'd dragged six national team guys—including Chang-min and Subin—to the arena.
Here to pick training spot.
Hint from Dario Saric chat.
—Come to our team? I'll put in a word. You'd ace trials easy.
Europe—no age caps for pro trials, soccer or hoops. Visa? Workarounds exist.
Plan: pro club training till draft.
Operation Ajax.
Benchmark: high school kid cold-calls Ajax coach, trials, first-team debut legend.
Issue: where?
Future knowledge shines.
Five players I know from it...
Americans out.
Luka Doncic, Dirk Nowitzki, Victor Wembanyama.
Pointless. Luka's Real Madrid youth star now. Wemby's a kid. Dirk's active.
Two Europeans left. Names fuzzy.
Not as hyped as Luka or Wemby.
One's Greek whatchamacallit Kounmpo. Other's Serbian Nikola something.
Greek: Giannis Antetokounmpo on '13 draft list. Probably him. Scratch.
Left: Serbian Nikola.
My target.
"Why watch Serbia-Australia?"
"Guy I wanna check."
I figured Serbia's youth team had him.
Reasonable basis.
Heard the name in 2024, post-EPL back in Germany.
—Nowitzki Europe's GOAT? Bull! Nikola ── is Europe's all-time best!
Overheard German hoops fan arguing East Euro player.
German didn't push back hard. Nikola matched Dirk's career, maybe passed.
Clue there.
Can't eclipse cumulative Dirk in one-two seasons.
At least eight active.
No recent Serbian Nikola draftees last five years. None in current NBA rosters.
Not drafted yet.
Timeline: 2014-15 draft. Age fits youth national.
Find him, trial his club.
Train with next Euro GOAT at visionary club that scouted him.
Plan perfect...
Big snag.
Which one?
Too many.
Even Chang-min noted.
"So find this Nikola. But which? Three Nikolas here?"
"That's why we look together. Pick the highest potential."
Three Nikolas on a national team? Fate.
-Nikola Jankovic
-Nikola Milutinov
-Nikola Jokic
I had a gut feeling.
One of them—the real deal.