North Carolina Black Hawk

On the website's interface, the rules of this shooting game were detailed.

To participate, one had to pay $5 as an entry fee, and then start shooting three-pointers from a fixed spot. Making 2 in a row would earn back $2, and making 4 in a row would earn back $5.

This was just the beginning. The game would then suddenly have a big jump. Making 5 in a row would earn $10, 6 would earn $30, 7 would earn $60, 8 would earn $100, and so on, all the way up to a maximum of $1000.

At a certain stage, you could choose to end the game and take your money, or continue. However, if you failed, all the money you had earned would be lost.

This was actually a typical trap game. First, the entry fee wasn't low. To break even, you had to make at least 4 three-pointers in a row, which was already a high threshold.

Once you made 4, you would definitely be unwilling to stop and would want to make another one. As the prize money increased significantly with each subsequent shot, your courage would grow. Then, when you finally missed a shot, all your previous efforts would be in vain.

This kind of game was usually played by young men trying to impress girls or by confident amateur players, and they basically always made a profit.

"You're the one."

After searching around, Tang Tian set his sights on this amusement arcade.

The next morning, Tang Tian went alone to the arcade, which was located in the suburbs of New Haven.

He had visited New Haven once before when touring Yale University, so he was familiar with the area this time.

The arcade was very lively, with muscular men of all sizes and sexy, attractive women everywhere. It was a paradise for young men and women to entertain themselves.

Tang Tian looked around and quickly found the location of the shooting game.

When he arrived, a crowd had gathered, cheering enthusiastically.

He walked over curiously and then spotted a familiar figure.

Jimmer Fredette, the core player for Brigham Young University, and also the best perimeter shooter in NCAA this year.

He was currently standing outside the three-point line, shooting.

He had already made 10 three-pointers and was now shooting his 11th.

It seemed Tang Tian wasn't the only one with ideas; life wasn't easy for NCAA players on campus.

The time limit for each shot was 5 seconds. Fredette took a deep breath.

Stance, aim, jump, wrist flick.

His three-point shooting form was very stable.

"Swish!"

The ball spun through the air, tracing a perfect arc.

The 11th three-pointer also swished into the net.

He could now receive $200.

"One more! One more!" Just then, someone in the crowd started cheering.

Fredette smiled and picked up the 12th ball.

Tang Tian took a closer look at the people cheering.

After cheering for a bit, those people went back to playing on their phones, their attention completely off the court.

It was obvious they were shills.

They would cheer you on when you made consecutive shots, encouraging you to continue until you missed.

The people running this game were quite professional.

Fredette's three-point skill was indeed high, and he made the 12th three-pointer as well.

Cheering, continue, make the shot.

This seemed to have become a cycle.

When he reached the 15th three-pointer, Fredette's prize money had accumulated to $600.

Although the cheerleaders were still going, he seemed ready to quit.

But immediately, the cheering turned into boos, and someone even shouted "coward." They were really putting Fredette on the spot.

Fredette, being thin-skinned, hesitated for a moment before continuing.

"Bang!"

The 16th three-pointer finally missed the rim.

Three-point shooting might look easy, but it was quite tiring, especially with the 5-second time limit. The further you shot, the more your arm would ache, and your accuracy would decrease.

With this one miss, all of Fredette's previous efforts were in vain.

He shook his head helplessly and retreated back into the crowd.

"A spectacular performance! Is there anyone else who wants to continue?" Just then, the game operator stood on a raised platform and shouted.

Fredette's performance had brought him considerable popularity. Now was the time to strike while the iron was hot and make more money.

No one stepped forward; most people were just there to watch the excitement.

"I'll do it."

Just then, someone chewing gum walked out.

A wave of jeers followed him.

"Harrison Barnes!" a few people exclaimed.

The super rookie of NCAA powerhouse University of North Carolina, the absolute core of the team, and this year's favorite for the top draft pick, "North Carolina Black Hawk" Harrison Barnes!

He was actually here too!

However, his and Fredette's motivations seemed different, as he came out to the jeers of his teammates behind him.

This was clearly done in a playful spirit.

The game operator didn't recognize Barnes, but seeing the crowd's reaction, he knew another big spender had arrived and immediately rushed over to get ready for him.

Barnes's three-point shooting ability couldn't compare to Fredette's, but after all, he was the core of a top NCAA school, so his skill level was quite good.

He made the first two shots with ease and flair, and before he knew it, he had made six in a row.

"John, you lost, here's $10!" someone from the group of North Carolina teammates by the sidelines shouted excitedly. They had even made a private bet.

Barnes missed his eighth shot and walked off the court with a shake of his head, seemingly unbothered.

"Great performance! Anyone else want to try? The crowd is big right now, don't miss this chance!" the game operator continued to hawk.

He loved it when people like Barnes came just to play around.

But this time, there was no reaction from the crowd. If Fredette couldn't handle it, and the North Carolina Black Hawk couldn't handle it, then unless an NBA top shooter showed up, it would just be a waste of money.

But an NBA top shooter would never come to a place like this.

The game operator called out for a while with no response, and he couldn't help but feel disappointed.

The more people there were, the more opportunities there were to make money.

Tang Tian saw that no one else was stepping up, and without a word, he walked forward.

He didn't attract much attention when he first stepped onto the court, but once someone recognized him, a huge wave of cheers erupted.

"Tang! Tang!"

Tang Tian had just hit 7 out of 7 three-pointers for 21 points against Georgetown, and his popularity in Connecticut was sky-high.

Barnes, who was about to leave with his teammates to have fun elsewhere, also turned his gaze towards Tang Tian when he saw the crowd's reaction.

"Who is that?" Barnes asked his teammate John Hanson (also translated as Henson) beside him.

"I don't know," Hanson shook his head. Connecticut was in the Big East Conference, and North Carolina was in the Atlantic Coast Conference. Teams from different conferences rarely played each other, so it was normal for them not to know each other, especially since Tang Tian was just a freshman and a role player.

"He's a freshman at Connecticut. I think he used to be a ball boy, but he's playing really well now and is quite popular in the Big East Conference," said Tyler Zeller, a junior, from the side.