Lin received no college scholarship offers, despite leading his Palo Alto High School team to a 32-1 record and the California championship. At Harvard, he was twice named to the all-Ivy League first team and delivered a signature 30-point performance against 12th-ranked Connecticut.
At draft time, in June 2010, Lin was again overlooked. N.B.A. teams had their doubts ”” about his defense, about his jump shot, about his ability to keep up with the league’s elite athletes….
The qualities that make Lin unique, and seemingly held him back, are now the qualities that make him a sensation. Knicks fans were clamoring for Lin before he threw his first pass at the Garden. They roar louder for his shifty layups in traffic than they do for Carmelo Anthony’s….
What an electrifying story this is and how wonderful that it is happening in New York of all places. Unlikely, surprising, yet hopeful–Lord, may we have more stories like this in the days to come.
A great story. In addition to all the other levels of this chronicle, I am always intrigued by athletes who come to general attention and acclaim only after college. There are a number of these people in basketball and football who were somewhat obscure coming out of university, but who soar in the pros. Of course, the opposite is true, also, but more predictably so.