This summer in Los Angeles at the Nike Skills Academy, Diana Taurasi spoke to a group of preseason All-Americans and future lottery picks, and she singled out Michigan State senior Denzel Valentine.
"I've seen you play," Taurasi said to Valentine. "You're in it. You're locked in. Every play."
On Tuesday night at the Champions Classic in Chicago, the rest of America got to see what Taurasi was talking about.
Valentine carried the Spartans to a 79-73 win over fourth-ranked Kansas in a game they had no business winning. Kansas had the better talent. The Jayhawks even had more experience.