Forget lectures and textbooks for a second; this is the real story of the year. Meet Jaren Barajas, an 18-year-old college student and, as of now, a full-blown legend after he completely schooled NBA superstar Damian Lillard in a high-stakes 3-point shooting contest. This wasn’t just a game in a gym; it happened on the biggest stage during the NBA All-Star Game, right in our own backyard at Chase Center.

Picture this: Jaren claims he hardly even touches a basketball anymore because, you know, college life is a whole different ballgame. Yet, out of nowhere, he stepped up and nailed a shot that was not only clutch but also made him $100,000 richer, a nice little sum to cover those skyrocketing college tuition costs.

“This is going to mean the world to me, it’s going to help my family a lot and definitely my future,” Jaren declared, instantly winning hearts across the Bay Area. Because who among us hasn’t dreamt of paying off student loans with the charismatic charm of a hometown hero?

Lillard, the Milwaukee Bucks star, needed to take no less than three attempts from downtown to win, but as fate would have it, Jaren only had to hit one. As the clock ticked down, he followed the age-old advice from his dad to use the backboard. Boom! Swish. Cue the dramatic music because it was a shot that swayed the crowd and the basketball gods all at once.

You’d think Jaren was riding on pure luck, but he had a secret weapon, the moral support of his dad, Michael, who had just surprised him with those precious game tickets the day before. Nothing says father-son bonding quite like crashing the NBA All-Star Game and leaving with a trophy. Can you say family goals?

Former Warriors star Baron Davis strolled over to congratulate Jaren, claiming his performance was so clutch, it was practically Steph Curry-level. And as everyone was basking in the glory of his win, Lillard revealed that the NBA would also donate $50,000 to his new scholarship fund for East Bay high schoolers. Talk about a win-win!

Now, thanks to a mix of luck, talent, and good suggestions from dad, Jaren is set not just for college but also ready to give back to the community. He’s a freshman at Los Medanos College, and who knows? Maybe this “never-plays-basketball” kid will end up being a prodigy in the making.

As Jaren himself marveled, “I just beat Damian Lillard”. No big deal, right? Just a college kid taking down a pro athlete while simultaneously proving that anything can happen when you believe in yourself, and use the glass.