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LAS VEGAS -- As Buddy Hields range ballooned past the 3-point arc over his college career -- with his big smile winning over teammates and administrators alike around Oklahomas Norman campus -- Lon Kruger made sure all that went into being Buddy wasnt lost along the way.Not the late-night workouts with reggae music booming off the gym walls. Not the unwavering self-confidence that fueled his transition to a knockdown shooter.Our message to Buddy all year was, Dont change, dont change, said Kruger, the Sooners head coach, in a phone interview. When you start getting those national accolades and recognition and player of the year conversations, dont change, dont change.Even when he received the awards, we said dont change anything. When you get drafted, dont change anything. Youve got something unique and special as a personality. When you get to the NBA, dont change anything.Such a player would seem like an easy fit in a league trying to cash in on an everyman capable of superhuman shot-making. Like?Stephen Curry, Buddy enters his pro career with a ready-made persona,?a backlog of big-game highlights -- including besting a Mini-LeBron in?Ben Simmons?with the almighty 3 -- and the ability to walk the line between charm and confidence. Hes a supremely gifted athlete who also pulled himself up by the boot straps.Hes your buddy, but hes also an on-court killer who idolizes -- and now shares an agent with -- Kobe Bryant.The qualities Buddy has are the ones youd want everyone to have, Kruger said. What I think balances it is sincerity and maybe the work ethic. His peers like him, the coaches like him, the administration likes him, the people in town like him. Its not like he flaunts anything. Its not like he gives off that hes entitled. Its not like hes expecting anything back. Buddys a giver. Which is pretty rare when you think of a player with those abilities.The Buddy brand also comes complete with three self-given alter egos: Buddy Fresh, which hes prone to belt out to spark self-motivation; Buddy Love, which is for the ladies, as he recently told The Starters; and Buddy Buckets, which on draft day lined his suit jacket in Bahaman colors.Ive got good branding skills, he said with a smirk. Attracts the crowd a lot too.Even Buddy is an alias. His mother, in what is now Hield lore, saw a likeness between her infant son and the character Bud Bundy from Married ... with Children, and so his given name Chavano became Buddy.Those who know him well agree it fits.Hes always had that swag, said Sacramento Kings rookie Isaiah Cousins, Hields former roommate at Oklahoma. Its just a part of his culture.His first taste of the NBA, though, hasnt exactly aligned with expectations. In five games at the Las Vegas Summer League, Hield shot worse from the field (32.7 percent) than he did from behind the 3-point arc (46 percent) in his meteoric senior season at Oklahoma.His healthy scoring average of 16.8 points per game places him near the top in Las Vegas, but even Hield admitted after his games here that he hasnt shot this poorly in years.Ill be fine, he said after his fourth game in Las Vegas, in which he went 5-for-17. Its just a learning curve for me. Im not worrying. Im just a little pissed off right now. I didnt get summer league how I wanted it to go. But I gotta keep grinding, man.Hield has shown a willingness to pass, as the sharpshooter has notched five assists in each of the final three games at summer league. And he always seems to be the one loudly encouraging a teammate -- or himself -- on the court.But Hield struggled to handle the ball in the face of pressure and to get separation off the ball. While Hield gives effort on defense, one NBA scout questioned Hields impact on that end of the court -- given his lack of length and instincts.Both Hield and assistant Robert Pack, New Orleans head coach at summer league, noted the extra attention defenses are posting against Hield, given his notoriety and the options around him. In the petri dish that is summer league, the Pelicans used Hield at times to operate the pick-and-roll, but hell more likely be asked to spot up and stretch the floor for the big league club.Everybody just guarding me tight, Hield said. Ive been getting attention as soon as I stepped onto summer league. Everyones just been guarding me tight. Im just trying to find my way. It is what it is, man. Keep grinding, keep getting better. Thats what summer league is for: to learn.When we get back to training camp, guys like Anthony Davis will open the floor more for me. So Im not worrying about it. Ill be fine.The early struggles present a familiar arc. Though Hield said he was always a shooter, Kruger explained that Hield arrived at Oklahoma as more of a slashing, attacking guard. In four years, he grew from a 24 percent 3-point shooter on less than one attempt per game to 46 percent on almost nine such shots a game.He knew from the start that he wanted to improve the shot, improve the mechanics, raise it up a little bit -- and then just spent time, Kruger said. Theres no shortcut with anything. Buddy invested the time and put up the shots.One Pelicans staffer said he is bound to learn reggae by the amount that has been bumping at the practice facility court leading into the New Orleans rookies first minicamp. Hield also told Sports Illustrated that hes not looking to take any time off before the start of training camp, in order to rectify his disappointing debut.Amid his summer league slump, Hield was asked if he ever reverts back to the downhill player he was when he arrived at Oklahoma. 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England have named Elliot Daly in place of Jonathan Joseph at outside centre for Saturdays autumn opener against South Africa at Twickenham.Daly makes his full Test debut after winning five caps as a replacement, forming a new midfield partnership alongside Owen Farrell that offers long-range left and right-footed kicking options.It is the first time Joseph, a veteran of 25 internationals, has been dropped since establishing himself during the 2015 RBS 6 Nations and he drops to the bench to provide centre and wing cover.Tom Wood ends a year-long spell in the international wilderness that began after last autumns World Cup by filling the void at openside created by a succession of injuries.Weve picked a matchday 23 with a blend of experience and youth, head coach Eddie Jones said.Daly was among the Aviva Premierships most dangerous players last season with his acceleration and eye for an outside break breaching defences to Wasps benefit.While Joseph relies on elusive footwork and a burst of speed to beat defenders, Dalys skill lies in gliding through gaps and he also provides a long-range boot out of hand and from the kicking tee.Wood has been picked at seven ahead of Nathan Hughes with Jones opting for his work-rate, line-out expertise and experience over the explosive potential of the Wasps back row.Hughes is one of three uncapped players featuring on the bench with Harlequins tighthead prop Kyle Sinckler and Worcester centre Ben Teo also set to make debuts when South Africa open the Old Mutual Wealth Series on Saturday.Wing Jonny May also makes his first appearance since the World Cup following a year-long battle with a variety of injuries, lining up on the left with Marland Yarde patrolling the opposite flank.In total there are six changes to the starting XV that toppled Australia 44-40 in Sydney in June, a wiin that sealed a 3-0 whitewash of the Wallabies.ddddddddddddDylan Hartley captains a side containing 596 international caps as England seek their first victory over the Springboks since 2006, a winless streak that spans 12 Tests.Hartleys Northampton team-mate Courtney Lawes will win his 50th cap having made his debut against Australia at Twickenham in 2009.Weve trained well this week and Im pleased with how the players have come together and responded to some of the things weve asked them to do. The boys are focused and ready to go, Jones said.Were looking forward to the game. Its a fantastic opportunity to show how much depth we have in English rugby.With a few influential players not available for selection this is a great opportunity for some of the new faces to put both feet forward and were backing them to do the job for us.Test matches are always about the contest up front and South Africa pride themselves in the set piece but well be ready for the challenge.We cant wait to get back to Twickenham and make this a game to remember. Its a very special stadium and we hope the crowd really gets behind us on Saturday.We want to make Twickenham an intimidating place for opposition teams to play rugby and the fans can contribute to that.We congratulate Courtney Lawes on his 50-cap milestone - an excellent achievement.Im also pleased to see a number of returning players get their chance on Saturday, most notably Jonny May after his long injury rehabilitation.England team to face South Africa:Brown; Yarde, Daly, Farrell, May; Ford, Youngs; Vunipola, Hartley (captain), Cole, Launchbury, Lawes, Robshaw, Wood, VunipolaReplacements:?George, Marler, Sinckler, Attwood, Hughes, Care, Teo, Joseph ' ' '