UH basketball branding itself to fans in China

Shanghai » Joston Thomas wasn’t content to finish the fast-break drill with a simple layup. He took a pass from a Hawaii teammate and flushed it home with a tomahawk stuff.

The Hawaii men’s basketball team’s audience, about 40 teenagers at a small practice facility in the city of Dongguan, oohed and aahed appreciatively.

Two of the older members of the group, Ronald Tsang and Xavier Yip, were transfixed on the Rainbow Warriors’ practice.

"Number Five (Thomas), his skills is good. He drives, good shooting and takes long-range shots," said Tsang, 18, of Hong Kong. "(Of the team) I like the defense. They’re tough, with spirit."

Those are the kind of reactions UH coach Gib Arnold hoped to elicit when he scheduled the two-week trip through multiple cities in China.

THE AMERICAN COLLEGE game is still largely a mystery to the Chinese. Tsang and Yip were able to name only a few top-tier schools of hoopology — including Duke, which is making its own trek here this month. But Hawaii could be positioned to capitalize on talented 18-year-old exports in ways other schools aren’t, if and when the players become available.

As of now, they are not. Four Chinese players have made it to the NBA (most notably Yao Ming), and each came straight from China after being raised through pro franchises from a young age.

Roy Lu, a Shanghai native who liaisons between Chinese and American basketball, believes that will change, and soon. Perhaps in just a few years.

Lu said he’s heard of inquiries from wealthier parents to send their children to high school academies in the USA specializing in basketball, then have them stay in the country for a college education.

"They need the mind-set and the money," said Lu, who is affiliated with forward Yi Jianlian, currently the only Chinese player in the NBA. "There is a trend of Chinese players going to the states at earlier age and stages."

That’s where, if Arnold is right, this trip will pay dividends. Lu agrees with the UH coach’s reasoning that Hawaii would make a convenient stop for national team prospects.

"One, it’s the distance," said Lu. "Hawaii is right in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. It’s closer to China, much closer.

"Secondly, it’s the culture. You have all kinds. It’s easier for the kids to fit in and experience American cultures as well as you maintain your own culture in a good way."

UH MAY BE CLOSER, but plenty of logistical challenges remain to bridge East and West. As an example, UH had to revise its itinerary several times leading up to and during the trip, and two touted events on the original schedule, games against prominent teams Shanghai and Guangdong of the Chinese Basketball Association, never panned out.

That’s two fewer chances for UH to make an impression.

Arnold had reason to be optimistic on Tuesday, though, even when a scrimmage against Team Brazil (here to compete in the World University Games) was canceled just prior to the team’s flight to Shanghai.

Two representatives of NBA China observed UH’s improvised practice. After speaking to them, Arnold pledged to stay in contact.

Arnold spoke to Kevin Han of NBA China about the possibility of returning next summer to run a hoops clinic or hosting Chinese players at UH’s East-West Center. Afterward, the UH coach was ready to dole out a few fist bumps to whomever was nearby.

"Just that conversation alone is worth gold," Arnold said. "A little 10-minute conversation after practice could be the most important reason that we’re here."