legelegel
07-16-2008, 02:31 PM
This should be interesting.
http://i2.cdn.turner.com/si/2008/writers/luke_winn/07/15/kazemi/kazemi.jpg
PHILADELPHIA -- One week ago, in an episode of U.S.-Iran relations that did not make anyone's evening news, the 18-year-old captain of the Iranian junior national team took a pass from an American teammate, drove to the basket and dunked with such authority that some Division I coaches in the gym began curiously examining his bio page in the Reebok All-American Camp's handbook.
Coaches from Seton Hall and Oklahoma State -- two of the first schools to offer him a scholarship -- looked on as well, perhaps realizing that the secret of Arsalan Kazemi was beginning to get out of the bag. He arrived in Houston in February, and plans to become, in 2009-10, the first Iranian to play college basketball in the U.S.
Kazemi, meanwhile, could not seem more detached from that global controversy. His father runs a factory in Isfahan -- one that produces candy. Kazemi is a basketball-crazed teenager who grew up watching NBA telecasts in Arabic (his favorite player is Tim Duncan) and loves the U.S. because it's rich in a resource that Iran is sorely lacking: conveniently accessible practice gyms.
To many of the coaches at the Reebok camp, Kazemi's skill set was more intriguing than his status as a potential pioneer from the Middle East. Those who had seen his first game -- and first dunk -- in Philly were remarking how quickly the 6-foot-7 forward could elevate, how smooth he was in the open floor and how much of a team-first approach he had.
more (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/luke_winn/07/15/kazemi/index.html)
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/luke_winn/07/15/kazemi/index.html
http://i2.cdn.turner.com/si/2008/writers/luke_winn/07/15/kazemi/kazemi.jpg
PHILADELPHIA -- One week ago, in an episode of U.S.-Iran relations that did not make anyone's evening news, the 18-year-old captain of the Iranian junior national team took a pass from an American teammate, drove to the basket and dunked with such authority that some Division I coaches in the gym began curiously examining his bio page in the Reebok All-American Camp's handbook.
Coaches from Seton Hall and Oklahoma State -- two of the first schools to offer him a scholarship -- looked on as well, perhaps realizing that the secret of Arsalan Kazemi was beginning to get out of the bag. He arrived in Houston in February, and plans to become, in 2009-10, the first Iranian to play college basketball in the U.S.
Kazemi, meanwhile, could not seem more detached from that global controversy. His father runs a factory in Isfahan -- one that produces candy. Kazemi is a basketball-crazed teenager who grew up watching NBA telecasts in Arabic (his favorite player is Tim Duncan) and loves the U.S. because it's rich in a resource that Iran is sorely lacking: conveniently accessible practice gyms.
To many of the coaches at the Reebok camp, Kazemi's skill set was more intriguing than his status as a potential pioneer from the Middle East. Those who had seen his first game -- and first dunk -- in Philly were remarking how quickly the 6-foot-7 forward could elevate, how smooth he was in the open floor and how much of a team-first approach he had.
more (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/luke_winn/07/15/kazemi/index.html)
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/luke_winn/07/15/kazemi/index.html