Shougang harvesting pioneers' hoop dreams

When opportunity came knocking from the United States, Beijing Shougang opened the door.

"We will select and send some of our best rising stars to the US, the kingdom of basketball," said Min Lulei, former mentor of the Shouguang-owned Beijing Ducks.

"They will receive professional basketball training, English-language instruction and high-school or university education."

Min revealed the club's plan on Wednesday when the Ducks launched their Basketball Pioneers Program.

In cooperation with the State General Administration of Sport, Beijing Municipal Bureau of Sports and United States Basketball Academy, Shougang will select its first batch of 60 players under 15 years of age for a training camp set for June 28 to July 12.

In September, the most promising 15 will embark on a nine-month training program at the United States Basketball Academy in Eugene, Oregon.

"We won three championships in four years, but we are far from being a basketball dynasty," said Min, who is overseeing the program.

"The fact that we didn't make the playoffs last season made us realize we lack young talent. Youth development and a young talent reserve are our priorities."

The Ducks advanced to their first CBA final in 2012, thanks largely to the play of former NBA All-Star Stephon Marbury. They became the first CBA team to win a title without any previous trips to the final, as well as the league's fourth different club to win a championship.

After losing in the semi - finals in 2013, Beijing won its second championship in 2014 and repeated in 2015.

"Our vision of launching this program is to build a highly professional and international career system," said Liang Zongping, board chairman and Labor Union president of Shougang Group.

"The program will not just benefit the Ducks; it will be a precious experience for the development of basketball in China in terms of talent-system innovation and talent reserve."

Bruce O'Neil, president and founder of the USBA, shares that vision.

"I've seen the tremendous growth of Chinese basketball," said O'Neil, who founded the academy in 1997.

"My dream is to develop a program such as this. We could change basketball in China and provide educational basketball opportunities for top young players that they haven't seen in China.

"Now we are taking a next step. Our program is unique in America because we provide places for the kids to train with top coaches and we focus on English instruction. They will have top competition in and out of our camp."

The Chinese youngsters will also have the opportunity to play in high-school and collegiate competitions, with an eye to advancing to the NCAA or the professional ranks.

"Brave young Shougang pioneers will change basketball," said O'Neil.