47 / 212
EAGLES’ PRIDE
/
2015-2016
/
45
The Beijing basketballers from
Tsinghua University High School
were visiting Houston in June as
part of an exchange program with
the China Ministry of Education
and the NBA.
Houston Rockets Player
Development Coach Kevin
Burleson was set to conduct a
set of crash course high-tempo
clinics emphasizing shooting,
skill development and half-court
execution.
The last remaining obstacle was
securing suitable facilities which
fit within the already determined
logistics, until a rapid fire series
of conversations led NBA
International to St. Thomas
Athletic Director Mike Netzel.
“It’s always been this school’s
mission to reach out and extend
a helping hand, regardless of
the particulars,” Netzel said.
“We tell our guys every day ...
be hospitable and good citizens.
This was an easy way to live that
standard.”
Hosting the hoopsters extended
an already well-established STH
reputation that has developed
over decades through professional
and college sports.
The school has routinely provided
the Rockets and visiting NBA
teams with access for practice and
workout sessions. Recent Texas
Bowl participants University of
Minnesota (2012-13) and University
of Arkansas (2014), plus NCAA
schools participating in the regional
baseball tournaments also have
used STH’s athletic fields.
“We will always welcome the
opportunity to accommodate teams
and universities if we can do so
without disrupting our rhythms
on campus,” Netzel said. “We
have always held great respect
for the Rockets organization and
appreciated the courtesy they’ve
extended us.”
An additional dividend for this
latest partnership was that Colin
Jones ‘16, Jeremy Peck ‘16 and
Randy Brumant ‘16 competed
with a Houston high school all-star
group against Tsinghua at the
Rockets practice facility at Toyota
Center, a gathering which included
former Rockets all-star Yao Ming
and the People’s Republic of China
Vice Premier Liu Yandong.
Troy Justice is the NBA Senior
Director of Basketball Operations-
International and previously the
long-time Senior Director of
Basketball Operations in India.
“We certainly appreciate St.
Thomas’ generosity to help make
all this happen. This is the first time
I’ve worked with this particular
group of players, but our offices
in Beijing and Shanghai have been
active for more than 20 years,”
Justice said. “Basketball is the most
popular sport in China. Hardtop
courts are everywhere, filled with
players. What we’re trying is to
provide a link to the NBA ... help
these players understand, touch,
feel how we play ... bring that
experience to them.”
Burleson became a special assistant
with the Rockets after an eight-year
professional career which included
extensive international experience.
His energized tutorial was delivered
in English and relayed through a
Chinese interpreter to an eager
audience of 17-year-olds.
“They don’t know who I am. We
can’t have a conversation. But we
communicated through basketball.
And I could see in their eyes they
wanted to learn. I’ve been fortunate
to work with and play against many
of the best players in the world.
Not all of them have the drive to
get better. These guys did and that’s
really all a coach really wants,”
Burleson said.
STH coach John Kwok marveled
that, despite the language barrier,
“a group of kids who don’t speak
English were so attentive. No
silliness. No going through the
motions. Kevin really knows the
game and it’s easy to see that this
kind of skill work translates to
better performance, more efficient
production. Small details can make
a huge difference. There’s definitely
some elements we can incorporate
to what we’re already doing.”
Justice has spearheaded much
of the NBA’s international
development, which includes
executing grassroots programs
and working with key basketball
stakeholders across the world to
grow the sport.
“The stay here in Houston was
not just teaching this group but
also presenting opportunities for
them to give back. There was an
NBA Cares program at the Chinese
Community Center where they
were coaches to young players in
that area. Basketball really breaks
down barriers. As we work around
the world, we find that it’s not just a
game but a tool to make an impact
in the communities in which we
serve and live,” Justice said.
STH Extends Helping Hand to Chinese Select Team
INSIDE EAGLE ATHLETICS