A delegation of eight coaches from member schools in the China University Basketball Association (CUBA) are wrapping up a 10-day stay in Laie to learn more about all aspects of U.S. basketball from BYU-Hawaii coaches.
The program is conducted through the BYU-Hawaii Center for Instructional Technology & Outreach (CITO), with BYU-Hawaii Athletic Director and men's basketball head coach Ken Wagner and assistant coach Brandyn Akana.
"Hopefully, this is the start of a relationship where we work with them every summer," said Wagner. "This past summer Brandyn and I went over with the CBA [the 16-team China Basketball Association] and gave a clinic in China. Now eight of the CUBA coaches have come back here to learn more about American basketball, and watch practices and our games."
"This came about when we met them through the Asia Pacific tournament. The people from CUBA first came over a year or two ago," Wagner continued. He noted the visiting coaches were interested in everything: "Offense, defense, individual scouting, weight lifting, conditioning and diet. It's been fun getting to know them."
The delegation also met with new BYU-Hawaii women's basketball head coach Wendy Anae, and the men's head coach from Hawaii Pacific University.
Coach Wagner added the BYU-Hawaii team went to China years ago, "and we're planning on going again this summer. We usually play against the professional teams when we go over there. We do all right: We win our share. They've also invited us to the Jones Cup in Taiwan: That's a big tournament in Asia."
"They have some excellent players in China," Wagner pointed out. "Over there, just as in many countries, the best players don't go to universities: They play for clubs and then go straight to the pros. CUBA is trying to change things, and they have some beautiful systems. I think over the next few years they will change to where more of the athletic clubs come under the schools."
"That's why they have come here, so they can educate basketball players in universities, and then send them to the professional teams," said "J.J." Jing Jun Huang, CITO Program Development Executive for China and Asia, who has been working with the visiting delegation.
"For many years China followed the Soviet Union model of sports development, but now they are trying to follow the U.S. system. University basketball here is at a much higher level than in China." Huang added there are about 700 universities in the CUBA, "which is equivalent to our NCAA here."
Huang, who is originally from Beijing, China, also said the visiting coaches told him "they enjoyed the program and really loved to watch our NCAA II games."
Speaking through their interpreter, the coaches said, "It's been a good experience for us to exchange with your coaches here. We've learned a lot: Some things are the same as in China, but there's a lot that's different. We hope to do more exchanges, because basketball is becoming more and more popular."
"We will repeat this program. We want to bring in a new group every summer," said Huang. "This is just the first time."