Thursday, August 29, 2002

Chen Hsin-an prepares for Kings training camp

Chen Hsin-an, the first Asian player outside of China to receive the invitation for the NBA pre-season training camp, started private practice under the guidance of Kings international scout Jack Mai yesterday (Aug. 28), two days after the Kings press conference which officially invites Chen to the camp.

Chen, suspended by CTBA for one year in NT play because dropping out the Taiwanese NT before the Asian Games, made it clear that playing in the NBA is his ultimate dream. Although the chance of making the team is slim, he still wants to give it a try and pave the way for other Taiwanese players.

The private practice includes various weights program, shooting program and focuses on the pick-and-roll, which the Kings use a lot in their half-court set. Practices will go on until Chen leave for USA on September 15 or 16.

"Participating in an NBA camp will be a good experience for Chen," Scotty Stirling, Director od Basketball Personnel of Sacramento Kings. "He'll get to work against some of the best players in the NBA and be exposed to great coaching. The way NBA camps are run will give him to a chance to pout his talent and skill on display. He'll also be exposed to the NBA game through the exhibition games we'll play."

It will not be the first time Chen played ball in the USA, haveing previously practiced with the NBD:'s Mobile Revelers for 10 days.

"He surprised a few players including myself," Dell Demps, assistant coach of Mobile Revelers said. "Chen made shots and was very explosive going to the basket. He definitely can play at the NCAA Division I level and a pro career with maturation."

Chen led Yulon Dinos to the 2002 and 2001 A-League titles, averaging 21 points and 8 rebounds in the 2002 Finals and 15.3 points in 2001. He was named the MVP in both years.

Along with Yao Ming, who was selected by Houston Rockets with the No. pick in the 2002 NBA Draft, Chen was named by Asian Basketball Confederation in 1998 as the most promising Asian junior players.

He averaged 20.1 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.3 assists in the senior year at Songshan High School. Chen went on to play for Bank of Taiwan in the Amateur League before joining Yulon in 2000.



Profile of Chen Hsin-an

* Born on July 1, 1980
* Ht/Wt: 6-5(195cm)/202lbs(93kg)
* International Achievements:
1998 Taiwan Junior NT
1999-2002 Taiwan NT
2001 East Asian Games in Osaka silver medal
2001 William Jones Cup champion

* Career
1998
- Led Songshan HS to the 5th place in the first year in HBL Division I, averaging 20.1p, 5.6rb in the regular season and 18.4p in Elite Eight games.
- Led Taiwan Junior NT to the 4th place in ABC Junior Championship, averaging 23p and 7rb.
- Participate in Japan's NIKE Camp.
- Named by ABC as the most promising Asian junior players, along with China's Yao Ming.

1999
- Join Bank of Taiwan of Amateur League(A-League) and finished 3rd place in A-League regular season.
- Selected to the national team at 18 years-old. Finished 4th place in ABC Championship in Fukuoka, Japan.
- Led BOT to President Cup champion. Named MVP.

2000
- Join Yulon Dinos and led the team to "Millennium Series" title. Named as the rookie of the year and MVP.

2001
- Led Yulon to a 3-1 win over BCC Mars in A-League Finals, averaging 15.3p. Named MVP.
- Led Taiwan NT to East Asian Games silver medal and Jones Cup champion.

2002
- Led TPEC(Taipei Physical Education College) to the 7th straight UBA(University Basketball Association) champion.
- Led Yulon to the second straight A-League title win a 3-1 series win over Jutai Tech, averaging 21p and 8.8rb. Named MVP.
- Practiced with NBDL's Mobile Revelers for 10 days in February.
- Invited by Sacramento Kings to the pre-season training camp, becoming the first player from Taiwan and first Asian player outside of China to be invited to NBA camps.