ELBOURNE, May 3 (Xinhua) -- Some of the National Basketball Association' s (NBA) biggest stars will journey to Australia this off-season to impart their skills on the nation' s next batch of promising players.
The NBA, International Basketball Federation (FIBA) and Australia' s National Basketball League (NBL) announced on Tuesday that the NBA's illustrious Basketball Without Borders (BWB) Asia program would stop in Melbourne for a four-day camp in June.
Australia' s top basketball prospects born in 1999 will be invited to attend the development camp - a community outreach program - to learn from a yet-to-be revealed line-up of NBA and FIBA players and coaches.
Over the past decade, Australia has firmed as a rising world basketball power with eight Australian-born players (Joe Ingles, Kyrie Irving, Mathew Dellavedova, Andrew Bogut, Dante Exum, Patty Mills, Aron Baynes and Cameron Bairstow) currently featuring in the NBA.
Irving (Cleveland Cavaliers), Dellavedova (Cleveland Cavaliers), Bogut (Golden State Warriors) and Mills (San Antonio Spurs) are all still competing as part of the NBA Playoffs.
Draft nominees Ben Simmons, touted as the likely No. 1 pick in June, and Thon Maker could push the number of active Australian NBA players to a record-breaking 10, if both selected next month.
NBA Asia managing director Scott Levy, alongside Utah's shooting guard-small forward Ingles, was in the Victorian capital to make the announcement, and said the U.S.-based competition was proud to bring the initiative to Australia for the first time.
"The league has seen a surge of Australian talent in recent years, and we look forward to supporting the next generation by giving them a platform to showcase their skills alongside their peers from throughout the region," Levy told reporters at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre on Tuesday morning.
Over its 15-year history, BWB has toured 130 countries and unearthed 37 NBA players.
As of opening-night of this season, 21 former BWB graduates were on NBA rosters.
It is unclear which Australians - and other NBA players - will return home for the June 23 to 27 event.
Many of Australia' s NBA stars have committed to play at the Rio Olympics in August as the Boomers go in search of their first male basketball Olympic medal.
NEW YORK: The New York Times on Saturday endorsed Hillary Clinton for the Democratic presidential nomination and Ohio Governor John Kasich for that of the Republicans.
Hillary Clinton Ohio Governor John Kasich
The liberal newspaper's picks come just two days before voters in Iowa cast ballots in the first nominating contest of the 2016 presidential election season.
The Times editorial board opted for a front-runner and a moderate underdog in endorsing Clinton for the Democrats and Kasich for the Republicans.
"Voters have the chance to choose one of the most broadly and deeply qualified presidential candidates in modern history
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Clinton is in a dead heat with Bernie Sanders in Iowa, and the Vermont senator is leading the polls in New Hampshire
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The Times credited Sanders with generating enthusiasm among Democratic voters
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The Times noted that it has endorsed Clinton on three previous occasions - twice when she ran for senator in New York, and in 2008 when she ran unsuccessfully for president against Barack Obama.
In assessing the Republican candidates
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It rejected Donald Trump, who has dominated the Republican race thus far, as a populist "who invents his positions as he goes along." "Mr Trump has neither experience in nor interest in learning about national security, defence or global trade
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It dismissed Senator Ted Cruz, number two in the Republican field, as driven solely by personal ambition. "Mr Cruz will say anything to win. The greater worry is that he'd follow words with action," The Times said.
Kasich
Nike Air Presto Flyknit Ultra Bianche Italia , "though a distinct underdog, is the only plausible choice for Republicans tired of the extremism and inexperience on display in this race," The Times concluded.
Photo:CFP
While Wang Sicong, son of China's richest man Wang Jianlin
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Nick appears as one of the main characters in Disney's latest animated film Zootopia, which has swept the global box office for another week straight. With the film having currently earned 804 million yuan ($123 million) at the Chinese mainland box office, Nick has managed to capture the hearts of a large group of female moviegoers
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Boyfriend necessities
Typing the keywords "fox" and "husband" on social network platforms like Sina Weibo and you will quickly discover numerous women who are fascinated about Nick.
"All my roommates dream of Nick the fox being their husband," netizen Hey Tianha, 19, posted on Sina Weibo after watching the film with her roommates Saturday.
And if you think only young single women are pursing Nick
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"Handsome for sure and chivalrous," Huang said. "Just my type."
Nick's success with the ladies has even inspired people to learn from Nick when it comes to flirting.
? Be sure to maintain cl.