Arsalan Kazemi

[Rasputin]

Arsalan Kazemi

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1BL_sxnWb1k"]YouTube - Arsalan Jan basketball!!!! {{must watch}}[/ame]

Plans to be first Iranian to receive U.S. college basketball scholarship

PHILADELPHIA (sportsillustrated.cnn.com)-- One week ago, in an episode of U.S.-Iran relations that did not make anyone's evening news, the 18-year-old captain of the Iranian junior national team took a pass from an American teammate, drove to the basket and dunked with such authority that some Division I coaches in the gym began curiously examining his bio page in the Reebok All-American Camp's handbook.

Coaches from Seton Hall and Oklahoma State -- two of the first schools to offer him a scholarship -- looked on as well, perhaps realizing that the secret of Arsalan Kazemi was beginning to get out of the bag. He arrived in Houston in February, and plans to become, in 2009-10, the first Iranian to play college basketball in the U.S.

[Rasputin]

Evaluation

January, 2009: Kazemi plays with great passion and never takes possessions off. He has intense style of play and has no regard for his body, often causing himself injuries. Though you do not want to over-coach him, Kazemi does need to become more disciplined in order to maximize his own time on the court and not get into foul trouble, which he has a tendency to do. Kazemi snares defensive rebounds with ease, using his very good, quick leaping ability and runs the floor as if possessed, beating everyone done the floor where he can finish off the break above the rim. He also hits the offensive boards for points. As he matures and gets stronger, Kazemi will out-work most opponents. He will also have to improve his jumper shot range to about 15-16 feet in addition to the accuracy for the next level. Typically, most athletically gifted players do not give maximum effort and Kazemi ranks at the exception to this rule.

October, 2008: One of the most all-around talented players in the Oak Hill-Patterson scrimmage was Patterson's Kazemi, a native of Iran. Kazemi has the ability to score from inside or out, has excellent ballhandling and passing skills and is very effective on the boards. He is a slasher with impressive dribble-drive moves to the hoop. He has a superb feel for the game and is a good offensive rebounder. On hand to watch Kazemi last night were Maryland, Seton Hall, Wake Forest, Memphis and others.

Notes

Native of Iran...Wake Forest, Connecticut, Memphis, Rutgers, St. John's, Oklahoma State, Missouri are also interested...

[siamak]

Rice University Freshman forward

ESPN special report on the first native Iranian to earn a D-1 college scholarship:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WwLjfUHuYy8