Michael Ou leads pack of Chinese students for Menaul boys basketball

Four natives of China make up 36 percent of the boys basketball team at Menaul (Albuquerque) and one of them, Michael Ou, is 1 inch short of being the tallest player in the state. Menaul is an international boarding school which this year has students representing 18 different countries, approximately three dozen from China.

The 6-foot-9, 205-pound sophomore is averaging an impressive 20.8 points and 11.1 rebounds for the Class 2A Panthers, who have posted a 15-8 record so far this season. Ou also shoots an outstanding 64 percent from the field and 72 percent (86 of 119) from the free throw line. Kyrie Hu, a 5-11 junior point guard, averages 4.2 points and 2.5 rebounds, while 5-9 senior Korvin Wang and 5-6 senior Sam Lao also make valuable contributions. 

Menaul coach Gary Boatman explained that his Chinese players - and most other students from foreign countries - have come to his school to learn English and later attend an American college. Basketball, he added, usually is secondary.

Ou, who still is learning English, came to Menaul from the province of Guangdong on the advice of a friend named Peter. Word of mouth appears to be the best advertisement for the school, which houses 113 students in grades 9-12 (188 in grades 6-12).

The sophomore center, who began playing basketball at age 12, said through an interpreter that learning the sport was "very hard." His first major roadblock was learning the rules. Coach Boatman was quick to point out that Ou came to him this year with very good fundamentals and a great attitude.

Learning English, Ou conceded, also is "very hard." One of the first phrases he learned was "five on five."

In reverse, assistant coach Victor Gonzalez has learned to yell "follow your shot" in Chinese because Ou has a tendency to stand and watch his shot in flight instead of getting into rebounding position.

"He tends to slack off on defense and is not aggressive until we make him mad. We have to tell him that a 6-3 guy is out-playing him. When he gets fired up, he starts yelling and we have no idea what he's saying," Gonzalez said.

"Tone" is another problem for Ou. Boatman explained, "He's learning if we talk about basketball. If I demonstrate it, he gets it. You can't use much sarcasm. You've got to watch that stuff, because he's learning from me. He's one of the most loyal team players I've been around in 17 years. He loves basketball. He's got some work to do because it's a new world for him."

Not surprisingly, Ou says that the easiest thing he has done during his first year in America is "dunk." He grew up playing guard, but a 4-inch growth over the last year suddenly sent him to the post.

Even though he quickly has developed good post moves, Ou says, "I really do want to play guard sometime."

Gonzalez, who stands 6-7, said, "He wants to play guard, but we want him in the post. He starts roaming around. He's still not as strong as we'd like him to be. He can post anybody up at will, so it takes two or three guys to guard him. He's got one of the quickest first steps I've seen in a long time."

Though Ou is one of the fastest players on the team, he has drawn a lot of charging fouls because he tends to run with his head down and still has to learn when to stop before making contact. Ou has improved the most, according to Gonzalez, "In recognition of where his teammates are."

What does he miss most about home? He was quick to mention "food," particularly fried noodles.

Boatman said that Ou's goal this year is to end the season in the famed "Pit" at the University of New Mexico, where the state championship games will be played.

Ou is getting A's and B's and hopes to study business in college. Asked what school he likes, he yelled "UCLA," so Steve Alford take note.

He has switched his favorite player from Kevin Garnett to Stephen Curry.

And what about his long-range goal?

"NBA, yes, NBA, yes," was the excited reply.