Rockets has scouted Ming at China for a few times before draft

I found this today.

Shanghai Center Yao Ming Gets NBA Focus
(2002.03.02 22:13:25)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


¡¡¡¡SHANGHAI, China, March 2 (Xinhuanet) -- Chinese basketball sensation Yao Ming made Shanghai Mekka for America's basketball star hunters as the June draft of the National Basketball Association (NBA) approaches.

¡¡¡¡About eight NBA teams had people to scout Yao's matches in the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) on Wednesday and Saturday this week, plus two NBA agents.

¡¡¡¡The 22-year-old Yao, 22, is 2.23 meters (7-4 feet). He is a permanent starting center in the national team and gave great impression to the world in the Sydney Olympics in 2000.

¡¡¡¡Bill Dafey, agent of Dallas Mavericks' Wang Zhizhi who is the ever first Chinese players to play in the NBA, is willing to be agent of Yao, too.

¡¡¡¡"As far as I was informed, six NBA teams sent guys here on Wednesday, like Houston Rockets' Joe Ash and Chicago Bulls generalmanager Jerry Craus," Dafey said on Saturday here.

¡¡¡¡"Today we have Seattle Sonics' assistant general manager Rich Cho and New Yorks general manager (Scott Layden)."

¡¡¡¡"It's common to have so many teams focusing on an oversea's player, as long as he is good enough," Dafey said.

¡¡¡¡Bruce O'Neil, president of the Basketball Academy of the UnitedStates, is a good friend of Chinese basketball players and coaches.He accompanied with Cho, giving some clues and commends to Cho, who watched CBA match for the first time, beside the court at the Shanghai Luwan Stadium.

¡¡¡¡"He had about eight to 10 blocks in the game (seven blocks actually in a 103-86 win over Shandong Flaming Bulls), and he had some smart assists," Cho said. "He needs NBA's training and coaching to get to the NBA's pace."

¡¡¡¡"It doesn't mean he is not fast enough, just because he needn'tto do that," Bruce added.

¡¡¡¡Knicks' Layden refused to give any comments to Yao's game. "It's our policy not giving any comments of players. Maybe (I will receive interview) after the season," Layden said.

Houston Rockets' Joe Ash

http://202.84.17.73:7777/Detail.wct?RecID=14&SelectID=1&ChannelID=4255&Page=1