China's basketball association is looking overseas for new talent, for the first time drafting American players.

A five-day Chinese basketball draft camp opens in the United States Wednesday.

Teams under the Chinese Basketball Association hold a three-round draft at the US Basketball Academy in Oregon, where 84 US players are trying out.

The camp, co-hosted by the CBA and the USBA, is the CBA's first-ever unified overseas draw since its founding in 1995.

CBA teams can have two imported players, with their combined salaries capped at $30,000 a month.

The association hopes this practice will better regulate the trade of foreign players in China.

(CRI September 16, 2004)