广东宏远俱乐部昨天宣布，刚满19岁的宏远队易建联将参加明年的NBA选秀。NBA的官方选秀网站把易建联列为第11号种子选手，称“易建联是继姚明之后登陆NBA的另一位前景广阔的中国球员。他在篮球场上体现出一种美国式的风格，速度极快。”据宏远俱乐部透露，最近几年陆续有公牛、活塞等队的球探来东莞看易建联的比赛。易建联表示：“这是对自己的一次考验，也是一次机遇。” 新闻热词：“选秀”怎么说

Yi Jianlian China's top young basketball talent Yi Jianlian has finally been given the green light to enter the NBA, after his club agreed to release the player to the 2007 NBA Draft .  Guangdong Baomashi Club officially announced yesterday that Yi could go at the end of the season. "This is a great opportunity and also a test for me," said the 2.10-metre forward. The 19-year-old, dubbed the "next Yao Ming", was linked as an entry for the 2006 draft on two NBA draft websites, but his club would not give him permission. "We did not let Yi join the 2006 draft because it was not the best timing for him," said the club's general-manager Chen Haitao. "But now he is different, he is getting stronger mentally and physically. I think next year will be a big chance for him, so for us, it's time to let him go." The Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) is likely to give approval to the move despite a rule that Chinese players are not eligible for the NBA Draft until they turn 22. "We always support our players in joining high-quality overseas leagues," CBA vice-president Hu Jiashi said yesterday. Yi, who averaged 20.5 points and 9.6 rebounds last season, has led Guangdong to three consecutive national championships. This season the club is on top of the standings once again, with 10 wins and one loss. Yi competed at the Athens Olympic Games in 2004 and was a mainstay at the World Championships in Japan in August. Despite the team's limited international success, Yi is highly rated by US scouts. Leading draft website NBADraft.net predicts the teenager will be picked in 11th position next year in a strong draft, Meanwhile probasketball.about.com lists him fourth spot out of 150 prospects, a place higher than NCAA superstar Joakim Noah, who helped Florida University to the national championships this year. "I am not as excited as people expect," said Yi. "It is too early to predict my future in the NBA, because I am still improving all the time. "For me, what I care about most now is winning another title for my club and also getting the gold medal at the Asian Games this year." (China Daily)

Vocabulary:

NBA Draft: NBA选秀 forward: 前锋 rebound: 篮板球 scout: 球探 （英语点津陈蓓编辑）