The CBA Dongguan Basketball School, an NBA training center aiming at developing elite young basketball talent in China, was launched in Dongguan, China's Guangdong Province, on Friday.

The program was jointly announced by the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA), NBA China and the CBA Dongguan Basketball School.

The construction of the state-of-the-art facility had been completed in June and 77 students were currently enrolled in the school's first semester.

NBA official said that the basketball school was a pioneering facility aiming to develop basketball players in grades 7-12 (12-17 years old) in China.

"Youth basketball development is a primary focus of NBA China and the CBA. The opening of this facility represents a big step forward in our efforts to provide current and future generations of basketball players the resources they need to succeed," said NBA China CEO David Shoemaker.

NBA official said the CBA Dongguan Basketball School was responsible for operating the school, while the NBA was providing an NBA-designed basketball training curriculum and operations manual.

Ron Ekker, a former NBA and NCAA coach has been named as the technical director and would implement the basketball curriculum. NBA coaches and trainers would also make special visits to the school to provide additional NBA-style instruction on strength and conditioning, nutrition, and overall player and coaching development.

"The NBA is providing us with great support and we will continue to work together on player and coaching development, and the implementation of the basketball training curriculum," said Liang Zhibin, investor of the CBA Dongguan Basketball School and President of New Century Real Estate Development Company.

The opening of the training center marked the latest effort by the NBA's endeavour in China. The NBA and CBA have cooperated on programs including the first NBA-CBA coaching camp in 2004. In 2009, the CBA and NBA China launched a long-term coaching develop program that has seen more than 250 Chinese coaches receive training from NBA coaches and player trainers in both China and the United States.

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