LOWELL — Lee Hok sprints back-and-forth, elbow-to-elbow at the Collegiate Charter School Saturday morning. Sweat is dripping down the forehead of the 20-year-old Cambodian basketball player from Chelmsford.
Back-and-forth he goes until he reaches 20 made jumpers. Some shots rim out; others splash throw the hoop. No matter what, though, Hok’s right-handed jumper stays the same.
The meticulous practice means a lot for Hok: he’s about to represent the United States, the Greater Lowell community and his country of origin later this month at the 2019 South East Asian Games for the USA-Cambodian Basketball Association.
“It’s honestly just a blessing. I’ve looked up to some of these guys since I was in (Chelmsford High School),” said Hok, one of three players from Massachusetts on this year’s 16-man squad that will play in an 11-country tournament in Manila, Philippines starting on Nov. 30.
The 20-year-old player — a descendant of Khmer and who patents his game after former NBA MVP Derrick Rose — was selected through a “selective process” during the previous months by the UCBA. A tournament held every two years, Hok will try to help the Cambodian national basketball team win its first medal.
More importantly, though, he’ll be able to reconnect with his family’s former country.
“This is completely my first time and, honestly, the only thing I’m worried about is the culture shock,” he said.
Hok will join two other Massachusetts players, who are expected to travel to Phnom Penh Wednesday to prepare for a Dec. 5 match up against Thailand, Dominic Dar (a former Greater Lowell Tech standout) and Tommy Chea (of Revere).
Other talent on the roster comes from all across the country.
Andrew Khvang is from Cranston, Rhode Island. Alan Khou is from Utah. Joseph Hoeup is from New Mexico. Jonathan So and Richard Hu are from Texas and California, respectively.
All will get the opportunity to visit their homeland and see life outside the United States, UCBA President Sokhary Chau said.
“Some of these guys haven’t left the states yet, their own city. So it’s a good thing to get out there and experience where their parents came from,” said 27-year-old coach Danny Meas, who previously played in the 2017 SEA Games in Malaysia and started the UMass Lowell men’s club basketball team.
“It’s just a culture shock. Seeing how people live out there and be able to see what type of lifestyle they have to go through,” he added.
Saturday’s hour-long practice included pick-and-roll drills, conditioning and some mentoring from former Westford Academy basketball coach Ed Scollan, who previously coached the Grey Ghosts for 36 years and joined the association as a volunteer.
The Cambodian team went 1-3 during the 2017 games. In 2019, the team hopes to improve.
“I don’t need to be paid a million dollars to do this, I don’t need to be paid a dime to do this,” Meas said. “I’ll do this for free like I’ve been doing. I’m doing the best I can for this program and as a whole, for Cambodia, I just want to make sure we do the best that we possibly can and give it all we got because we will.”
The 30th annual SEA games will take place Nov. 30 to Dec. 11, as the team was recognized and cheered on by locals Monday at the Old Court.
“Our team is complete and we are glad to finally be going to this international competition,” Chau said. “All the practice and preparation will be worth it when our team competes in the Philippines.”
Luke O’Roark on Twitter: @LukeORoark
