He enrolled at Texas’ Rice University in the fall of 2009, thus becoming the first Iranian to play major college basketball in the United States. He has been overshadowed, however, by Hamid Haddadi, who plays professional basketball with the Memphis Grizzlies.
Now, however, Kazemi, 20, is widely considered a top prospect for the NBA. And he’s thinking of seeking a slot in the NBA without first finishing college.
It was a surprise when Arsalan chose Rice over better-known basketball programs. “I didn’t want to sit on the bench for an entire year my freshman year,” Kazemi told the Voice of America in a recent interview. “It just doesn’t work with my mentality and, secondly, because Rice is a very good school academically, I knew I could get a great job after graduating from here.”
Kazemi said, “My first year here everyone talked about me being the first-ever Iranian to receive a scholarship in the NCAA [National Collegiate Athletic Association].… Then, everyone, all the reporters, all of a sudden started talking about basketball with me and telling me I’m a great player and that I have a future. It was a great feeling.”
A reporter for Slam Magazine picked Kazemi as one of the top five NBA prospects among those who played in last year’s World Championships in Turkey.
“After this year I’d really like to sign up for the [NBA] draft, practice with teams to compare myself to other players and see what areas I need to improve upon,” Kazemi said, “then come back for my junior year at Rice, work on those areas and then make the move fully after that season.”
Entering the NBA draft before graduation is chancy. Any player who signs with an agent loses his college eligibility.
Anthony Ibrahim, who discovered Kazemi when he competed for the Iranian junior national team, has been the athlete’s mentor since bringing him to the United States.
“I would love for him to go this year, but I think he still needs another year of seasoning,” says Ibrahim. “We’re going to evaluate him at the end of this season. I’m going to give him the best advice, like I did for him when I brought him to this country. When the NBA scouts or the general managers of the NBA that I know give me the green light, I will present him the facts and he has to make the decision.”
Although Kazemi is far from home, Iran remains close to his heart. His national team jersey proudly hangs in his dorm room.
“Arsalan is a pioneer,” says Ben Braun, his Rice coach. “He has really paved the way and I told him that that’s quite an honor. It’s not a burden, it’s an honor and a privilege. I know he feels sometimes the pressure of wanting to succeed, so other people in fact can succeed, so he takes it very personally and I know he doesn’t want to let anybody down.”
