FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) — Two Clovis West High School basketball players are back home after an unforgettable trip to China, where they competed in an elite Nike showcase and met NBA superstar LeBron James.<\/p>\n
Melania “Lonnie” Warren and Ramey Chapman were invited to join top players from across the country for the all-expenses-paid experience, which included games in Shanghai and Chengdu.<\/p>\n
“We started off in Shanghai with practice and a game, then went to Chengdu where we played the same team again in a different arena,” Warren said. “Then we played Team Rise, which is LeBron’s team.”<\/p>\n
The highlight came when James himself showed up to watch them play.<\/p>\n
“It was a star-struck moment,” Chapman said. “We couldn’t believe he was actually there.”<\/p>\n
The players said the trip was about more than basketball. They soaked in the culture, built friendships and gained confidence competing on an international stage.<\/p>\n
“It definitely gives me a lot of confidence that I can play at multiple levels with different people,” Warren said.<\/p>\n
“I was really happy to have the opportunity to go to a different country to play basketball and do something I love,” Chapman added.<\/p>\n
The team battled jet lag in their first game but settled in by the second matchup, showing their ability to adapt and perform under pressure.<\/p>\n
For Warren and Chapman, the experience was about more than the scoreboard, it was about growth, connection and a once-in-a-lifetime chance to share the court under the watchful eye of one of the game’s greatest players.<\/p>\n
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