US college bribery scandal grates on those who missed the cut

The U.S. college bribery scandal has unleashed angst and fury among parents, students and admissions experts, as an unprecedented criminal investigation draws attention to the privileges afforded to wealthy Americans.

Hollywood actors and business executives are among 50 people charged with taking part in the largest college admissions scandal in U.S. history, which involved getting students into elite, highly selective universities by paying bribes and cheating the admissions process.

Ordinary Americans were not amused.

"I've worked my butt off for four years trying to make myself seem really presentable, studying two hours a week for the SAT (entrance exam) and getting all As in my classes," said Connor Finn, 18, a senior at John Marshall High school in Los Angeles. "And then the fact that people would just pay hundreds of thousands of dollars and without the hard work is really not rewarding at all," he said.

Finn's father, Michael, said the teenager applied to a dozen universities, including University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where the daughter of one couple charged in the scandal was enrolled. Connor is still waiting for a response, his father said.

Dan Raffety, a college counselor at the Elgin Academy prep school near Chicago, said he had a student with superb grades, perfect entrance exam scores and a resume full of extracurricular activities who was denied entry at Georgetown.

He said he was angered to think academically deserving students may have lost a spot to cheaters.

ACCESS TO POWER

Besides academic excellence, elite schools offer access for their graduates to a network of people in power.

"At some point this isn't really about education. This is about trying to get access," Rafferty said.

Many elite universities give preference to "legacy" applicants: the children of those who previously attended. In other cases, major financial gifts, including multimillion-dollar donations to construct buildings on campus, pave the way for the privileged. Both practices are legal.

The competition can be fierce and seem unfair even to people of privilege, however.

One wealthy Massachusetts parent said his son had excellent credentials but still was denied entry to Ivy League Brown University, even after the family spent thousands of dollars for a tutor to improve the boy's entrance exam scores.

Meanwhile, he said students whom he considered lesser academic talents gained an advantage by going to private prep schools, whose business model is to get students into elite universities.

"It's a booming business because parents are the ripest target in the world. They'll pay and do anything for their kids. And this (scandal) is an example of things gone awry," said the father, who asked to remain anonymous so he could speak freely.

His son chose to stay in public school and ended up at Tufts University, a highly rated school that nonetheless lacks Ivy League cachet.

LOOKING FOR DIVERSITY, TOO

The top universities have such an excess of qualified applicants they could limit their candidates to the best students with perfect entrance exam scores, admissions experts say.

They are also looking for diversity, accepting high achieving poor and minority students who cannot afford tutors and coaches.

"This scandal, most people would agree, is ridiculous," said Natasha Kumar Warikoo, a graduate professor of education at Harvard and author of "The Diversity Bargain," which examines how students at elite universities view affirmative action.

"But beyond that we don't have a consensus in the United States about what fair is," she added.

UCLA student Sandy Situ, 21, the daughter of immigrants, said the scandal had made her think about the uphill battle for those who are unable to attend the schools of their choice.

"I think about the resources that were taken away from them, the chances that they could have achieved something better, all the people who were turned away for people who could just pay their way in," Situ said. "What a sad moment this is for America." (Reporting by Daniel Trotta; additional reporting by Alex Dobuzinskis and Rollo Ross; editing by Bill Tarrant and Rosalba O'Brien)

source: news.abs-cbn.com

US varsity players released by China apologize for shoplifting, thank Trump

Three US college basketball players detained in China for shoplifting publicly apologized Wednesday and thanked President Donald Trump for helping secure their release.

Trump had personally asked Chinese leader Xi Jinping to intervene to free UCLA's LiAngelo Ball -- the younger brother of Los Angeles Lakers rookie star Lonzo Ball -- and teammates Cody Riley and Jalen Hill, who were arrested last Tuesday in Hangzhou.

The trio were held on suspicion of stealing from a Louis Vuitton store and later freed on bail but ordered to remain in the picturesque Chinese city.

Shoplifting can bring jail time in China depending on the value of the goods.

On Wednesday, all three admitted their guilt at a news conference in Los Angeles, one day after returning home.

"I take full responsibilities for the mistake that I made, shoplifting. I know that this goes beyond me letting my school down but I let the entire country down," said Riley.

"Before I thank everybody who worked so incredibly hard helping us returning home safely, I want to thank the Chinese government and the police for taking care of us. And to President Trump and the United States government, thank you for taking the time to intervene on our behalf."

Ball told reporters he had not exercised his "best judgment" and vowed never to repeat the "stupid decision" to steal, also thanking Trump, as well as the Chinese police and UCLA.

"This does not define who I am. My family raised me better than that and I am going to make myself a better person from here on out," he added.

Hill told reporters he wanted to be known for his love of basketball rather than "this dumb mistake."

"This incident has changed me in a way that I cannot describe. I have so much more respect from the people around me from coaches and staff and the fans of UCLA," he said.

UCLA head coach Steve Alford said the trio had been suspended indefinitely and would not travel with the team or suit up for home games.

Alford thanked "President Trump and his administration for their nonstop efforts" in resolving the case.

Earlier Wednesday, Trump tweeted about his role in urging Xi to secure the trio's release.

"Do you think the three UCLA Basketball Players will say thank you President Trump? They were headed for 10 years in jail!" Trump mused.

The case drew attention in the United States due to the involvement of Ball, one of three high-profile basketball-playing sons of LaVar Ball.

The elder Ball has become a media personality by aggressively promoting his sons as future NBA superstars and had travelled to China on the trip to promote his Big Baller Brand shoe and apparel line.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Kobe Paras says there's nothing like playing for country

Kobe Paras said he won't hesitate to wear the national colors if given the chance.

This was the Filipino basketball sensation’s answer when asked by his followers on Twitter if he’s willing to play for Gilas Pilipinas.

“If given a chance. Why not?” said Paras on his Twitter page. “[It] depends if the coach asks me to join [the national team].”

The incoming freshman at Creighton University opened himself to online questions on Friday, saying he is be willing to answer “appropriate questions.”

Paras, a son of PBA legend Benjie Paras, said there is nothing like representing his country in international competitions.

“Yeah. Playing for your country is the best thing ever,” he said, when asked if he agrees with the sentiments of Carmelo Anthony and DeAndre Jordan who said that that winning Olympic gold is better than winning an NBA title.

Really bored right now.

Going to only answer appropriate questions.

Use #AskKobeP so I can see your questions 🤘🏽 — Kobe™ (@Im_Not_Kobe) August 19, 2016


But for now, he said his main goal is to help Creighton University in the US NCAA Division 1.

“[I want] to win a ring with the Bluejays,” said Paras.

He also took a swipe at the UCLA Bruins by saying that he is having a good time with Creighton.

“They treat us like family here and they don’t lie,” said the Filipino baller.

Paras was originally committed to UCLA, but for some reason, the university deemed him ineligible for allegedly failing to meet academic requirements.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Kobe Paras to play for Creighton after UCLA exit

MANILA, Philippines – Filipino basketball star Kobe Paras will play NCAA Division 1 basketball for Creighton University after pulling out from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).

Paras announced on Twitter that he will "take my talents to Omaha, Nebraska" to play for the Blue Jays.

I would gladly want to announce that I am taking my talents to Omaha Nebraska.#17000Strong pic.twitter.com/dv7k6LTvLc

— Kobe™ (@Im_Not_Kobe) July 18, 2016

Paras originally committed to UCLA but had academic deficiencies according to the school's admission's department, despite passing the NCAA eligibility requirement.

The son of PBA legend Benjie Paras previously committed himself to UCLA after he was recruited by the university's program in 2014 while playing for the LA Cathedral.

But UCLA, which has produced NBA stars like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Reggie Miller, Zach LaVine and Kevin Love, announced in June that the young Paras has pulled out from the program.

A three-star recruit according to Rivals and ESPN, Paras played for Cathedral High School and the Compton Magic AAU team.

Creighton last made the NCAA Tournament in 2014. Among their alumni who have made it to the NBA are Kyle Korver of the Atlanta Hawks, Doug McDermott of the Chicago Bulls, and Anthony Tolliver of the Sacramento Kings.

The Blue Jays, who play in the Big East, open their 2016-2017 campaign on November 4 against Wayne State.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Kobe Paras' dad, coach speak up on UCLA withdrawal

LOS ANGELES - Two years of hoop dreams, excitement and anticipation took a twist this week for the Paras family when PBA legend Benjie Paras found out that his son Kobe was no longer going to attend the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).

The younger Paras, who was Division 1 qualified to play, had already checked in and had begun summer school, but suddenly the admissions department said he did not meet some of the academic requirements causing the former slam dunk champion to withdraw.

"It was really a surprise for us and of course Kobe was really devastated. I was talking to him, and honestly, he was crying," said Benjie.

Despite reports citing Cathedral High School's principal saying that the issue involved his Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) score, Paras' Coach William Middlebrooks said no exact details were given.

"That was a shock to the entire athletic department. Our understanding was as long as he's a full qualifier academically, he'd be in school and for whatever reason, the head of admissions made a different decision. It was taken out of context. I think it came across strange to people. Various people interpret it the way they interpreted it but we don't know what the reason is. Even the principal has not talked to anybody at UCLA admissions so therefore whatever the reason is they chose to make this decision we don't have a fact to as why they made the decision," said Middlebrooks.

Middlebrooks admitted that these issues do happen at all colleges and not just to student athletes. With Kobe now withdrawn from UCLA, it's back to the recruitment process for the Division 1 eligible 18-year-old Paras.

With a couple of months before the school year, at least 80 Division 1 schools have reached out to the 6-foot-5 inch wing.

As Paras will weigh his options, he is expected to be in school and on the court in time for the 2016 college basketball season.

"He's a hot commodity right now. We're just back to the drawing board about finding the right fit, the right opportunity; that they understand who Kobe is, what his game is all about, what he means to the Philippines," his coach said.

Benjie added, "We want for Kobe to pick a good school that he can play, and at the same time, getting good academics. I'm just here to support Kobe, support coach and Cathedral and the organization. Whatever decisions they make I'm going to be fine with it."

Benjie, who flew to Los Angeles immediately after the withdrawal news came, has stayed positive and while his son has built a large following, he shared a message to the fans.

"Don't worry. He's going to be ok. He's in good hands, Cathedral, Middlebrooks, they're one big family. They will help each other when someone becomes successful they will be happy for him and when someone's down they will help him get up. He's in good hands right now and for sure you will see him play again," he said.

Middlebrooks and Benjie said Kobe will not make any public comments or appearances as he continues to visit schools and workout on the court.

Read more on Balitang America.



source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Why Kobe Paras pulled out of UCLA

LOS ANGELES, California -- There's been a change of plans for Kobe Paras, one of college basketball’s most high profile, highly anticipated recruits: He will no longer be a UCLA Bruin.

The University of California in Los Angeles announced the withdrawal of 18-year-old Filipino on Wednesday morning.

In a statement, the school said: “Incoming freshman guard Kobe Paras, admitted upon condition to UCLA, has withdrawn from the university due to academic conditions of his admission not being met."

But his coaches at Middlebrooks Academy said he is academically eligible to play for an NCAA Division 1 program.

The Los Angeles Times quoted Cathedral High School officials as saying that there was an issue with Paras's Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) score, despite being a consistent honor student.

Paras had verbally committed to UCLA in the fall of 2014 as a high school junior. He went on to have a phenomenal junior season attracting fandom at many of his games as a player for Cathedral High School.

He went on to participate in several high-profile camps.

Due to an issue in his transfer and credit this past school year, Paras suited up for the Middlebrooks Academy, a basketball prep program that is also run by Cathedral's coach William Middlebrooks.

Last February, Cathedral High School announced that Paras had scored 1750 on his SAT, which is regarded as a high score.

However, the average incoming UCLA freshman has a score of 2064.

The withdrawal comes just weeks after Paras checked in on campus with the school, tweeting his visits and his locker room nameplate. He even had a chance to meet his fellow class of 2016 recruits during his visit.

“The issue is SAT. Based on UCLA’s standards and his announced score, he fell below the UCLA average,” coach William Middlebrooks said.

Although Paras is no longer UCLA-bound, his coaches said he will still play college basketball at a Division 1 level. According to reports, some schools have already contacted his coaches.

Just as when he first arrived in LA, they expect a number of suitors lining up to bring in the 6-foot-5 wing player.

Paras himself has been silent throughout the ordeal with Middlebrooks basketball requesting for privacy.

The program said they will clarify the issues and details surrounding the young athlete's withdrawal soon.

No matter where Paras will eventually play, that school will have a well-conditioned athlete. The hoops phenom has been in tip top basketball shape, spending most of his time in the gym and getting ready for the next phase of his basketball life.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Kobe Paras officially signs with UCLA

MANILA, Philippines – Kobe Paras has officially committed to play collegiate basketball with the UCLA Bruins, head coach Steve Alford announced.

Paras, a standout from La Salle Greenhills who moved to the United States to play for Cathedral High School, verbally committed to play for UCLA in October 2014 but made it official this week.

According to the UCLA Bruins' website, Alford received a signed National Letter of Intent from Paras on Wednesday, the first day of early signing period.

"We're always looking for players who've grown up immersed in basketball, and Kobe definitely fits that mold," Alford was quoted as saying. "He just loves the game."

"To add a talented player like Kobe to our program is terrific. He's a very athletic guard who plays with tremendous energy. We like how he can attack off the dribble and get to the rim in the open court," he added.

"We're excited that he'll be joining us in Westwood."


Paras is currently playing for the Middlebrooks Academy Team and has represented the Philippines in several international competitions, including the FIBA Asia Under-18 3x3 Championships.

"Officially a Bruin," Paras said in an Instagram post. "I can't wait for the next chapters of my life…. This one is for my family back home."

Along with Paras, UCLA also got official commitments from Ike Anigbogu and Lonzo Ball, who are highly rated players in their high school class. All three will enroll at UCLA in 2016 and begin their freshmen seasons in the 2016-2017 academic calendar.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Kobe Paras to lead Team PH in FIBA 3x3

MANILA, Philippines – A Philippine team headed by UCLA-commit Kobe Paras will go up against powerhouse squads in the group stage of the 2015 FIBA 3x3 Under-18 World Championships on June 4-7 in Debrecen, Hungary.

Paras will team up with Richard Escoto, Michael Nieto and Paolo Rivero to represent the country in the tournament.

Team Philippines is in Pool A along with hosts Hungary, traditional powerhouses Russia and Poland, as well as Kazakhstan and Uruguay.

Paras made a name for himself in the Dunk Contest of the 2013 FIBA 3x3 U18 competition in Jakarta, when he famously dunked over his teammates and a motorcycle to take home the trophy.

The 24 men's teams are divided into four pools, based on the FIBA 3x3 Federation ranking, according the tournament website.

Defending champion Argentina is in Pool D along with Spain, the United States, Georgia, Indonesia, and Puerto Rico.

Pool B is composed of: Andorra, Germany, Romania, Egypt, Lithuania, and Guatemala, while Pool C is composed of: Brazil, New Zealand, Turkey, Estonia, France, and Vietnam.

Aside from the 3x3 competition itself, there will also be a dunk, shoot-out, and skills contest.

Team Philippines will starts its campaign on June 4 against Poland.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Kobe, Sedricks' teams advance to regional finals

MONROVIA, California – The high school edition of March Madness continued Friday night, and Cathedral High school has advanced to the regional finals after beating Alemany High School, 72-64.

UCLA-commit Kobe Paras overcame early foul trouble to finish with 17 points, including four three-pointers.

"We stayed focus and (I'm) just happy we got a win," said Paras. "I practiced, I just kept shooting and shooting until I got my rhythm back, and as you can see, I got it back."

With Paras in foul trouble, Washington State recruit Mila Acquaah led Cathedral's offense.

"It's definitely exciting, but I feel we're not done. We got a lot more to go. Winning the championship is our goal," he said.

Filipinos came out in full force to watch Paras in his most important high school game to date, including Disney and Broadway star Anna Maria Perez DeTagle.

Cathedral will play for the Division 3 regional title on Saturday in Ontario.

Meanwhile, Player of the Year candidate and Filipino-American Sedrick Barefield scorde 25 points for Centennial High School as they defeated Redondo Union High School, 85-64, to advance to the Division 1 regional championships, which will be held in Long Beach.

Winners of the regional final will advance to the state finals in Berkeley next week.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Paras, Barefield's teams eliminated in Open Division playoffs

MONROVIA/CORONA, California –Two Filipino hoop prodigies fell short in the second week of the California Interscholastic Federation Open Division tournament that features the state's top teams in one of the top high school tournaments.

UCLA-bound Kobe Paras and Cathedral High School lost for the third time this year to high school hoops powerhouse Bishop Montgomery.

Paras scored 14 points and showed his defensive skills to help keep the game close before Bishop Montgomery pulled away for a 59-47 victory and advance to the Last Eight.

"I'm just thankful that we can go up against teams as good as them," said Paras. "I just feel bad we can up short. We did our best, we practiced our all, but it went down to the smallest things, rebounds and the details."

Despite the loss, Paras met with dozens of Filipino fans after the game to celebrate a season's worth of improvement.

"I'm still new here. I'm just glad I got to go with the pace of the game. I just hope if we go up against greater teams, we can focus and do better," he said.

Across town in Corona, SMU-bound Fil-Am senior Sedrick Barefield and fourth-ranked Centennial High were upset by 12th-ranked Orange Lutheran, 78-73.

While both open divisions have ended for Paras and Barefield, they will now both regroup as they await for the seedings in another statewide high school playoff championship.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

WATCH: Minnesota's Lavine wows in Slam Dunk Contest

MANILA, Philippines – Minnesota Timberwolves rookie Zach LaVine used the Slam Dunk Contest as his personal coming-out party as he wowed the Barclays Center crowd with four spectacular jams Saturday at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn (Sunday in Manila).

The 19-year-old LaVine, who played one season in UCLA before being picked 13th overall by Minnesota in the 2014 Draft, made a statement with his very first dunk.

Dunking last in the four-player field, LaVine donned a replica of Michael Jordan's Space Jam jersey, then completed an off-the-bounce, between-the-legs reverse dunk that brought the crowd to its feet. The sensational slam got all 10s from the judges.

For his second dunk, the high-flying LaVine needed only one try to complete another off-the-bounce slam dunk, this time bringing the ball behind his back before throwing it down to get another 50.

He easily advanced to the final, where he faced off against Orlando Magic's Victor Oladipo, who earlier wowed the crowd with a"540" reverse dunk.

Oladipo tried to dunk over teammate Elfrid Payton for his first dunk of the championship round, but could not complete the jam in three tries and settled for a score of 31.

LaVine, for his part, got some help from teammate Andrew Wiggins, the top pick in the 2014 Draft. LaVine grabbed the ball from Wiggins' hand and threw down another between-the-legs slam dunk in effortless fashion.

Oladipo proceeded to miss two dunks before settling for an impressive behind-the-backboard slam, for which he received a score of 41.

LaVine then put a capper to his show with another impressive throwdown, as he caught the ball off a pass that his teammate threw off the side of the basket stanchion, and put it between his legs for the slam as the crowd went crazy.

The judges gave LaVine a 49 for the dunk.

The other competitors, Mason Plumlee and Giannis Antetokounmpo, were eliminated after each throwing down a pair of underwhelming dunks in the first round.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Kobe Paras dishes out big games in Las Vegas

MANILA, Philippines – Kobe Paras scored big for the LA Cathedral Phantoms in the semifinals of the 2014 Las Vegas Prep Championship.

Kobe, the son of PBA legend and now actor Benjie Paras, had 23 points and seven boards to go with his three blocks against Las Vegas Valley High.

His efforts, however, were not enough to save his team from a 68-80 loss to Valley High.

Kobe also scored 22 points during their 76-49 victory over Basic Las Vegas High School during their quarterfinal clash.

The Cathedral High School recently dominated the San Fernando Valley Invitational to win the title. Kobe won all-tournament honors together with Filipino-American Jameel McGee.

Accompanying Kobe in the tournaments was his brother Andre.

Kobe first gained fans' attention when he made a slam dunk past LeBron James during the NBA superstar's "Witness History" tour in Manila last year.

Paras also won a Slam Dunk contest in the FIBA 3x3 Under-18 tournament.

He later moved to Los Angeles to play for Cathedral High School, and has now committed to play collegiate basketball for UCLA.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Kobe Paras, Purple Ghosts beat Diego Prep at Staples

LOS ANGELES, California – Playing as the Los Angeles Purple Ghosts, it was a big victory for the Cathedral High School as their basketball team defeated Diego Prep, 76-61, at the famed Staples Center – home of the Los Angeles Lakers and Clippers.

UCLA-bound Kobe Paras got off to a slow start in his Staples Center debut, but played in a physical manner, fighting for rebounds and making his way to the foul line.

While there were no official statistics kept, ABS-CBN North America counted 12 points for Paras, including a huge slam dunk.

"It's really different, because you see the stadium is really big," said the former La Salle Greenhills standout. "It's just amazing that you get to play on the court where a lot of professional teams have played in."

"The competition was really physical. There was a lot of banging, and I didn't know the game here would be that intense, so it was a great experience," he added.

While the score was close at halftime, 88th ranked Filipino-American senior Jameel McGill led a second-half surge for the Purple Ghosts.

"We played against a prep team, and they're older and more aggressive than high school players, so it's getting us ready for our season," said McGill.

The Purple Ghosts feature several highly ranked high school and international players, and the year-long program under Middlebrooks Basketball take part in these showcases that help improve their skills and their chances of winning when their season comes.

"It gives us team chemistry. We also got exposure today, and I feel like it's going to help us when we get deeper in the playoffs and play bigger games like this," said Milan Acquaah.

Paras and his teammates will play more top ranked teams over the next two months before the high school basketball season starts in January.

The victory over Diego Prep was also a revenge game of sorts for the Purple Ghosts, as they lost by 15 points several weeks ago.

The victory is a sign that the team is gelling together and improving each week.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Kobe Paras to play at Staples Center

LOS ANGELES, California – Days before a special Staples Center showcase, UCLA-bound Kobe Paras continues to work hard on his game along with his teammates in the Los Angeles Purple Ghosts squad.

"I'm excited, because I've never played in a stadium. Hopefully I do good and my teammates will, too," said Paras. "And hopefully, we'll get a win."

The high school season will start in January, but for now Paras plays for the LA Purple Ghosts, an elite team of teens coached by his Cathedral High coach William Middlebrooks.

The year-round program includes other nationally and state-ranked players, and some of his teammates are also exchange students. Brazilian Lucas Siewart, for instance, plays for his national team as well.

"It's good, the competition is good. It's one of the things I like," Siewart said. "He's from another country too, so we feel the same things like being homesick and stuff, so we talk about it."

Paras is not the only Filipino either. Vicente Mojares and Carter Avery are two prodigies, while Jameel McGill is ranked as the 88th best high school prospect in California.

"It's great because during practice, they're always pushing me," said McGill.

"It's a great experience for me because it helps me get better, especially when I play against guys like Kobe," said Mojares.

Paras, who moved to Los Angeles earlier this year, admits that being surrounded by other foreign players and fellow Filipinos has helped his transition in the United States.

"It feels cool to have teammates like that, because the other teams, they don't have teammates that are ranked. Having teammates at the highest level is really cool. It means we can compete and be friends and teammates," he said.

Tickets to Monday's LA Purple Ghosts showcase game are still available.

While showcase games are a chance for players to catch recruiters' eyes, there's no need for the UCLA-bound Paras to impress them, having already committed to the Bruins. Nevertheless, he wants to put on a good show in his new home.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Kobe wants to be more than 'kid who dunked on LeBron'

MANILA, Philippines – He first became famous for throwing a slam dunk past NBA superstar LeBron James, but Filipino teenager Kobe Paras insists he is more than just the kid who dunked on "The King."


James was visiting Manila for his "Witness History" tour last June when Paras – who was part of a group of standouts who shared the court with the NBA star – sailed past him for a dunk. The Cleveland Cavalier forward was able to throw his arm up to contest, but Paras was able to complete the throwdown.

"Everyone knew that LeBron James was like, the King," Paras said in an interview with the LA Times. "He's mostly known for his ability to dominate in the court."

"He was my idol since I was a kid, so getting to do that on him, or with him, is like something changed in me big time, because people never expected anything (like that) would happen," he said.

The dunk drew the attention of Yahoo! Sports and ESPN.

"(I was) like a normal Filipino, but now they're calling me the kid who dunked on LeBron," said Paras.

Since he dunked on James, Paras also won a Slam Dunk contest in the FIBA 3x3 Under-18 tournament, moved to Los Angeles to play for Cathedral High School, and has now verbally committed to play collegiate basketball for UCLA.

"It makes me happy, knowing that I did that, but I just want to be known for something else instead of that," Paras said of the fame he gained from dunking on James.

"I want to do better in my education and in basketball here," said Paras, who also stressed that he is "not all about dunks."

"In basketball, you just don't watch a person because of how he dribbles, how he passes. You watch everything he does. I want to show everybody that it's not all about the dunks or the highlights," he said. "It's what you do on the court."

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Exclusive: UCLA-bound Paras looks to keep improving

LOS ANGELES, California – Filipino basketball fans remember Benjie Paras, the "Tower of Power," as one of the best players in Philippine basketball. And now one of his sons is making his own mark – not just in the Philippines but in the United States.

Just three miles away from the Staples Center where Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers play, another Kobe is taking Los Angeles by storm.

Two years from now, 6-foot-6 Cathedral High School junior guard Kobe Paras will be playing collegiate basketball at the prestigious University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA).

The son of the PBA legend, Kobe announced his decision to commit verbally to UCLA after several other universities also tried to recruit him.

"It was a really good experience, knowing I'm just a kid from the Philippines," said Kobe. "I didn't even know this was going to happen, so I just feel really lucky and blessed that I have this chance."

"That's UCLA, that's the biggest here in California, so I just wanted to commit. Ever since I was here, it's been a good experience, so it was cool," he added.

The 17-year-old La Salle Greenhills standout has been in the United States since December 2013, studying and playing for Cathedral High School, a private school just outside of downtown Los Angeles. He has also been gaining experience by playing with local teams.

"It's been a great experience. Hirap talaga ang parents na pumunta dito, but it's really cool and it's all worth it," said Kobe. "I got used to the homesickness already, and I keep in touch with my parents every day, so it's cool."

A member of the national team pool, known for his high-flying dunks and shooting skills, Paras spends most of his time in training in an effort to improve all aspects of his game.

"The style in the Philippines and here, the way they play, is really different. Like here, they're taller, more physical," said Kobe. "In the Philippines, they're short, quick, and physical, so getting my game right was one thing that I do. I guess I adjusted well."

His coach, William Middlebrooks, said Kobe has "consistently gotten better."

"He's figured out the speed of the game, how that's played. His athleticism, how to get his shot off, how to do certain moves," Middlebrooks said. "(He has also been) expanding on his defense and passes, just trying to make him a more complete player."

Recently, a few Filipino-Americans have made their mark at small colleges and in the NBA, but Kobe feels there is a larger sense of Pinoy pride as a homegrown Filipino.

When he suits up as a UCLA Bruin, Kobe joins Japeth Aguilar as the only other homegrown Filipino cager to play Division 1 college ball in the United States.

"I really don't focus on that part. I just play my game, but maybe after the game, I just realize that I'm not really playing for myself but for the country," he said.

The high school basketball season doesn't officially begin until December, but with regular tournaments and camps, Kobe will be on the court year-round.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Kobe Paras gets scholarship offer from UCLA

MANILA, Philippines – Former La Salle Greenhills standout Kobe Paras has received a scholarship offer from NCAA Division 1 university UCLA, the most high-profile school to express interest in the young Filipino player so far.

Paras, through his Twitter account, retweeted tweets from @VerbalCommits, @Compton_Magic and @Team_Bayless saying he had picked up an offer from UCLA.

The report was later confirmed by the Los Angeles Times, who quoted Paras' coach at LA Cathedral as saying, "Kobe was very excited."

Paras starred for La Salle Greenhills in the junior division of the NCAA before moving to Los Angeles, where he will make his debut for LA Cathedral next month.

He first made waves for his stunning leaping ability, famously dunking past LeBron James during the NBA superstar's visit to Manila in 2013. Since then however he has grown to 6-foot-6 and improved his outside shot.

Aside from UCLA, Paras has also received offers from Arizona State, University of California-Berkley, UC Irvine, Portland State, Fresno State, and Texas Arlington.

Paras has yet to make official visits to any of the schools.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Calling girls 'fat' may result in weight gain

NEW YORK - Young girls who have been called “too fat” are more likely to be obese as young adults, according to a new research letter.

The early stigma of being labeled that way may worsen the problem rather than encouraging girls to become healthier, but more research is needed to be sure, the study authors say.

“This study is one step closer to being able to draw that conclusion, but of course we can't definitively say that calling a girl "too fat" will make her obese,” said senior author A. Janet Tomiyama of the University of California, Los Angeles.

“This study recruited girls when they were age 10 and followed them over nine years, so we know it's more than just a one-time connection, which makes me believe that it's an important question to continue researching,” Tomiyama told Reuters Health in an email.

She and her coauthor examined data from an existing study that followed girls through their teen years. At age 10, the girls answered the question, “have any of these people told you that you were too fat: father, mother, brother, sister, best girlfriend, boy you like best, any other girl, any other boy, or teacher?”

Out of just over 2,000 girls, a total of 1,188 answered “yes” to any of the choices.

Those girls were more likely to have a body mass index (BMI) – a measure of weight relative to height - in the obese range ten years later than girls who answered “no,” according to the results in JAMA Pediatrics.

“We know from considerable evidence that youth who feel stigmatized or shamed about their weight are vulnerable to a range of negative psychological and physical health consequences,” said Rebecca Puhl, deputy director of the Rudd Center for Food Policy & Obesity at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut.

“This study suggests that negative weight labels may contribute to these experiences and have a lasting and potentially damaging impact for girls,” said Puhl, who was not part of the study.

Girls who had been labeled “fat” were still at higher risk of obesity even when researchers accounted for their BMIs at age 10, household income, race and parental education level.

The effect seemed to be strongest when the labels came from family members, which increased the risk of obesity later by 60 percent, compared to 40 percent when the comments came from friends or teachers. But it’s not wise to make too much out of the difference between those numbers, since this was only an exploratory study, Tomiyama said.

She was not at all surprised that over half of girls had been labeled “fat.”

“The pressure to be thin in our society is intense, and other research shows that people label both themselves and others as 'overweight' even if their objective body mass index is in the 'normal weight' range,” she said.

Females are exposed to weight stigma more often, but the connection may be present for boys as well, she noted.

There are ways for parents to address weight and health issues with their children that don’t involve labeling, Tomiyama said.

“There's no need to say the ‘f’ word at all if you want to improve your child's health,” she said.

Parents could instead focus on the health of the family as a whole, said Angelina Sutin, who was not involved in the new study.

Sutin studies psychological wellbeing and health disparities at Florida State University College Of Medicine in Tallahassee.

“The best approach would be to start kids early on a path toward healthy living by eating healthy food and being physically active,” Sutin told Reuters Health in an email.

“This applies equally to parents as it does to kids – children model their parents’ behavior, so if kids see their parents making healthy choices, they are more likely to also make healthy choices,” she said.

Parents could identify activities the child enjoys and work on ways to do more of them, she added.

“I think the focus of the conversation needs to change,” Tomiyama said. “Right now, we have a laser focus on weight instead of health, but many studies show that weight is a really imprecise indicator of actual health.”

“Parents can talk to their child about adopting healthy behaviors without once mentioning weight,” she said.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Study identifies genes linked to post-traumatic stress disorder

UCLA researchers studying DNA from Armenian quake victims find two specific genetic variations that contribute to post-traumatic stress disorder.

Just before noon on a December morning in 1988, a magnitude 6.8 earthquake shook over 40% of the territory of Armenia, centered in the northern city of Spitak. The temblor leveled entire towns and cities, killed an estimated 25,000 Armenians — two-thirds of them children trapped and crushed in their crumbling schools — and hastened the dissolution of the Soviet Union, of which Armenia was then a part.

But the Spitak disaster was more than a geopolitical milestone. The earthquake was, in the words of one researcher, a "psychiatric calamity" that has yielded a trove of knowledge aboutpost-traumatic stress disorder.

More than a dozen studies of Spitak's victims have helped tease out the long-term effects of PTSD and the range of factors that predispose individuals and groups to developing enduring symptoms of irritability, avoidance, intrusive thoughts and fears, vivid flashbacks and troubled sleep and appetite.

A new study of Spitak's victims by UCLA researchers zooms in on the molecular contributors to PTSD. It finds that in Armenians who carried two specific genetic variations associated with depression, PTSD was more common.

The two genes were, by the researchers' admission, "relatively very small" contributors to an individual's overall vulnerability to developing PTSD. In gauging how severely a subject would suffer from symptoms 14 years after the earthquake, several easy-to-spot traits were far more useful predictors than were single-letter changes on certain genes. Among them: Females were more likely than males to experience PTSD, as were older people, those who had lost family members, and those who had experienced traumatic events before the earthquake.

But among people who developed the worst PTSD symptoms, researchers identified two DNA variants that each contributed 3% to 4% to the severity of the disorder.

A third variant was found to account for 4% of an individual's vulnerability to depression in the wake of trauma, though no link to PTSD could be found.

The results, published Monday in the Journal of Affective Disorders, are based on a genetic analysis of 200 adults from 12 families in northern Armenia. All agreed to allow their DNA to be sent to Los Angeles, where it was combed for clues to psychiatric vulnerability.

The existence of a study population with clear genetic links, common family histories, and exposure to a single trauma allowed researchers an unusual opportunity to distill information about genes' role in PTSD, said UCLA psychiatrist Armen K. Goenjian, who led the study. But he added that the findings needed to be replicated in larger, more heterogenous populations.

Goenjian, an Armenian American, rushed to Spitak after the 1988 quake and helped establish a pair of psychiatric clinics for victims there. Those clinics remained open for 21 years.

Goenjian said that PTSD among Armenians "was an ongoing problem and much bigger than we first appreciated," given how widespread the destruction was, how the loss of loved ones was universal and how delays in rebuilding forced the population to confront constant reminders of their trauma.

The variants linked to PTSD were on genes that had some key things in common: Both have a role in governing the quantity and action in the brain of the neurotransmitter serotonin. And both have been found to boost an individual's risk of depression.

Those common threads may help to explain why PTSD is so frequently diagnosed in those who have had, or who will go on to develop, depression. Serotonin is believed to play a key role in mood regulation, and many antidepressants are thought to work by boosting serotonin and its availability in the brain.

Goenjian said his team had expected to find a link between the so-called serotonin transporter gene and the severity of PTSD symptoms. But it seemed to predict only more severe depression symptoms.

source: latimes.com