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      WASHINGTON -- The American-Chinese basketball relationship took a step back last summer when Georgetown's exhibition game against the Bayi Rockets in Beijing ended in a benches-clearing brawl.

The Hoyas hosted a Chinese high school basketball team, opening their practice gym for a meet-and-greet with Georgetown men's basketball coach John Thompson III.

The Chinese players took photos with Thompson, and they also received pins and Georgetown T-shirts from the coach.

More than most, Thompson understands and appreciates foreigners welcoming a basketball team with open arms and helping them explore a new culture.

"We had a great experience over there, the time we were in Beijing and Shanghai," Thompson said. "Part of that, above and beyond the basketball component is the cultural exchange, learning about their culture.

"This team is coming over here for a couple of games, and they contacted us. We just wanted to welcome them here and show them a little bit of Georgetown."

The players attend Nanyang Model High School, which is located in Shanghai. The school has 1,800 students and is similar to a charter school in the U.S. Former NBA star Yao Ming played basketball at the school.

"This is the first time a Chinese high school team has ever toured the United States," said Joe Cooley, who has been organizing the trip for more than a year. "They're very, very excited. None of the kids -- only the head coach -- had ever been to the United States."

The team's tour has already included stops in Chicago, Erie, Pa., and Buffalo. The players have trained, played games, stayed with American host families and done sightseeing activities. They will play the Field School in DC Friday night before traveling to New Jersey for a game and New York City for a New York Knicks game and shopping.

"The basketball games are incidental," Cooley said. "This is a cultural experience."