CHN – Li playing beyond her years in Toulouse

TOULOUSE (2010 FIBA U17 World Championship for Women) – China head into Monday’s day off with a perfect 3-0 mark to top Group B of the Preliminary Round and forward Meng Li has been a big reason for that perfect start.

The 15-year-old has displayed maturity well beyond her years in displaying a great versatility. She can do just about everything that is required of her out on the court: score, rebound, pass or stretch the floor with her pin-point long-range shooting.

Li had 24 points, seven rebounds and four assists in China’s win over Australia on Saturday and followed that up with 18 points, eight assists and seven rebounds in Sunday’s defeat of Mali.

FIBA.com caught up with her to talk three-pointers, hobbies and idols.

FIBA: What do you think of Toulouse?
Li: It's a very good environment in the city. I like it very much.

FIBA: In the game against Australia, your team made 14 three-pointers. Did you have a contest going on with your team-mates?
Li: Yeah kind of. The coach didn't ask us to do it. We just wanted to have the biggest number of three-pointers (laughs).

FIBA: Have you tried French food yet?
Li: Yes. I’m not used to it but it's not bad. It’s just totally different from our food.

FIBA: What do you like to do besides play basketball?
Li: I like to swim, play badminton and listen to music. My favourite band is By Two, a Chinese Taipei band.

FIBA: Your coach is a woman, does it change anything for the atmosphere inside the group?
Li: Yeah, she's kind of our mum sometimes and maybe that’s why we are feeling so good in the team.

FIBA: Do you have an idol or a favourite basketball player?
Li: Kobe Bryant and LeBron James. We love Kobe, that's why we wear his t-shirt. And of course Yao Ming. My dream is to play in WNBA. I hope one day I will achieve this ambition.

FIBA: You had 24 points against Australia, is that the most you’ve scored in a game?<
Li: No, I once had 50 in a China Youth League game.

FIBA/LOC