India's rising hoop star.

• Position: Basketball - Sim Bhullar - Brief article

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Basketball isn't a big sport in India--yet. But 7-foot-4-inch Sim Bhullar may change that. Born in Toronto, Canada, to Indian parents, the 17-year-old center has Just verbally committed to New Mexico State University and looks ready to become the first basketball star of Indian descent. "I think it would be a blessing," says Sim, "to be the first from an entire country to go to the N.B.A. and be a role model." The N.B.A. is hoping that Sim can popularize basketball in India, a country of 1.2 billion with a growing middle class, the way 7-foot-6-inch Yao Ming...