The affable pair left their new friends with a swirl of giddiness they won't soon forget.

The US in some circles is derided for a hawkish, unilateralist foreign policy and its lack of tact in diplomacy. The nation has turned into a frightening bully to many people.

There's not much that a couple of hoopsters can do to reverse that image, but Omari Faulkner and Courtland Freeman, two former Georgetown University basketball players, are in Hong Kong on a State Department public relations charm offensive to show students a different side of America.

The State Department might be on the right track for once. There were no lectures about democracy, no threats of regime change; just a couple of nice guys on the court and in a classroom.

Neither were stars at Georgetown, but they love the game and that feeling came through as they shot hoops and tried to connect with Hong Kong students.

Faulkner and Freeman, with their

industrial-strength charm, tapped into the ambitions of some shy school kids.

The duo played an intense pickup game with students Pau Yeung-kai and Eustance Hung, and teachers Yeun Ming and Lee Kwok-leung. Somebody kept score, but by the end it was forgotten, as the students rushed to the question-and-answer session.

It was a rare treat for students. ``Students seldom get a chance to see a real American basketball player,'' said teacher Rebecca Pun. ``It's real excitement.''

The students were thrilled to sit with the two and find out more about American culture and, it turned out, to share something of themselves with these foreigners.

It started slow, the way a good lesson does, with Faulkner and Freeman gently prodding the audience with playful questions about music, food and extracurricular activities.

The pair were well chosen. Faulkner is a former English Literature major who says he's interested in the role feminists played in the American civil rights movement.

He said he wanted to be the mayor of his hometown of Memphis, Tennessee one day.

Freeman once served as an intern to former deputy secretary of state Richard Armitage while at university, and once sat in on a session involving a Hong Kong delegation.

``That was pretty special,'' he said.

After a few questions, the kids teased Faulkner and Freeman, asking them to rap. It's something they claim they don't know how to do.

``I like country music,'' said Faulkner. ``Have you ever heard of Elvis Presley? Tennessee is very famous for Elvis Presley.''

Then something extraordinary happened. Questions started flying and soon student JoAnn Ng was called on. A teacher told everyone that Ng wanted to become a professional singer.

Blushing pink, Ng was urged forward by her classmates and she stood and sang Avril Lavigne's My Happy Ending in a sweet voice.

The audience became quiet and spellbound. They breathed with her. Stumbling on the chorus, she faltered a bit then gave it up, but not without a smile.

Nobody blinked. Then, in a burst of laughter and applause from her schoolmates, Faulkner and Freeman gave her a standing ovation.

It was like a slow wave of ambition moved across the classroom.

Patrick, a six former, rose up from his slouch against the wall and announced that he wanted to be a surgeon.

``But it's very difficult in Hong Kong,'' he said.

A future teacher stated her ambition. A girl said she was ready to learn about the foreign service trade.

Juno, who resembles popular Cantonese singer Juno Mak, said: ``I like to sleep.'' But he nodded a little grudgingly that, yes, he might want to be a singer.

A girl named Coco said she wanted to study at Chinese University of Hong Kong. Another student suggested he would make a good civil servant.

Towards the end, Faulkner reached out, as any good diplomat would do, by demonstrating his expert knowledge of Hong Kong habits.

``If you ever come to the US and you want to know where to shop, I'm the person to call,'' he said.

And then it all started to dissolve in a giddy school room haze of kidding.

The class emcee indicated the session had drawn to a close. Slightly mocking the typical school day routine, she said: ``It is sorry to say that time is now up. Please put down your pens.'' Everybody laughed. Nobody had any pens.

Freeman, a 2.1-meter power forward, who is either going to coach internationally or serve in the US Foreign Service, and the 1.9-meter Faulkner unfolded from their chairs and stood to leave.

Brenda Leung, an English teacher, looked around at the hugs, laughter, handshakes, camera flashes and autographs being signed on school neckties. She smiled.

``Look at the boys,'' she said in a half-blush, her eyes glittering.

``They looked so bored, but underneath, they are burning!''

She laughed to the happy chorus of ``Bye Bye!''staff.reporter@singtaonewscorp.com