Strengths: Center prospect with great size and frame … Body has already started to fill out despite his young age … Not afraid to get physical and uses his strength well against weaker opponents … Very skilled and already has a advanced set of post moves … Looks for contact inside and draws many fouls … Very good free throw shooter … Two dribble right hand hook from the left block turning over his left shoulder is his go to move and utilizes it well … Uses pump fakes well and finishes well with either hand … Has a running hook taking off with one leg and can even finish with his left … Can spin baseline when his defender overplays him going middle … Good help defender as he steps out early and gets in position … Good post passer and will find open cutters and shooters before putting the ball on the floor … Gets good position on post catches, and will kick it back out to re-seal his man when he doesn’t… good catch and shoot from mid-range … Very mature game for his age … A winner who is a leader by example … Works very hard and wants to get better.

Weaknesses: A below the rim player with limited athleticism… Below average quickness and slow getting off his feet… needs to improve his offensive rebounding, but does work hard… Doesn’t look comfortable hedging on the pick and roll, as he would rather sit back… Slow on closeouts and lacks lateral quickness to stay in-front of defenders … Once he puts the ball down in the post he can get over aggressive and miss open teammates… Overpowers defenders in youth divisions in China, won’t be able to against stronger competition … Slow release and gets limited lift on his jump shot as he has to gather himself and get this feet set before shooting … Gets knocked off balance finishing by longer and stronger players … Still unproven versus real competition.

Notes: An interesting Center prospect who should develop to be a great player in China … Unlike many other Chinese prospects his age seems to be real, still has many years of development ahead of him … Has slowly made a name for himself being part of  Basketball Without Borders in Toronto and now the 2016 Nike Hoop Summit … Was Zhou Qi’s backup in the Liaoning Provincial team but never got to play much because he was so much younger than everyone … Is currently the best player on the U18 China National Team and should impress in international competition later this year … Was already called up to the Chinese National B team last year.Will play in the CBA this year for the Foshan Long Lions, which has a roster with limited talent where Fan ZiMing should see some playing time … Speaks some English and is well liked by his teammates and coaches …

Lukas Peng 4/5/16

April 5, 2016