NBA Draft Scouting Report: China's Hansen Yang
Hansen Yang
Center | China
Height: 7'1” | Weight: 250 lbs
2024 Draft Age: 19.00
FIBA.com
Prospect Profile
A 7-foot-1 center, Yang is 18 years old and was relatively unknown until the summer of 2023. He was extremely productive in the U19 World Cup, where he averaged 13 points, 10 rebounds, five assists and five blocks for China. He’s extremely fluid and coordinated for his size, even if he does lack elite athleticism.
On many nights, Yang proves to be an offensive force as the combination of his size, passing ability and paint scoring makes him hard to guard. He has thrived in his first season in the Chinese Basketball Association for the Qingdao Double Star Eagles. Yang has been a double-double machine, but also generates a high number of assists and blocked shots.
Unlike many 7-footers, Yang is a prospect who is at his best when he has the ball in his hands in the low post, where he’s able to showcase his advanced footwork, post moves, touch around the rim and high-level feel for the game. He has a variety of different moves he can utilize down in the low block, and his craftiness at that size allows him to be a consistent scorer for the teams he plays for. Not only is he a big-time scoring threat in the paint, but his vision and willingness as a passer makes it hard for opposing teams to double team him as he does a great job of taking what the defense gives him.
Defensively, he lacks lateral quickness and overall mobility, which limits his ability to hedge ball-screens, switch and defend out in space. Yang is forced to play drop coverage, where he can be quite effective due to the flashes he has shown as a paint defender. The next step for Yang as he continues to mature and get older is to improve his overall athleticism. He’s not very quick, currently lacks ideal strength, is not a vertical athlete and his lackluster mobility isn’t ideal.
It’s still unclear if Yang will truly be a prospect this summer, or if he will ultimately not make the jump to the league until the 2025 NBA Draft, but he has been drawing a lot of interest recently. Regardless of when he does go to the NBA, he has the perfect modern skillset for a big that teams will appreciate.
Highlights
Draft Projection
Potential Second-Round Pick in 2024 NBA Draft.
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