Zhang Ziyu

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For the Australian table tennis player, see Ziyu Zhang.

Zhang Ziyu
Personal information
Born (2007-05-01) 1 May 2007 (age 17)
Listed height220 cm (7 ft 3 in)
Career information
High schoolShandong Experimental High School
(Jinan, Shandong)
PositionCenter

Zhang Ziyu (Chinese: 张子宇; pinyin: Zhāng Zǐyǔ, born 1 May 2007) is a Chinese basketball player. She is known for her height, at 7 ft 3 in (2.20 m), and was named the most valuable player of the 2024 FIBA Under-18 Women's Asia Cup.

Early life

Zhang was born on 1 May 2007 and grew up in Shandong province in China.[1][2] Her parents were both basketball players and began teaching her the sport when she was age five.[3] By first grade, she was reported to have a height of 5 feet 2 inches (1.57 m) and by sixth grade, she was reported to be 6 feet 9 inches (2.06 m), according to the Global Times.[4]

Zhang attended Wenhua East Road Primary School in Jinan, junior high school at Tsinghua University High School in Beijing and later Jinan Sports School, and high school at Shandong Experimental High School in Jinan.[3][5][6] When she was age 14, she competed at the U15 National Basketball League tournament and helped her team win the finals.[7] Measuring at a reported 7 feet 5 inches (2.26 m) at the tournament, she went viral after recording 42 points, 25 rebounds and six blocks in the finals, being noted for "towering over her opponents".[8] She received comparisons to Chinese NBA star Yao Ming.[4]

In 2022, Zhang scored 62 points and 13 rebounds at the national U15 championship and then three weeks later scored 68 points and 24 rebounds at the provincial championships.[9] She was the star player for Shandong at the U17 national championship in 2023, scoring 30 points and 21 rebounds in 26 minutes to help the team win the finals.[10]

International career

Zhang was selected for Team China at the 2024 FIBA Under-18 Women's Asia Cup.[11] She measured at 2.20 metres (7 ft 3 in) at the tournament.[5][12] In her debut for Team China, playing against Indonesia, she came off the bench and played 13 minutes, while scoring 19 points and shooting 9-for-9 in a 109–50 win.[13] In the following game against New Zealand, she recorded 36 points, 13 rebounds, and four blocks, making 80% of her shots.[14] She followed it up with 44 points against Japan, breaking the all-time tournament record, while also having 14 rebounds.[15] In the finals, against Australia, she scored 42 points and 14 rebounds while helping China finish runner-up.[16] She was named a tournament All-Star and the tournament most valuable player, having averaged 35.0 points and 12.8 rebounds per game; her height and play during the competition went viral, receiving international attention.[5][16]

References

  1. ^ McGregor, Gilbert (25 June 2024). "Who is Zhang Ziyu? Meet the 7–3 Chinese basketball prospect dominating the Asia Cup and your social media feed". The Sporting News.
  2. ^ Wong, Chen (26 June 2024). "China's 7-foot-3 teen basketball star towers over her competitors in viral video". NBC News.
  3. ^ a b "Meet the Chinese schoolgirl who's 6ft 10ins tall aged ELEVEN". Yahoo!. 20 November 2018.
  4. ^ a b Bailey, Analise (15 July 2021). "7-foot-4 14-year-old Chinese basketball player Zhang Ziyu being compared to Yao Ming". USA Today.
  5. ^ a b c "Zhang Ziyu: One-of-a-kind prospect garners global attention". FIBA. 26 June 2024.
  6. ^ "2.24米17岁的她，完胜日本队". China Newsweek (in Chinese). 27 June 2024.
  7. ^ White, Jonathan (16 July 2021). "'New Yao Ming' is 14-year-old girl Zhang Ziyu standing 2.26m". South China Morning Post.
  8. ^ Gartland, Dan (16 July 2021). "7' 5" Chinese 14-Year-Old Zhang Ziyu Is Unstoppable on the Basketball Court". Sports Illustrated.
  9. ^ Xiaochen, Sun (24 August 2022). "Sky's limit for towering teenage talent". China Daily.
  10. ^ Chan, Mike (4 August 2023). "Chinese social media mocks 'hilarious', 'shameful' basketball final as losing team are crowned champions". South China Morning Post.
  11. ^ McKern, James (27 June 2024). "220cm Chinese teenager taking the basketball world by storm". News.com.au.
  12. ^ "Ziyu Zhang". FIBA.
  13. ^ Ewe, Koh (26 June 2024). "The Newest Phenom in Women's Basketball Is a 7-Foot-3 Chinese Teen". Time.
  14. ^ "2.20m tall 17-year-old Zhang Ziyu grabs basketball world's attention after playing against Junior Tall Ferns". Stuff. 27 June 2024.
  15. ^ "Zhang Ziyu breaks record, drops 44 as China deal Japan first loss". FIBA. 26 June 2024.
  16. ^ a b "Zhang Ziyu earns MVP honors, banners All-Star Five". FIBA. 30 June 2024.
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