Zhang Ziyu (born 1 May 2007) is a Chinese basketball player. She is known for her height, at 7 ft 3 in (2.21 m)[1], and was named the most valuable player of the 2024 FIBA Under-18 Women's Asia Cup.
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1 May 2007 |
| Listed height | 7 ft 3 in (2.21 m) |
| Career information | |
| College | Tsinghua University High School (Haidian, Beijing) |
| Position | Center |
Early life
editZhang was born on 1 May 2007 and grew up in Shandong province in China.[2][3] Her parents were both basketball players and began teaching her the sport when she was age five.[4] 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.[5]
Zhang attended Wenhua East Road Primary School in Jinan and later Tsinghua University High School in Haidian, Beijing.[4][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.[5]
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
editZhang was selected for Team China at the 2024 FIBA Under-18 Women's Asia Cup.[11] She measured at 7 feet 3 inches (2.21 m) at the tournament.[6] 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.[12] The following game, against New Zealand, she recorded, 36 points, 13 rebounds and four blocks, making 80% of heer shots.[13] She followed it up with 44 points against Japan, breaking the all-time tournament record, while also having 14 rebounds.[14] In the finals, against Australia, she scored 42 points and 14 rebounds while helping China finish runner-up.[15] 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.[6][15]
References
edit- ^ "Ziyu Zhang". Official FIBA U18 Womens Aasia cup 2024 China Roster.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Wong, Chen (26 June 2024). "China's 7-foot-3 teen basketball star towers over her competitors in viral video". NBC News.
- ^ a b "Meet the Chinese schoolgirl who's 6ft 10ins tall aged ELEVEN". Yahoo!. 20 November 2018.
- ^ 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.
- ^ a b c "Zhang Ziyu: One-of-a-kind prospect garners global attention". FIBA. 26 June 2024.
- ^ White, Jonathan (16 July 2021). "'New Yao Ming' is 14-year-old girl Zhang Ziyu standing 2.26m". South China Morning Post.
- ^ Gartland, Dan (16 July 2021). "7' 5" Chinese 14-Year-Old Zhang Ziyu Is Unstoppable on the Basketball Court". Sports Illustrated.
- ^ Xiaochen, Sun (24 August 2022). "Sky's limit for towering teenage talent". China Daily.
- ^ Chan, Mike (4 August 2023). "Chinese social media mocks 'hilarious', 'shameful' basketball final as losing team are crowned champions". South China Morning Post.
- ^ McKern, James (27 June 2024). "220cm Chinese teenager taking the basketball world by storm". News.com.au.
- ^ Ewe, Koh (26 June 2024). "The Newest Phenom in Women's Basketball Is a 7-Foot-3 Chinese Teen". Time.
- ^ "2.20m tall 17-year-old Zhang Ziyu grabs basketball world's attention after playing against Junior Tall Ferns". Stuff. 27 June 2024.
- ^ "Zhang Ziyu breaks record, drops 44 as China deal Japan first loss". FIBA. 26 June 2024.
- ^ a b "Zhang Ziyu earns MVP honors, banners All-Star Five". FIBA. 30 June 2024.