Eagle Yang's reputation soars after US tryouts

A virtual unknown before the draft combine, China's NBA prospect Yang Hansen has introduced himself, big time, to league scouts, with his impressive outing at the trial camp turning heads.

Dubbed "baby Jokic" by his Chinese fans, Yang has finally put his intriguing blend of size, skills and basketball IQ on display for club executives in the NBA, after the 19-year-old center, a fan of three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic, completed last week's Draft Combine in Chicago with flying colors.

After being scrutinized in a series of physical tests, skill drills, interviews and five-on-five scrimmages at the combine event, Yang has significantly raised his draft stock, according to multiple United States media platforms and draft analysts, with the young pro having emerged as a potential first-round pick, from his projected mid-second round slot before the tryout.

At the combine, which gathered 75 top prospects from the US collegiate system, the G-League and overseas programs, Yang measured solidly.

He stands at a towering 7-foot-1 (2.16-meters) without shoes (2nd overall), posting a 9-foot-3 standing reach (fourth overall). He also ranked fifth among all the centers in the shuttle run, lane agility and three-quarter sprint at the event, showing excellent mobility and coordination for a post player of his stature.

Through a total 37 minutes from two scrimmages, Yang showed off his size and all-around game for the first time under the watchful eyes of NBA franchise scouts and front-office staff, after honing his game for two years playing in the CBA with the Qingdao Eagles.

Despite his current weaknesses in conditioning, strength and speed in defensive rotations, Yang contributed 12 points, on 5-for-7 shooting, and two assists in his first scrimmage, and backed it up with another 11 points on 75 percent shooting, six assists and six rebounds in the second.