The next NBA first-round pick from China? Not Wang Junjie, who averaged 15+5 games in the World Cup, and was only 18 years old

In recent years, the trend of basketball in the world has been small ball style, focusing on rapid offensive and defensive conversions. For players, in addition to being able to shoot three-pointers, especially the front line, they must basically have the characteristics of being sufficient in size, able to hold the ball, and able to shoot. Although the Chinese men's basketball team already has Zeng Fanbo and Wang Junjie, looking to the future, Zhang Boyuan, the thigh player of the National Youth League, is also full of potential.

Recently, the American high school Veritas College officially announced that Zhang Boyuan joined the team, and the school will compete in the strongest high school league in the United States EYBL. Previously, domestic media reported that Zhang Boyuan is likely not to play in the CBA in the new season. Zhang Boyuan, 18, was once named a four-star high school student by US media. In the 2028 NBA mock draft previously updated by the US draft website NBA Draft Room, he was predicted to be selected in the 30th pick in the first round.

This time, when going to the United States to study in high school, rather than choosing to return to the comfort zone of China, Zhang Boyuan may not only take over the banner of the Chinese men's basketball forward in the future, but may even become the next NBA first-round pick from China.

Zhang Boyuan, who is 2.03 meters tall, does have the characteristics of a high forward that is popular in basketball today (height advantage, able to hold the ball, and able to shoot). In the U18 Men's Basketball Team Asian Cup last year, Zhang Boyuan averaged 17.2 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game, making him the team's number one scorer, with the fourth highest score per game in the tournament, and was selected into the All-Squad after the game.

In the U19 Men's Basketball World Cup not long ago, although Zhang Boyuan's condition was a little ups and downs, he was still able to score a comprehensive data order of 14.7 points, 5.1 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 1.4 steals. In the game against Canada, he scored 20 points and also handed over 17 points, 6 rebounds and 3 steals against France. It is enough to show that Zhang Boyuan's strength will definitely not only abuse the Asian team.

At this stage, Zhang Boyuan does have some shortcomings, such as unstable shooting and ball-holding attacks, but these can be improved under the overall basketball environment of the United States. On the contrary, if he returns to the domestic league, in the CBA, in an environment where "ricochets peck at each other", he will not only be unable to amplify his advantages, but will even backfire, allowing his disadvantages to be infinitely magnified, and eventually become the most popular.

The US media can predict Zhang Boyuan to be the first-round NBA pick in 2028, which shows that his talent and potential are recognized. If he can get enough experience at Veritas Academy, he should be able to enter a good NCAA prestigious school in the future. With the experience of NCAA, no matter whether Zhang Boyuan can enter the NBA in the future, it will be a great encouragement to him and the Chinese men's basketball team. In short, for a good seedling like Zhang Boyuan, he must not be allowed to grow in a greenhouse (CBA), but should be decisively allowed to accept the baptism of the storm and grow vigorously.