The Rising Star: A Scouting Report on Hansen Yang, the 19-Year-Old Chinese Center with NBA Potential

Hansen Yang, a 19-year-old 7-footer from China, is making a name for himself in the basketball world with his impressive post scoring, passing, and defensive abilities. However, his slow feet and limited shooting range raise concerns about his ability to succeed in the NBA. In this article, we will take a closer look at Yang's strengths, concerns, and potential comparisons to help you understand his prospects in the upcoming NBA draft.

Strengths:

1. Post Scoring: Yang has a deep bag of post moves with smooth footwork and primary moves. He is hard to stop when he establishes deep post positioning, and his scoring near the rim also translates to hitting layups off cuts and rolls.
2. Passing: Yang has great passing vision for a big man. He makes quick decisions and generally delivers accurate passes. His Chinese team even ran offense through him, and he could offer value playmaking out of handoffs.
3. Interior Defense: He was an excellent rim protector and rebounder in China, using his massive frame to deter opponents and vacuum boards. While he needs to prove he can translate this to NBA competition without falling into foul trouble, the ability is there.

Concerns:

1. Perimeter Defense: Yang hasn't shown the ability to comfortably switch, even playing in China. He lacks the foot speed to do much more than play drop coverage.
2. Interior Defense: Despite his size, Yang is not an elite shot-blocker due to a lack of great length or leaping ability. He also needs to get quicker moving in tight spaces to react to fast-moving NBA athletes attacking the rim.
3. Shooting: He made only 28% of his 3-pointers, 29.2% of his 2-point jumpers, and 66.8% of his free throws. There's not much evidence he'll be able to shoot effectively in the NBA.
4. Mindset: He played in the CBA, where the speed and athleticism of the NBA is on a dramatically different level that will test him in ways he never has been before. Despite his physical advantages, he too often didn't impose his will even at that level, which could be a challenge in the NBA.

Comparisons:

Hansen Yang is often compared to Nikola Vucevic, a former NBA center known for his post scoring, passing, and interior defense. While Yang has some similarities to Vucevic, he will need to improve several areas to reach Vucevic's level of success in the NBA.

Conclusion:

Hansen Yang is a prospect with a lot of potential, but he also has some significant concerns that need to be addressed before he can succeed in the NBA. His deep post bag, passing vision, and interior defense are all strengths that could make him a valuable player in the right situation. However, his perimeter defense, shooting, and mindset will need to be improved if he is to make an impact in the NBA. For a two-round mock draft and a big board with full scouting reports, check out my NBA Draft Guide.