Hansen Yang Scouting Report (Summer 2023)
Notes on the Chinese big man, who is now a Rich Paul client.
Hansen Yang is now a KLUTCH Sports client and he will be represented by Rich Paul. The Chinese big man is reportedly expected to enter the 2025 NBA Draft, and he can definitely be a first round pick come the summer.
If Yang declares, the 19-year-old instantly becomes the best passing center of his draft class. He’s a tantalizing offensive talent with a rare skillset. The issues are on the defensive end, where he’s fairly stiff, flat-footed, and has a lot of questions to answer about how he’ll fare in space or against any type of switch.
Here is my evaluation of Yang after the FIBA U-19 World Cup in the summer of 2023. This was when he broke out and, for me, became an NBA-level prospect.
Evaluation
At U-19 World Cup, averaged 12.6 points (34/63 from 2, 1/6 from 3), 10.4 rebounds, 4.7 assists, 3.9 turnovers, and 5 blocks per game. Turned 18 y/o on the second day of the tournament.
Real flashes of being able to operate out of face-ups. Can put the ball on the floor. Handle is tight in short spaces. Impressive coordination and handle for a 7-foot-1 big. Loves a spin move, either left or right. Can finish either way. Keeps his pivot foot and uses his body to create space with shoulder bumps while not fouling. Big frame that will keep filling out.
Dangerous in the post. Gets better angles to the basket with step-throughs and rip-thrus. Can go inside or outside (towards baseline). Ambidextrous finisher with soft touch. Little jump hook is very tough to block at his size. Works hard to establish deep post position. If not, can move defenders with a couple of dribbles. Doesn’t pound the air out of the ball. Relatively quick decision maker as a scorer or passer. Bigs at U-19 World Cup couldn’t keep him away from his spots.
Passing and vision is what sets him apart from other 7-foot+ bigs. Very capable playmaker out of the low block. Quick and assertive with drop steps or spins. Has touch passes in his arsenal. Going to keep his cool no matter what in single coverage. Deft at finding cutters, usually over the top but can also sneak in bounce passes. If defense starts shifting, can generate threes.
Can still get rushed on the low block if he gets doubled or if hard help arrives. Struggles to see the floor more when he gets fronted and there's also help coming from his back side. Seemed to sort of be learning on the fly to deal with that much attention. Placement on skip passes can still be off, even if his reads are generally good. Either too hard or too high.
Doesn't have a jump shot right now for all effects, but mechanics coming out of his hand look OK. Sets feet for the most part and rises on balance. 1/6 from three, 17/28 (60.7%) from the free throw line.
China’s defense was built around funneling attackers to him at the rim. Not overly mobile as can be expected, but times himself very well. Doesn’t leave feet early and then he’s just huge. Solid verticality. Attackers, regardless of size, at U-19 World Cup bounced off him. Averaged 5 blocks per game (35 total), including 6 blocks vs. USA. Moves ok in a straight line but hasn’t been tested in space. Size doesn’t allow for him to get low to the ground, as to be expected. Effort, as per stamina, tended to wane by the end of games.
Motor was solid, but stamina would fall off in the second half. Conditioning can and should improve, but there is time for that. Also, this was the highest level of competition he’d played against so far.
Background
From Shandong Province in China. Qingdao Eagles reportedly discovered him at a local competition in 2019. Qingdao, from the same province, beat multiple other teams to sign him.
Qingdao sees him as their next big star. Team reportedly hired three Serbian coaches solely to develop him. Zhang Bin, a former pro who competed in the 1984 and 1988 Olympics with China, is very closely involved with his development. This is while he’s still in their youth team, not even with the senior team. Reportedly signed Australian big man Duop Reath so that Hansen could train against him, rather than Dakari Johnson who was previously on the team and let go. Team also parted ways with other interior-oriented players, such as Liu Chuanxing, supposedly to make room for his development. Liaoning Flying Leopards reportedly wanted to trade for Hansen at one point, but Qingdao quickly refused.
Played in 2022 FIBA U-18 Asian Championship with China, averaging 12.4 points, 9.2 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 2.2 turnovers, and 3.6 blocks. Had just turned 17 y/o. Paced China to a 3rd place finish. Named in the tournament’s all-star five. Named in the 2023 FIBA U-19 World Cup all-second team.