BEIJING (China) - Boyuan Zhang will have a dream come true this summer when he plays with China at the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup 2024 following an unforgettable summer last year.
This is my dream from childhood - Boyuan Zhang
China took third place at the FIBA U16 AsiaCup 2023 to qualify for the global cadet tournament in Istanbul from June 29 to July 7. It will be China's first appearance in the competition since 2018.
"For me, being a member of this team to compete in the FIBA U17 World Cup would mean everything. This is my dream from childhood to adulthood. I can't wait to join the whole team on the journey to Türkiye," Zhang said.
Zhang and China locked up their U17 FIBA World Cup spot when they defeated Iran 62-56 in the Quarter-Finals.
"I was very excited. In order to win that knockout game, everyone had to do their best and give everything. When the referee blew the whistle at the end of the game, I was overwhelmed by the tide of excitement and joy, which was an unforgettable memory of my life," said Zhang, who collected 22 points and 6 rebounds versus Iran.
Zhang struggled in the Semi-Finals against New Zealand with 8 points and 3 rebounds in an 86-69 loss.
To become a truly high-level basketball player, I still need to improve and learn a lot.
"I realized that there are many excellent players in the world who have different styles of basketball playing. To become a truly high-level basketball player, I still need to improve and learn a lot. I also have a considerable distance from the world's top basketball players from the same age group, and I need to continue to work tirelessly to narrow the gap," assessed Zhang.
But the 2.03m/6ft 8in forward rebounded in the Third Place Game by pouring in 34 points in an 87-59 win over Philippines.
"Beating the Philippines was a goal and aspiration that the entire team had to achieve. After beating them alread in the group stage (84-67), everyone was fearless," said Zhang, who averaged 20.5 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.3 steals for the tournament and was named to the All-Star Five.
China had not competed in the FIBA U16 AsiaCup in 2022 to miss the chance of playing at the FIBA U17 World Cup in 2022. But the 2007-born group stepped up and now will be able to measure themselves on the global stage.
"I look forward to playing the role of a challenger and once again challenging high-level teams of the same age group around the world with my brothers," he said.
Zhang is also excited about his opponents in Group B in Türkiye: USA, France and Guinea.
"American teenagers have strong basketball skills. Their generation is known as the monster generation, many of whom will be picked in the NBA Draft in the future," he said.
"France is a traditionally strong FIBA team and also the third strongest team from the FIBA U16 EuroBasket 2023. I am looking forward to playing against them. To become the strongest, one must have the determination to defeat the strongest."
China recently competed at the Albert Schweitzer Tournament in Germany and finished 10th of 12 teams. Zhang averaged 20.7 points and 4.8 rebounds at the U18 invitational tournament, playing on a China team made up almost exclusively of 2007-born players so they can prepare for the FIBA U17 World Cup.
China's team in Türkiye will have a number of players who were not at the Albert Schweitzer Tournament because they play in the United States. And Zhang said that experience will be very important for the China team this summer.
"It will be very helpful for us to prepare for the game against the US team. My American teammates are very familiar with their peers who compete in the US. They are not afraid of their opponents, and our entire team is not afraid of them. Everyone can't wait to play them," he said.
And Zhang cannot wait for his dream to come true.
FIBA