China Daily

reporter Li Fujie

since Gong Xiaobin behalf of the Chinese team attending the Busan Asian Games in 2002, after eight years, the team never have occurred in Shandong national champion, during the period of the previous contest are Shandong has nothing to do with the players. However, this embarrassment will soon be history --- World Basketball Championships in Turkey on next, there will be one of Shandong Han dynasty in the current Chinese team, led by Deng Huade lineup. He is a 23-year old, 2.21 meters tall young man Zhang Zhaoxu Yantai membership. As the first high current Chinese team, Zhang Zhaoxu expected to be the secret weapon in the hands of coach Denghua De.

May 18 this year, Xinhua News Agency released the news this way: University of California, Berkeley basketball players Zhangzhao Xu arrived in Beijing on May 17, 18, China began to participate in the training of the National Team of Basketball , Zhang Zhaoxu to join the training team made a big list of numbers to 30. Zhang Zhaoxu sudden so many people joining surprise, after all the name of the domestic media and fans, strange. Time, many media are not good prospects for Zhang Zhaoxu in the national team that he was only with the advantage of height to the national team to see the world's. Did not expect after three months, escaped again and again layoffs Zhang Zhaoxu miraculously stayed, and became joined by the NCAA Men's domestic first person in China. So, the Shandong Han Zhang Zhaoxu Is Who are they? Why did not he join the expedition team Shandong CBA? Step by step how he entered the national team?

from the start in Jinan, Yantai Growth

Zhangzhao Xu was born in 1987 in Yantai, hometown of basketball. As the father of height 1.95 m, 1.70 m tall and his mother, so Zhang Zhaoxu tall young age is higher than their peers. But he did not show a small number of athleticism, but a standard of good student, or a myopia (900 degrees C), together with parents were intellectuals, has never engaged in sports, so Zhang Zhaoxu childhood and Basketball has not received formal training. The summer of 2002, 15-year-old Zhang Zhaoxu has reached 2.05 meters tall, but the body is very thin, his parents hoped he leave to participate in the use of some physical exercise, the results he was Yantai Sports School basketball team phase. Practiced in the Sports School after one year, Zhang Zhaoxu be transported to the sports school in Shandong Province. September 2004, 17-year-old Zhang Zhaoxu been locked in a long Xu, entered into the youth team. Shandong Kingston Basketball Club was a very high regard Zhang Zhaoxu, and he signed a five-year contract, the food and care for him in treatment, at the same time he developed a unique set of training and training plan, so that he consciously participate in various training camps and other competitions. When the team arrived, Zhang Zhaoxu confrontation capabilities and technologies are relatively immature, the first race only a miserable 2 points. However, as Zhang Zhaoxu height advantage, coupled with insight and strong, so rapid progress. 2005 to Zhangzhao Xu, Duan Jackie Chan, Li Lin at the core of Shandong Youth Basketball she won the National Youth League champion, Zhang Zhaoxu per game to 15 points. Youth basketball coach when Xu Association of Shandong long locks have commented Zhang Zhaoxu: "Over time, that he will, after following the Wang and Yao Ming, another star."

to Yuantaixuemeng at as "alternative"

If you do not recognize the Chinese agent Lu Hao Yao Ming, perhaps Zhang Zhaoxu go will be a traditional and a smooth road: from Shandong Shandong youth team ascend to a team of basketball, CBA and National Games campaign on behalf of Shandong and then gradually brought on to the national team. But Zhang Zhaoxu ultimately go the way of basketball, and general players are different, this road is full of personality and hard, and he has since become Shandong "alternative" players.

love to learn Zhang Zhaoxu heart has been a college dream. Long locks have been recalled Xu, Zhang Zhaoxu and other young players are different, love usually hold books, bookish heavy. Zhang Zhaoxu's father is an engineer, he once consider the edge of his son learn to play the domestic side, but understand that learning is difficult to guarantee the domestic players, he began to want his son 出国. In 2006, Zhang Zhaoxu been in a training camp in Yao's agent Lu Hao phase. Lu Hao Zhang Zhaoxu to describe the prospects are: left, Shandong, to the United States before joining the NCAA team, and then participate in NBA draft. Bent on going abroad to college Zhang Zhaoxu move the heart, so in May 2006 and left with Shandong Lu Hao and made to understand about. This has created a stir, this Kingston clubs and clubs are after the gold rush, has been through the legal and human means of trying to keep Zhang Zhaoxu offensive, but ultimately not able to remain in Shandong.

the twists and turns later, Zhang Zhaoxu finally came to the United States, though he did not ascend to the United States started the University, but in an American high school, during training while studying. In 2007, Zhang Zhaoxu a freshman at UC Berkeley students studying international relations and sports professionals, and Ru Yuan joined the Golden Bears played in the school's NCAA, as the team's top player in history. In the NCAA's first season he has not played an opportunity, and the second season he played a total of 15 games, averaged 1.3 points, 0.6 rebounds and 0.9 blocked shots in his third season further. January 3 this year, Zhang Zhaoxu effectiveness California, Berkeley Golden Bears with 92:66 win over Stanford team won three straight, Zhang Zhaoxu in this race 13 points, also won three blocks and four rebounds. Zhang Zhaoxu are moving in the "alternative" basketball the way, come to see the dawn.

for Zhang Zhaoxu development in the NCAA, Zengyin leave the event and his home court almost enough people to show tolerance and magnanimity. Ye Peng, general manager of Shandong Gold Basketball Club on Zhang Zhaoxu achievements in the United States are very happy, he has been, and Zhang Zhaoxu family keep in touch. Even Zhang Zhaoxu studies can not represent due to last year's National Games in Shandong played when Ye Peng Zhang Zhaoxu can also still expect to return home on behalf of Shandong Basketball Team CBA. This year in June, the Chinese team in Qingdao and visit the Argentine youth playing varsity warm-up match, Ye Peng and provincial Languanzhongxin director Xu Tiejun came to Qingdao to watch games, and has contacted and Zhang Zhaoxu, perhaps one day will appear Zhang Zhaoxu returned home to play.

last Universiade already manifested themselves

more people know Zhang Zhaoxu in his national team later, but in fact his last year's World University Games has drawn on the concern of the outside world. Despite this competition, the Chinese college basketball did not win the group, just get the first 23 results, but the team has harvested a Chinese basketball insider Future Star. Zhang Zhaoxu 6 games in midfield have scored 18 points, 17.3 rebounds and 5.7 blocks: the first group match against Italy with 15 points, 16 rebounds and 8 blocked shots, the second war on Canada made its own in the international Competition in the first "triple-double": 12 points, 15 rebounds and 10 blocked shots, third against Australia 18 points, 22 rebounds, 2 blocks, against Iran once again got the "triple double": 25 points, 12 rebounds and 10 blocked shots. Because of the outstanding performance in the Universiade, Zhang Zhaoxu only attracted the attention of the Chinese Basketball Association and Deng Huade.

national team a big black horse

never played as a professional league's players, Zhang Zhaoxu to the Chinese Basketball Team of selected had a miracle, but he eventually stay in China's world championships in the 12-team squad, a big black horse training team letter.

June 20 this year, the Chinese team against Argentina's youth team in Qingdao, which is the new coach Denghua De's first show, also Zhang Zhaoxu in the national team's first public appearance. In this game, scoring off the bench for Zhang Zhaoxu a total of 15 minutes and 53 seconds to play contributed five points, two rebounds and two steals. Deng Huade on Zhang Zhaoxu assessment is: "He's tall and long arms can give opponents trouble. This game feeling he was looking for, and find their own position, I think the defensive end to the team he brought no small help . Once the offensive end he can find a feeling, I believe he is a very good athlete. "

experienced a relatively plain in several domestic warm-up after the match, Zhang Zhaoxu in North America during a zipper Chinese Men one of the best of several players: first battle with Canada's game, he had the ball across the two Defensive Player of the deduction into the basket, excellent performance of the Canadian media, surprise; in the team competition with the United States, He gave two large cap NBA in scoring last season, Durant.

just when the national team, Zhang Zhaoxu gives the impression that basic skills are not good enough for training and competitions are more restrained, the act of shooting and even some non-standard, coach Deng Huade to his position is: "Zhang Zhaoxu now very young, he is our 2012 or more years in the future to prepare the inside. "Zhang Zhaoxu their training for the selected team mentality of the Chinese team is very calm," Of course if I have the opportunity to serve their country well, if I This left no less than it does not matter, I'll just go back to school to complete their studies. "

but Tang, accident injury to the Zhang Zhaoxu opportunity. In China, poor interior defense team's case, in order to cover and defend in Denghua De Zhang Zhaoxu known for standing in the eyes and more important. The insider prepared for the future, we must advance on the world championships in Turkey to stir up the burden.

strong defensive expectations Championship

is no doubt that Zhang Zhaoxu body's shortcomings are obvious: less experienced competition, the body weak, rich enough offensively, but he also has obvious advantages : defensive ability, English is good, smooth communication with the coach and so on,

journalists familiar with the Chinese team said Zhang Zhaoxu treat people very polite, he called the old national team players is very special, "I feel and the integration of a very good team, very friendly and brothers. "team boss Wang's Zhang Zhaoxu also love, I usually help this little brother. Big Zhi Zhang Zhaoxu asked how, as the original did not go to Shandong Province, Shandong team, "he told me that since the United States want to go to college. We also talked of his life and play in the United States experience, I think he is a very great potential for ideas of young people. "

Xinhua Xu Jicheng, a famous sports journalist commented Zhang Zhaoxu: If you have to be in November this year, over 23-year-old Zhang Zhaoxu and four center Wang, Battle, Yao Ming and Yi Jianlian comparison His experience can only attack and came in fifth, but his cover skills and rebounding ability, especially the ability grab offensive rebounds, it may at the same age when the first or second row. Therefore, Zhang Zhaoxu will be based on the national team may not be the first advantage of how many points he can get, but he can cover the number of caps, or that the threat of the defensive end he is looking forward to the most worthy of the Chinese team, "tight supplies."

over the history of the Chinese team's best post players are Shandong Dahan, from the first phase of China by NBA players Song Tao, 1994, on behalf of the Chinese team entered the World Championship quarter-finals for the first time The Ji Minshang and then to stand for the Chinese team repeatedly exploits the Gong Xiaobin, they gave the fans left a deep impression. Hope that in Turkey, there is "little Yao Ming," said Zhang Zhaoxu to be the team of Jones, a surprise for the fans.