Note that in addition to Zeng benefitting from the playmaking of 2022 draft picks Dyson Daniels and Jaden Hardy, his last finish is through the contact of 2020 No. I need to keep working on getting stronger. At the time of his most . Chinese forward Fanbo Zeng of the G League Ignite is signing with the Indiana Pacers and will play for the team in Las Vegas NBA summer league, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. Fanbo was also named to the Chinese men's basketball team's training camp prior to their 2021 Olympic qualifying matchups and the 2021 FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers, which were held this past summer. Zeng is capable of seizing the opportunity. Gonzaga has had significant success throughout the years with international players, which Zeng said played an important role in his decision. Zeng, once rated as the. Three years later, he went to the U.S. for further training and became a member of Windermere Prep in 2018. 9 pick in the 2019 NBA draft; Lithuanian big man and fellow former Zag Domantas Sabonis was selected No. Zeng committed to Gonzaga University in November of 2020, but later instead chose to withdraw from his college choice and compete with NBA G League Ignite. /CFP. On the court, I see myself as a skilled, athletic and smart perimeter player. 33 prospect in ESPN's Class of 2022, commits to play for Gonzaga", "Top Chinese prospect Fanbo Zeng signs with G League Ignite, eyes 2022 NBA draft", "Top International Prospect Fanbo Zeng Signs With NBA G League Ignite", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Fanbo_Zeng&oldid=1130451384, Chinese expatriate basketball people in the United States, Articles containing Chinese-language text, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0. 33 prospect in the Class of 2022, has committed to play for Gonzaga, he told ESPN. Rankings Note: Rankings data shown based on latest ESPN Rankings released on N/A, Scout Rankings released on N/A, and Rivals Rankings released on N/A. He spent two years at Windermere Prep in Florida. Fanbo Zeng, previously the No. The U.S. ban on travel from China will prevent him from finishing his final two years of high school at Windermere Prep, so Zeng will spend this upcoming season in China and attempt to enroll early at Gonzaga, starting next summer. Zeng has an opportunity to put his tools on display for a Pacers team that has some opportunities in the front court, especially with T.J. Warren no longer in Indiana and the trade rumors that surround center Myles Turner. Fanbo Zeng. 41: Pelicans: Kennedy Chandler: PG - Tennessee - HT: 6-0 1/2 - WT: 172 - WING: 6-5 1/4 - Fr - A bit undersized but plays bigger than his size and has big time athleticism. I need to keep working on getting stronger. Zeng and the Pacers open Summer League play on Friday, July 8. He said he will look to reclassify to 2021 and enroll at the school next summer. [Head] coach Mark Few has been an extremely successful coach. 3 Tennessee suspends baseball coach Vitello, FSU AD: Lagging ACC revenue 'has to change', Huskers volleyball set for outdoors to spike crowd, Projecting the NCAA men's hockey tournament field, College baseball 2023 Golden Spikes Award preseason watch list -- favorites, sleeper picks, Women's college hockey: Top players, key storylines, Frozen Four picks, Men's college hockey: Top teams, best players, Frozen Four picks, U-M's Hutchins, NCAA softball wins leader, retires. The U.S. ban on travel from China will prevent him from finishing his final two years of high school at Windermere Prep, so Zeng will spend this upcoming season in China and attempt to enroll early at Gonzaga, starting next summer. Fanbo Zeng, the No. "Being kind and grateful has been very important in my life. MORE:Biggest winners & losers from 2022 NBA Draft. I'm not saying the NCAA isn't good -- just that the G League is the best way for me.". He excels in transition and can really fly above the rim and throw down some nasty dunks. "Everyone in China paid attention to Ignite last year," Zeng said. After going 25-57 in the 2021-22 season, Indiana is retooling for a future in which Tyrese Haliburton, Chris Duarte and 2022 No. The lefty has a smooth stroke and is a plus-shooter from three, primarily off the catch. At 6-9 Zeng is a skilled ball handler and passer with a good feel for the game. Zeng returned to China at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and, due to travel restrictions, missed out on what would have been his senior year at Windermere. Gonzaga has had significant success throughout the years with international players, which Zeng said played an important role in his decision. Zeng, a four-star recruit out of Windermere Prep in Central Florida, initially committed to Gonzaga but the . Birth: 11 1 2003 (age 20) : 207cm / 6'9". 33 prospect in ESPN's Class of 2022, commits to play for Gonzaga Skip to main content Skip to navigation > ESPN Search You have come to the Philippines Edition, for other ESPN editions, click here. "Most importantly, I wish I can contribute wearing the Chinese national jersey and represent my country on a global stage. Verbal Commits Newsletter. NIL, legal threats among issues for new NCAA boss, Tennessee coach Vitello to return after suspension, No. What's going to separate him is he's got a humility about him. . CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. The 19-year-old Zeng, one of the . "This was the best decision I could make while I was in China. 11 in 2016. I'm far from being compared to the greatest Chinese players that ever played. Shop Fanbo Zeng Products On Team Ignite Shop, 2021-2022 Season Averages: 19 GP, 5.1 PTS, 2.2 REB, 0.8 AST, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CjHFIKru6BY&list=PLRF0Qy76Eqm5RwfhdrNTwnjAuHTSVbTiq&index=15. Zeng, who will look to reclassify to 2021, is considered arguably the most promising Chinese . No portion of NBA.com may be duplicated, redistributed or manipulated in any form.If you are having difficulty accessing any content on this website, please visit our Accessibility page. "It's always more difficult for international players to adapt," Zeng said. NIL, legal threats among issues for new NCAA boss, Tennessee coach Vitello to return after suspension, No. 33 prospect in ESPN's Class of 2022, commits to play for Gonzaga Skip to navigation > Search You have come to the ESPN Africa edition, for other ESPN editions, click. That was definitely very important to me throughout the recruiting process. 247Sports Composite Top247. 3 Tennessee suspends baseball coach Vitello, FSU AD: Lagging ACC revenue 'has to change', Huskers volleyball set for outdoors to spike crowd, Projecting the NCAA men's hockey tournament field, College baseball 2023 Golden Spikes Award preseason watch list -- favorites, sleeper picks, Women's college hockey: Top players, key storylines, Frozen Four picks, Men's college hockey: Top teams, best players, Frozen Four picks, U-M's Hutchins, NCAA softball wins leader, retires. Which 16 teams should you buy or fade ahead of March Madness? Though he was not rated five stars, Zeng is NBA material who just needs to work harder. Follow full coverage of Fanbo Zeng during the 2022 NBA Draft on ESPN.com. . Hometown Windermere, Fla. School Windermere Prep (POST) Position Power Forward. Top Chinese prospect Zeng joins G League Ignite, NBA Power Rankings: Kevin Durant's return could rock the West, V. Bryant settles crash photos suit for $28.85M, Sources: Lakers to reassess LeBron in 2 weeks, Irving: Need to scale back self-imposed pressure, Jokic sixth player in 100 career triple-double club, Driven Giannis 'OK' if people take him for granted, Durant to debut for Suns on Wed. vs. Hornets, Pels say injured Zion progressing, set for imaging, What NBA Finals runs from LeBron, Giannis can teach Jayson Tatum, Meet the man scouring Nigeria for the next generation of NBA and NFL talent, Waiver wire pickups: Look to Malik Monk, Kevon Looney, Virus forces Mexico City G League team to Texas. Fanbo joined Ignite as one of the worlds top youth prospects, ranked as one of the top forwards and 33rd overall by ESPN in the class of 2022. Also, just to develop overall. He paved the way for Chinese players, especially players who play in the States. Club: Beijing Bucks Basketball Club (CHN) Nationality: CHN. Jonathan Givony is an NBA draft expert and the founder and co-owner of DraftExpress.com, a private scouting and analytics service utilized by NBA, NCAA and International teams. The transition to Gonzaga will be so much easier because of that," Zeng said. Which 16 teams should you buy or fade ahead of March Madness? 1 overall? Rank Player Pos Ht / Wt Rating Team. I can only work harder to achieve what they have achieved. Class Rankings Class Rankings; College Basketball College Basketball; ESPN.com: Help | Press | Advertise on ESPN.com . I can only work harder to achieve what they have achieved. He said he will look to reclassify to 2021 and enroll at the school next summer. Only two Chinese players have been drafted in the past 15 years, with Zhou Qi being the last player to set foot on an NBA floor, in 2018. That's the ultimate goal. Jun 23, 2022 - Fanbo Zeng went undrafted in the 2022 NBA Draft making him an Unrestricted FA. He paved the way for Chinese players, especially players who play in the States. "I really appreciate people believing in me, and I'll use that as a motivation. He spent two years at Windermere Prep in Florida before returning to China in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Fanbo Zeng is a quick, bouncy and agile combo forward from China who is playing with the G League Ignite this year, after previously committing to Gonzaga. "Big man on campus: Fanbo Zeng brings A-game to Windermere Prep", "Fanbo Zeng is big missing piece for Windermere Prep basketball", "Fanbo Zeng of Windermere Prep is 3A basketball All-State", "Windermere Prep basketball's Fanbo Zeng quarantined in China", "Orlando area high school boys basketball season preview", "Top Chinese prospect Fanbo Zeng picks G League Ignite over Gonzaga: Sources", "Fanbo Zeng, the No. Also, just to develop overall. "It was important because it helped me learn a different style of playing, as well as the culture. The 6-foot-10 forward will be . The 17-year-old Zeng has garnered considerable attention both in the U.S. and China thanks to the progress he made this past season. The teen then returned to China last March because of the. Top Performance: Fanbo's game against the Santa Cruz Warriors in the season finale showcased his potential and status as a top international prospect. 1 overall? Profile; Analysis; College Game Log; Conversation; Player Evaluations. Coming from a basketball family, with both parents ex-players, Zeng was identified as a prospect at an early age, moving from his hometown of Harbin to an academy 750 miles away in Beijing at age 11 before eventually moving to Oregon and then Florida. Fanbo Zeng (Chinese: ; born January 11, 2003) is a Chinese professional basketball player for the Beijing Ducks of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA). The transition to Gonzaga will be so much easier because of that," Zeng said. So, it had a pretty big impact, but at the same time showed me more options.". Fanbo joined Ignite as one of the worlds top youth prospects, ranked as one of the top forwards and 33rd overall by ESPN in the draft class of 2022. An Exhibit 10 contract is a one-year, minimum salary NBA contract with particular clauses attached to it. MORE:NBA Two-Way contracts, explained: Tracking undrafted player signings. As a sophomore in 2019-20, Fanbo averaged 15.5 points, 7.2 re-bounds, 2.6 blocks and 2.1 assists to earn Class 3A First Team All-State and Orlando Sentinel All-Area First Team honors. [8] On April 24, 2021, he decommitted from Gonzaga with the intention of joining the NBA G League Ignite, in part because of the departure of assistant coach Tommy Lloyd, who had recruited him to Gonzaga.[7]. I really hope that someday I'll be playing in the NBA. Weight 200. Whether or not it's a two-way contract to split time with the Pacers and their G League affiliate Fort Wayne Mad Ants or a standard contract with the Pacers, all options are on the table. I need to keep working on getting stronger. Though Zeng is only 19 years old, his story of fighting overseas to join an NBA team is already known to many in . Stay on current site or go to US version. Back in 2014, 11-year-old Zeng joined "Project Eaglet" of the CBA's Beijing Ducks as one of the most promising children. Which I'm sure it will be a blessing to train with some of the best coaches and teammates.". Top Chinese prospect Fanbo Zeng signs with G League Ignite, eyes 2022 NBA draft Skip to main content Skip to navigation Presented By Full Scoreboard > ESPN Search You have reached ESPN's Australian edition. Zeng spent three years playing high school basketball in Oregon and Florida but returned to China at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, originally committing to Gonzaga over scholarship offers from Florida State, Florida, Virginia Tech and others before electing to pursue the professional route. Coming from a basketball family, with both parents ex-players, Zeng was identified as a prospect at an early age, moving from his hometown of Harbin to an academy 750 miles away in Beijing at age 11 before eventually moving to Oregon and then Florida. You have come to the Philippines Edition, for other ESPN editions, click here. "They've had many significant examples of developing international players. This page was last edited on 30 December 2022, at 06:34. "Being kind and grateful has been very important in my life. Learn more about Fanbo Zeng as he returns to the U.S. from China to play for NBA G League Ignite. Zeng said his decision to come to the U.S. at age 14 should help his transition to the college game and, he hopes, boost his chances of playing in the NBA. At Windermere Prep, Zeng was ranked as high as 33rd in the high school class of 2022 before reclassifying to become a high school senior in 2021, where he still received a four-star distinction. 2021 High School Pos Rankings State Rankings 247Sports Composite Top247 Rank Player Pos Ht / Wt Rating Team 1 1 Chet Holmgren Minnehaha Academy (Minneapolis, MN) C 7-0 / 190 100 1 1 1 2 2. Inside NBA G League's developmental program, NBA Draft grades 2022: Ranking all 30 teams on draft night, NBA Two-Way contracts, explained: Tracking undrafted player signings. Beijing ICP prepared NO.16065310-3, Chinese teenager Zeng Fanbo rated Four-Star high-school player by ESPN. /CCTV-5. But I must work extremely hard to have a great career and accomplishments. "My family always teaches me to be a great person before everything," Zeng said. [Head] coach Mark Few has been an extremely successful coach. He really showed me what the program is about and how I'd fit perfectly at Gonzaga. As a sophomore in 2019-20, Fanbo averaged 15.5 points, 7.2 rebounds, 2.6 blocks, and 2.1 assists to earn Class 3A First Team All-State and Orlando Sentinel All-Area First Team honors. "I really appreciate people believing in me, and I'll use that as a motivation. I'm lucky enough to have someone like Yao [Ming] as a pioneer. I had to finish high school back in my hometown. Zeng arrived at the G League Ignite practice facility in Walnut Creek, California, last week and will be cleared soon for live action. MORE:What is G League Ignite? In fact, some labeled him as the best Chinese prospect since Yao Ming. "He's a great passer who can handle it as well. According to ESPN, the power forward checks in at 6-foot-11 and 198 pounds. Rankings; Bronny James Tabbed As Top-10 Pick In Mock 2024 NBA Draft. 33 prospect in the ESPN class of 2022, told ESPN on Wednesday that he has signed with the NBA's G League Ignite program and will declare for the 2022 NBA draft.