Kevin Zhang

Kevin Zhang
张镇麟
No. 7 – Liaoning Flying Leopards
PositionPower forward
LeagueCBA
Personal information
Born (1999-01-28) 28 January 1999 (age 25)
Shenyang, China
Listed height6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
Listed weight220 lb (100 kg)
Career information
High school
CollegeTulane (2018–2020)
Career history
2020–presentLiaoning Flying Leopards
Career highlights and awards
Medals
Men's basketball
Representing  China
Asian Games
Bronze medal – third place 2022 Hangzhou

Zhang Zhenlin (Chinese: 张镇麟; born 28 January 1999), or Kevin Zhang, is a Chinese professional basketball player for the Liaoning Flying Leopards of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA). He played college basketball for the Tulane Green Wave.

Early life and high school career

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Born in Shenyang, China, Zhang grew up watching National Basketball Association (NBA) players Steve Nash and LeBron James and aspired to play basketball in the United States.[1] In 2013, at age 14, he joined the United States Basketball Academy in Blue River, Oregon upon the advice of his mother's friend, Bruce O'Neil. Zhang spoke no English at the time. In his first three years of high school, he played for La Lumiere School in LaPorte, Indiana, where he played with top recruits Jaren Jackson Jr. and Brian Bowen.[2] Over three seasons at La Lumiere, he helped his team to a combined 82–7 record and the 2017 High School Nationals title.[3]

As a senior, Zhang played for Montverde Academy in Montverde, Florida, helping his team achieve a 35–0 record and win High School Nationals.[3] At the National Prep Showcase in November 2017, he scored 25 points and had five three-pointers against New Hampton School.[4] He was friends with Montverde teammate RJ Barrett, the number one recruit in the 2018 class.[5][6] On 13 April 2018, Zhang played for Team World at the Nike Hoop Summit.[7] Five days later, he committed to play college basketball for Tulane over offers from UCLA, BYU, DePaul and Kansas State, among other NCAA Division I programs. He was rated a three-star recruit by major recruiting services.[8]

College career

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On 11 November 2018, Zhang made his freshman season debut for Tulane, leading his team with 24 points and seven rebounds in an 80–69 loss to 15th-ranked Florida State.[9] After hyperextending his elbow on 8 December versus South Alabama, he sat out his next game against Texas Southern and was limited by the injury in many of his following games.[10] On 13 January 2019, Zhang scored a season-high 25 points in an 83–79 loss to Memphis.[11] As a freshman, he averaged 6.5 points and 2.4 rebounds in 22.5 minutes per game.[12] Tulane finished with a 4–27 record, losing all 18 of its conference games, and Zhang was one of two players to return for the following season amid a roster and coaching overhaul.[3]

On 4 January 2020, as a sophomore, he scored a season-high 15 points, converting on all five of his three-point attempts, in a 76–71 upset win over Cincinnati. Zhang finished the season averaging 5.1 points and 2.1 rebounds in 19.2 minutes per game.[12]

Professional career

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On 19 October 2020, Zhang made his professional debut for the Liaoning Flying Leopards of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA), recording 13 points and 11 rebounds in a 121–108 win over the Tianjin Pioneers.[13]

On 8 March 2021, Zhang scored a career-high 46 points and 9 rebounds in a 124-115 win over Guangdong Southern Tigers.[14]

National team career

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Zhang joined the US national basketball team for training camp in preparation for the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup but did not make the final roster.[15]

Zhang was selected into the final roster of China men's national basketball team competing for the FIBA Asian Cup 2021 Qualifiers. [16]

He was included in China's squad for the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup qualification,[17] and had his debut national match against Japan on 28 November, 2021.

Career statistics

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Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage  3P%  3-point field goal percentage  FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high

College

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Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2018–19 Tulane 30 16 22.5 .354 .295 .757 2.4 .8 .4 .4 6.5
2019–20 Tulane 30 19 19.2 .410 .324 .696 2.1 .5 .6 .6 5.1
Career 60 35 20.8 .377 .308 .733 2.3 .6 .5 .5 5.8

CBA

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Regular season

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Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2020–21 Liaoning 53 43 32.3 .491 .385 .705 5.6 1.5 1.2 .4 14.2
Career 53 43 32.3 .491 .385 .705 5.6 1.5 1.2 .4 14.2

Playoffs

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Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2020–21 Liaoning 6 4 35.8 .424 .314 .500 6.2 1.2 1.5 .2 11.5
Career 6 4 35.8 .424 .314 .500 6.2 1.2 1.5 .2 11.5

Personal life

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Zhang's mother, Wang Fang, played basketball for China at the 1992 Summer Olympics. She won the Women's Chinese Basketball Association (WCBA) title in 2009 while the head coach of the Liaoning Flying Eagles.[1] Wang was a coach for the Chinese women's team at the 2008 Summer Olympics.[15]

References

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  1. ^ a b Wang, Kevin (17 April 2017). "Kevin Zhang's journey to becoming a young basketball pioneer". ESPN. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
  2. ^ Guillory, William (26 November 2018). "Tulane forward Kevin Zhang may be the face of college basketball's newest trend". The Athletic. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
  3. ^ a b c Pisani, Hart (19 December 2019). "Tulane's Kevin Zhang wants to help build winning culture with Green Wave". The Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate. Retrieved 7 April 2020.
  4. ^ Daniels, Evan (21 November 2017). "Kevin Zhang breaks out at National Prep Showcase". 247Sports. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  5. ^ Daniels, Evan (13 April 2018). "New offers in for Kevin Zhang". 247Sports. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  6. ^ "Green Wave Summer Spotlight: Kevin Zhang". Tulane University Athletics. 19 June 2019. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  7. ^ "Eagles Lead Team World over Team USA at Nike Hoop Summit". Montverde Academy. 16 April 2018. Retrieved 7 April 2020.
  8. ^ Smith, Guerry (18 April 2018). "New commitment: Sought-after 3-star forward Kevin Zhang picks Tulane". The Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate. Retrieved 7 April 2020.
  9. ^ Smith, Guerry (11 November 2018). "Freshman Kevin Zhang scores 24 in debut as Tulane falls to FSU". The Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  10. ^ Smith, Guerry (3 January 2019). "Recovering Kevin Zhang looking for return to form as Green Wave faces SMU". The Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  11. ^ Miller, Adam (13 January 2019). "Tulane has comeback fall just short vs. Memphis, 83-79". Crescent City Sports. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  12. ^ a b Smith, Guerry (28 January 2020). "Learning curve: Tulane's Ron Hunter trying to unlock the potential in Kevin Zhang". The Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  13. ^ "Liaoning beats Tianjin 121-108 in CBA". Sina. Xinhua News Agency. 19 October 2020. Retrieved 19 October 2020.
  14. ^ 小鱼 (2021-03-08). "广东加时负辽宁15连胜终结 张镇麟46分破纪录". sports.sina.com.cn. Retrieved 2021-05-02.
  15. ^ a b "Young, talented and ambitious, meet China's Zhang Zhenlin". FIBA. 12 March 2020. Retrieved 7 April 2020.
  16. ^ "中国男篮参加亚洲杯预选赛、奥运会落选赛最终名单出炉". Xinhua News Agency. June 13, 2021. Retrieved June 16, 2021.
  17. ^ Randolph B. Leongson (21 November 2021). "Guo Ailun rejoins China in time for World Cup qualifiers". GMA New Media. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
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