Why Zhou Qi’s Draft Stock Plummeted While Yang Hanshen Soared: A Data-Driven Breakdown

The Rise and Fall of a Chinese Giant

I still remember the buzz after Zhou Qi led China to that dramatic 2015 Asian Championship win over South Korea. Back then, whispers said he’d be a top-15 pick—maybe even a lottery name. But by draft night? He landed at No. 47. What happened?

Let me pull up my old spreadsheets—the kind you keep in your desk drawer like war medals.

The Numbers Don’t Lie

ESPN’s initial ranking had him at No. 79 before the combine. Then came the dreaded pre-draft workouts: his vertical leap? Solid. His defensive footwork? Not so much. The data showed real concern over his physical readiness for the NBA’s pace—even if he could block shots from space.

By mid-May, ESPN dropped him to No. 82—a rare plunge in their rankings—before rebounding slightly to end at No. 47.

DraftExpress was more consistent: hovering around pick 26–28 early on (likely due to Celtics’ interest), but ultimately settling on second-round selection #36.

NBADraft.net? Second round again—46–48.

And Draftroom crowned him with the high-upside tag of ‘big man with limited upside,’ giving him a template close to Serge Ibaka meets Nene Hilario—with less polish.

Why Did It Go Wrong?

Here’s where my analytical mind kicks in: it wasn’t just about stats or size—it was about fit. At 23 years old going into the draft (a red flag in NBA circles), Zhou lacked elite athleticism and wasn’t tested against true NBA-level competition during his pro career.

Scouts saw potential—but not enough urgency.

Meanwhile…

Enter Yang Hanshen: The Reverse Arc

Fast forward three years, and Yang Hanshen is climbing every single list—from below top 100 all the way into projected first-round consideration in mock drafts for upcoming drafts.

His rise isn’t magic—it’s analytics-driven momentum:

• Better body control under pressure;
• Improved mobility;
• A consistent season in China’s CBA;
• And crucially—more video footage showing real game IQ vs raw tools.

It’s not that Yang is better than Zhou was back then; it’s that scouts believe in him now more than they did back then—in part because they’ve seen growth, not just potential.

The Bigger Picture: Scouting Bias & Narrative Shaping

This comparison isn’t just about two players—it exposes deeper issues within international scouting:

• Over-reliance on highlight reels;
• Age penalties for non-NCAA players;
• And how narratives can collapse faster than an ill-timed dunk attempt under pressure.

Zhou Qi looked great on paper—but too many red flags popped up during evaluation windows. When your defensive stance wobbles under contact and your lateral quickness doesn’t match your height… well, teams start asking tough questions.

Yang HanShen hasn’t made those mistakes yet—he’s learning them slowly—and that makes all the difference when you’re trying to sell someone as an NBA project.

So no… there’s no direct comparison between these two athletes today—not because they’re equal—but because context changes everything. The same player who once seemed destined for greatness can fade if performance doesn’t match hype—and vice versa.