Zhu stakes his claim in new look U19s

His high school coach Chuck Person, a former NBA player and former assistant coach with Auburn University, sees a striking resemblance to NBA All-Star guard Trae Young in Zhu's game.

"He's probably one of, if not the best, point guards in Georgia for the class of 2026," Person, NBA's 1987 Rookie of Year, said of Zhu's game during a 2023 interview.

"Jacob's best attribute is his basketball IQ, which is off the charts. He's very smart. He shoots the ball well, is a great pick-and-roll player, and he's very athletic."

Should he keep building chemistry with his U19 teammates, coached by Qu Shaobin, Zhu is very likely to become the second American-born player to represent China internationally at the FIBA youth showpiece in Switzerland, after NBA forward Kyle Anderson did so with the senior team at the 2019 World Cup in Manila.

Miami Heat's Anderson, known as "Li Kaier" by Chinese fans, became eligible to represent Team China at the FIBA marquee tournament as a naturalized player through his mother's family roots in South China's Guangdong province.

Unlike his senior counterpart Anderson, Zhu's early involvement with the Chinese program — having helped Shanghai's U18 squad qualify for the National Games youth tournament last month — is expected to help him make a real impact on Team China's future.

"We believe he will be a great complement to the national program should he keep improving," said the U19 Chinese team manager Zhang Bin.

"We appreciate his family's support, and that of all the parties involved in helping get this done and making him a member of our squad.

"He's a great addition for us on the back court."

sunxiaochen@chinadaily.com.cn