China U17 Men’s Basketball vs Guinea Preview: A Battle of Unknowns, Focus on Zhang Bohuan & Xun Sinan

On the evening of June 29, the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup begins, with China’s U17 men’s team facing Guinea in their opening match.

The Chinese U17 team has been drawn into a challenging group alongside the United States and France. In the latest U17 Men’s World Cup power rankings, China is ranked 14th among the 16 teams, while the USA and France sit at the top two spots. Guinea is ranked 12th, making them the closest match for China in terms of ranking.

Coached by former national team player Li Xiaoyong, the Chinese U17 squad includes notable players like Zhang Bohuan and Xun Sinan. Coach Li has previously mentioned the team’s weakness in the backcourt due to height issues, whereas Guinea boasts a strong frontcourt.

The Chinese U17 team secured third place in the 2023 U16 Asian Championship, earning them a spot in this year’s U17 World Cup – their first appearance since 2018.

In April, they participated in the highly competitive Mannheim Invitational in Germany, where they finished with a 1-5 record, ranking 10th out of 12 teams. Zhang Bohuan, as the core player, averaged 20.7 points and 4.8 rebounds per game in Mannheim and was named one of FIBA’s Top 10 Rising Stars for the U17 World Cup.

Last year at the U16 Asia Championship, Zhang contributed 20.5 points, 5 rebounds, and 1.3 steals per game, while Fu Wenhao averaged 11 points, Xun Sinan 9.7 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 3.5 blocks, He Wenwei 9 points, 3.7 assists, and 2 steals, Li Yuezhou 5.3 points, 4 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.7 steals, and Shen Wudi 4.7 points and 2.3 rebounds.

The encounter against Guinea will be a battle of unknowns. Coach Li Xiaoyong will need to strategize how to maximize the strengths of Zhang Bohuan and Xun Sinan. Facing physically imposing African opponents, solid shooting will be crucial.

China U17 Men’s Basketball 12-Man Squad

Forwards: 15 Xun Sinan, 14 Liu Li, 13 Wang Hongze

Wings: 12 Fu Wenhao, 11 Zhang Bohuan, 10 Chen Xiaoyi, 9 Fu Jingbo, 8 Feng Yubo

Guards: 7 Shen Wudi, 6 Li Yuezhou, 5 Liu Yang, 4 He Wenwei

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