Yao Ming could have played for Wisconsin?? (old article)

Hey guys!

I came across this old article when Yao was just being scouted...
Looks like he could have played some NCAA ball--but unfortunately things didn't work out....


I know this is really old but this board has been SLOW lately.....


http://www.madison.com/captimes/sports/lucas/25277.php

Mike Lucas: Yao! What if Ming had been a Badger?

By Mike Lucas
May 8, 2002


He officially has been measured at 89 inches - 7-feet-5. He has been credited with weighing anywhere between 236 and 290 pounds. Almost everyone is guessing here. But his lower body is bigger than his upper body. And he's definitely bigger than a Shawn Bradley or a Manute Bol. Physically, he compares more favorably with a Rik Smits. Only he's bigger.

According to his NBA draft profile, he has quick reflexes and very good agility and athleticism. He can run the floor and dribble with either hand. He has a very clever offensive game and passes with creativity. He has a nice shooting touch and he can knock down shots from all angles with his range extending to the 3-point arc. And he loves to dunk.

Now, you're really going to love the kicker to this story: He was first offered to the University of Wisconsin basketball program and he almost became a Badger. Wow.

No, Yao.

Yao Ming.

Yes, THAT Yao Ming, who auditioned for NBA personnel in Chicago last Wednesday. Although the reviews were mixed, everybody seemingly agreed on one thing: the 21-year-old Ming will be taken among the top five players in the June 26 draft. And he could go as high as No. 1 or No. 2. Such is his potential. And such is the mystery and curiosity behind his size, his game and his background.

Now, suggesting that Ming almost became a Badger is somewhat of a stretch. But he was brought to the UW's attention and there was some conversation with former coach Brad Soderberg on the possibility of Ming leaving China and attending school here.

Ming's link to this community is Erik Zhang, who was born and raised in China. Erik was 10 when his family moved to Madison in 1984. His folks still live here. Erik graduated from Madison West High School and the UW, where he majored in economics. He's currently working on his MBA at the University of Chicago.

Zhang's link to Ming is relatively distant. As in, they're very distant relatives. They first crossed paths six years ago in Ming's hometown, Shanghai. And a friendship developed from that meeting.

"He was having trouble finding shoes in China because he wears a size 18 or something," Zhang explained. "So he asked me to buy some shoes for him in the United States. That's how I got to know him fairly well. I kept in touch, especially with his mom."

At the time, Ming was 16, 7-2 and still growing.

"Before he had any realistic hopes for the NBA, he was hoping to play in the NCAA," Zhang said. "I conveyed the message to the UW program. The summer of '97, I talked to Brad Soderberg frequently."

Zhang explored all options in an attempt to make it work.

"We were preparing to have Yao come over here and maybe go to high school for a year or two," Zhang said. "I even made arrangements with some people here in Madison to help his transition to an English speaking environment so that he could improve his language very quickly and qualify under NCAA rules."

But there were just too many hurdles to clear, athletically and culturally. At such a early stage of his development, Ming was just so raw, and rare. Nobody is at fault, either. It just didn't work out.

"At the time, I don't know if his basketball skills were where they needed to be - he has improved so much over the last six years," Zhang said.

"He was very raw. I know Wisconsin was reluctant to offer a scholarship based on some of the tape they saw. They thought his defensive skills and his strength were probably not good enough to play in the Big Ten."

Former UW head coach Dick Bennett followed up by writing a letter to Ming.

"The interest cooled off," Zhang said. "Once he started playing for the Sharks, he became a professional and very quickly people realized that he had NBA potential. His family cooled off on the NCAA as well and there was no way his club was going to release him."

Zhang knows how difficult such negotiatons can be with the Shanghai Sharks, who have been very controlling, very demanding and very structured in their handling of Ming. Zhang has served as the sole representative of Ming's family in negotiating with the club.

Being a little detached from the whole situation has probably helped the cause. Along with his general knowledge of how things are done in the Asian business world.

"The family had a lot of contact with United States agents and a lot of other marketing firms seeking to represent Yao," Zhang said. "But all seemed to have a motive in getting Ming released from the Sharks. I'm the only one who didn't have any conflict of interest in terms of finances.

"I made it clear to them I would not be an agent, I would not manage his basketball career in any way or form."

While there may be a division of opinion on Ming's basketball prowess - especially the way it may relate to the high level of competition in the NBA - everybody is in agreement on his personality.

Nice kid.

"He's very different from the stereotypical professional athlete," Zhang assured. "He's very modest, very nice to a fault. He has even said publicly in China that it was his duty to repay the club for giving him the opportunity to play. He doesn't object to the idea of compensating (the Sharks)."

Question is, are there any more Yao Mings in China?

"It's a country of 1.3 billion, so I'm sure you can find some prospects there who are underdeveloped," Zhang said. "In general, the coaching is very poor. At least that's what I've heard from people who came over to look at the top leagues and how they train players. But there's a lot of potential.

"I don't have any illusions that China will be able to provide basketball on the same level as the United States."

Nonetheless, he has thought about the feasibility of nurturing a relationship with a college program, like Wisconsin. He's not sure how it would work, or if it would work at all. But it might be worth pondering the possibilities.

"Wouldn't it be nice if some young prospects from the Sharks could be trained in the U.S., either by joining an NCAA team or attending basketball camps?" Zhang asked.

"Wouldn't it be nice if we could send 17- and 18-year olds, whose professional rights in China are owned by the Sharks, to study and play in the U.S. until they're 22 or 23 and then they could return to the Sharks if they don't make it to the next level in the U.S.?"

There's no question that the anal NCAA would have some serious questions about such a plan. Still, Zhang would like to share some of his thoughts with anybody who's interested in the Badger program. It wouldn't hurt to listen.


Published: 8:36 AM 5/08/02