Friday, February 16, 2001

TOP U-20 PROSPECTS IN TAIWAN

# Note: a. NAME (AGE, HEIGHT-cm/WEIGHT-kg, POSITION, SCHOOL, CLASS/STATUS)
# b. Taiwan high school class (three years): Freshman, Sophomore, Senior
# c. Evaluation based on future potential, not current performance


TOP 15 PROSPECTS:
1. TSUN WEN-DING
(17, 202/86, C, Tsai-shin HS, Sophomore)
Comment: At this moment, the best center prospect in Taiwan high school hoops...made great strides during the past year, improved in almost every facet of his game...very long wingspan...a very smart and versatile bigman...good at moving without the ball, great defense anticipation, great passing vision...effective mid-rang jumper...has moved up to our No.1 ranking from No.3 in last year's U-18...needs to bulk up to take the physical pounding...the best is yet to come for this kid...

2. WU DAI-HAO
(16, 200/98, C, Tsai-shin HS, Freshman)
Comment: Possesses unbelievable coordination for a bigman...alwayse intimidates opponents with his highly-aggressive attitude...great one-on-one defense and block-out...right now the best pure center in high school...but don't give this kid too much praise, his improvement has been slowing down a bit...

3. TIEN LEI
(18, 201/86, C/F, San-min HS, Senior)
Comment: The most talked-about high school player since his freshman year...skinny but versatile...great passing ability...smart player on offense...showed great improvement on defense this year...with better outside shooting, has the potential to be the tallest SF in Taiwan basketball history...most envision his best position and future is at small forward...

4. HO SHO-JEN
(18, 195/89, F, Song-shan HS, Senior)
Comment: Song-shan HS's disappointing showing this season dropped his stock a bit...has great instinct on both ends...drew high praise from former New Jersey Nets head coach Don Casey...good perimeter skills and defense...a team-first player...will be a good small forward in the future...

5. LIN CHI-JAY
(19, 192/90, F/G, Culture University Freshman/A-League Taiwan Beer)
Comment: Burst onto the national scene during last year's ABC Junior Championship...made immediate impact in his first season with Taiwan Beer in the A-League...a bully forward who's fearless on the court...aggressive on both ends...can score in traffic with his power and make baskets from outside...he's a total package...look for every chance he has to dominate the game...likely will make the national team roster this year...the most promising wing player since Chen Hsin-an...

6. HONG CHI-CHAO
(18, 188/74, PG, Ping-tung HS, Senior)
Comment: Great court vision and fundamentals...good size for a poing guard...more of an old-school pass-first PG, but he has good scoring ability...can score by himself when he needs to...transfer to Ping-tung HS from Ping-tung Agriculture HS after his sophomore year...will be the hottest PG prospect every A-League team wants to sign this summer after graduation...

7. CHOU SHI-YUAN
(17, 190/73, SF, San-min HS, Sophomore)
Comment: The most explosive scorer in high school...his confidence soared after last year's ABC Junior Championship, where Taiwanese NT finished 4th...showed better shot selection and shooting stroke this year...great speed and shooting touch makes him a dangerous scorer in transition...can shoot anywhere on the floor...needs to put on some weight to take opponents' banging and grabbing...

8. KER HONG-YAO
(18, 192/89, F, Nanshan HS, Senior)
Comment: This kid has the best low-post move in Taiwanese high school...tough and relentless on the floor...probably has to convert to small forward in the future because of his height disadvantage...

9. HUANG CHIH-CHUN
(19, 180/75, PG, Fujeng University Freshman/A-League Dacin)
Comment: Following a brilliant high school career, Huang did not make major impact in his first year in the A-League...it's OK since Dacin is loaded with experienced veterans like Cheng Chih-lung...with more experience and playing time, he will find his own niche in the upper competition...was a good combo guard in high school, scoring both from outside and penetration...

10. KUO LI-WEI
(17, 177/72, PG, Kao-yuan HS, Sophomore)
Comment: This formerly unknown exploded and shocked everyone this season...a smart lead guard who directs teammates, controls the tempo of the game and is a natural floor leader...good outside shooting...

11. HSU CHEN-WEN
(18, 196/105, C, Pin-tung HS, Senior)
Comment: Can post up and shoot from outside...occasionally made three-pointers and put the ball on the floor...attitude has been his problem...needs to work on defense...

12. KAO TIEN-CHI
(17, 176/70, PG, Yi-lan HS, Sophomore)
Comment: Another great point guard in this year's outstanding PG class, which includes San-min's Wu Yong-jen, Ping-tung's Hong-chi-chao, Kao-yuan's Kuo Li-wei and Chan-shu's Chen Shi-nien...Among these PGs, Kao is the best in breaking down opponent's defense...excels in drive-and-dish...perimeter shooting stands improvement...

13. CHUAN HSAO-WEN
(18, 192/73, F, San-min HS, Sophomore)
Comment: Blue-collar player on talented San-min HS team...his rebounding, defense and hustle are often overlooked in San-min's success...will be a big-time player when C Tien Lei, PG Wu Yong-jen and SG Lee Chi-shun graduate next year...

14. LO JUN-CHENG
(17, 195/93, F, Tsai-shin HS, Sophomore)
Comment: Foot injury kept him out for almost the entire year...still have the final year to prove himself...

15. WU YANG-HUEI
(19, 195/85, F, A-League Taiwan Beer)
Comment: Showed great poise and guts in his first year in the A-League after graduation from high school...fearless and relentless on both ends of the court in the veteran-laden A-League...this skinny kid will have a bright future if he can make smooth transition from PF to SF...


HONORABLE MENTIONS
WU YONG-JEN (18, 176/73, PG, San-min HS, Senior)
CHEN SHI-JAY (16, 173/65, PG, Tsai-shin HS, Freshman)
HSU CHIN-YONG (17, 192/81, F, Yi-lan HS, Sophomore)
WU CHIH-YUAN (17, 201/73, C, Chan-shu HS, Sophomore)
CHEN SHI-NIAN (17, 181/73, G, Chan-shu HS, Sophomore)
HSU HAO-CHEN (19, 177/72, PG, A-League Taiwan Beer)
KUO YAO-WEN (17, 186/71, G, Ping-tung HS, Sophomore)