90 to 72! First World Cup victory! China's four-character prodigy emerges

A victory, a strong start.

In the first game of the 2026 U17 World Cup group stage, China comfortably defeated Cameroon 90-72.

It is worth noting that, prior to the match, the official FIBA U17 men's basketball strength rankings placed Cameroon 12th and China 13th.

China's statistics are as follows:

The team made 31 of 69 field goals, including 9 of 32 three-pointers, and 19 of 24 free throws, grabbing 41 rebounds (17 offensive), dishing out 26 assists while committing 14 turnovers.

Cameroon's statistics are as follows:

The team hit only 5 of 18 three-pointers, with low volume and poor quality, posing almost no outside threat. Their teamwork was limited, committing 15 turnovers against just 11 assists.

In this game, Zhangyi Zhaojie was undoubtedly the standout player, shooting 10 of 16 from the field, easily scoring 23 points at an impressive 62.5% shooting rate, along with 3 rebounds, 6 assists, and 2 steals, boasting a plus-minus of +30, a class of his own.

This guy has a diverse offensive arsenal, combining drives and shots with some playmaking ability—currently the top star of the Chinese team.

Zhangyi Zhaojie was born on March 31, 2010, standing 2.03 meters tall as a forward swingman between positions three and four. He currently belongs to the Shanghai youth team and is undoubtedly the best among peers in his age group in the country.

A promising future—another talented prospect worth watching.

One day, we might see the 16-year-old Zhangyi Zhaojie embark on an overseas journey, first playing in American high school, then competing in the NCAA, with the ultimate goal being the NBA. The Shanghai team has enough financial resources and patience to support his dream.

Back to the Chinese team, the roster for this year's U17 World Cup is as follows:

Shi Minghao, Chen Yuxiu, Zhang Yuchen, Tu Hanzhi, Zhang Chunzhi, Lyu Feiyan, Zhangyi Zhaojie, Zhang Ziyi, Zhao Boxin, Liu Xuanyu, Xie Fangyu, and Yao Jiaze.

Remember these fierce waves of the next generation—they are the future. Even if only two or three of them can establish themselves in the senior national team, it will be a huge gain.

China's next two group stage opponents are the real tough challenges, much harder to face than Cameroon: Canada and Lithuania. Just go all out.