As a Chicago-based NBA data analyst, I break down the 2024 draft’s most intriguing twist: will the Toronto Raptors take a bold leap at No. 9 with Chinese center Yang Hanshen—mirroring last year’s Memphis gamble on Iyin Ede? Using Synergy tracking data and player projection models, I analyze how pre-draft evaluations shift after workouts. The key? Positional scarcity, physical metrics, and team-specific fit—especially with Zion Williamson’s absence opening space in the paint. This isn’t just about rankings—it’s about strategy. Follow along for cold hard numbers behind the next big mid-round breakout.

As a former NBA scout and data analyst, I’ve seen how one player can unravel a draft strategy overnight. Yang Hanshen’s meteoric rise in pre-draft workouts isn’t just surprising—it’s terrifying for front offices. One moment he’s a mid-round wild card; the next, he’s flashing three-point range like a floor-spacer from the future. Now teams face a crisis of confidence: stick to their plan or gamble on a 20-year-old who might be the next Underrated Game-Changer? This is where analytics meets chaos—and ego meets evolution.

As a data analyst who tracks youth talent across global courts, I’ve seen few players match Yang Hanshen’s blend of size, IQ, and impact. At just 20, he’s already dominating domestic, Asian, international, and even NBA-level competition—making him the most complete young prospect China has produced since Yao Ming. This isn’t hype; it’s analytics-backed dominance.