Basketball star Zhu Mingzhen snubs Uganda for China

Zhu Mingzhen is not the typical name of the ones who got away from Ugandan basketball but the 23-year-old will end up the list if he goes on to fulfill the promise that's prompted his historic call-up to the Chinese national team.

Mingzhen's story is kind of familiar though, a what-if episode of a basketball talent that slipped through the fingers of Uganda.

It harkens back to John Baligwaire in 2015 - a scoring machine ruled out of the historic Silverbacks Afrobasket campaign on a curious technicality. It recalls the cases of Jean Marc Mwemwa, who turned down Uganda for Belgium and the gifted Anyang Garang, born in Uganda but opted for Australia.

Patrick Nyeko and Steffan Musoke are some of the other Silverbacks could-have-beens who felt better keeping their talents away from Ugandan service.
 
The Gazelles have been alerted to the abilities of 17 year-old Tamia Nambi, chasing a WNBA dream in America. The sooner she's locked up the better.

All of which leads to the question, how good is Mingzhen?
The answer, from Uganda's perspective is terrifying. Mingzhen, son of a Ugandan father and Chinese mother, appears a special talent. That's the obvious inference from his position in this year's Chinese draft and his historic inclusion on Team Dragon.

The 6ft6 guard  is the first player of mixed race to be summoned to the Chinese national team, which will soon embark on qualification for the 2021 Olympics. The 24-man provision squad assembling tomorrow for training camp will also form the basis of selection for the FIBA 2023 World Cup and 2024 Olympics teams.

Mighzen, also called William, was selected with the number two pick by Guangzhou Loong Lions from Pecking University and appears destined for a long career for China, ranked 28 in the World.

That's way higher than the 101st ranked  Silverbacks, who will to settle for watching another elite talent of Ugandan heritage employed elsewhere.

The Silverbacks are due to compete in the Afrobasket qualifiers although the November schedule increasingly looks likely to be disaffected by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.