Since then, Coach Hu trained him hands-on, launching Yu Dezhang’s basketball career. As Hu recalls, when Yu first joined team practices, he couldn’t even grip a basketball properly. But he was willing to work hard and figure things out, which made every step of his improvement massive.

Therefore, Yu brought his talent to basketball, and the transition came remarkably quick. Standing tall with a 6’10” wingspan and explosive power honed from shot put, he possessed a rare physical package. These advantages allowed him to quickly carve out his role in the paint. The results speak for themselves. In just three years, he helped his high school team secure second place in the Wenzhou City advanced division, then led his college squad to claim the provincial championship in their division. His rapid rise earned him a reputation as a“ freak of nature.”

◎ Grateful and Ready to Seize Opportunities

Yu is not sure if his talent is truly exceptional. He just knows that when the opportunity comes, he has to grab it. While other kids his age were enjoying the safety net of family support, young Yu was already helping to support his own education. During his high school years, he would take on part-time teaching assistant work during breaks, earning just 50 yuan (about $7) per session. This experience taught him how hard it was to earn a living, making him even more determined to change his destiny through his own efforts. Basketball was perhaps the only lifeline he could grasp at the time.

The basketball courts are not short on talent. He could only outwork others, put in extra practice, and convert his natural gifts into life-changing power.

Finally, on the stage of ZJBA, this 20-year-old has made a name for himself. He can not only support himself financially but has won the affection of his hometown folks. “I was just an ordinary kid growing up. People didn’t think I had much going for me, but basketball has put me in the spotlight. People like me now. I’ve become that model child parents always reference.” Now, when he walks down the street, people often recognize him and call out“ Zhuangzhuang”. That feeling of being acknowledged gives him a sense of belonging and pride. Even more touching, when he injured his foot, hometown fans from Pingyang County would bring him beef tendons and other supplements, expressing their love for their hero through the simple folk wisdom of“ eating what heals what you need”.