Wang Shaojie (R) takes over the banner of "No. 1 Pick" from the CBA chairman Yao Ming after being selected as the first overall pick in the 2019 CBA Draft in Shanghai on July 29, 2019. (Xinhua/Ding Ting)
The 2019 CBA Draft has selected Peking University forward Wang Shaojie as the first overall pick, while for the first time in history to have all top three picks being college players.
BEIJING, July 29 (Xinhua) -- Peking University forward Wang Shaojie was selected by the Beijing Begcl Basketball Club as the first overall pick in the 2019 China Basketball Association Draft on Sunday in Shanghai.
The 23-year-old Wang, who is 2.05 meters tall and tipping the scales at 105 kilos, averages 14.5 points, 7 rebounds, and 1.2 block shots, according to the data from Chinese University Basketball Association.
The CUBA releases a poster of Wang Shaojie after the PKU forward is selected as the first overall pick in the 2019 CBA Draft in Shanghai on July 29, 2019.
Having led his team to win the CUBA League title and capture the third Grand Slam in June 2019, Wang impressed audiences in a dominating fashion, which brought him the Most Valuable Player Award, after he swept the CBA All-Star Weekend earlier in the year.
"It is a breakthrough though there's still a huge gap between me and professional players," he said.
"Actually, I don't have a clear target for the new season as I need to hone my defending skills and make sure that I can show good form on the court."
All 16 picks in the CBA draft are presented alongside with the CBA chairman Yao Ming and NBA star Jeremy Shu-How Lin in Shanghai on July 29, 2019. (Xinhua/Wang Xiang)
This is the first time in CBA Draft history that the top three picks have all been college players, with Wang snatching the first place, followed by Sun Siyao from California State University and Yuan Tangwen from Xiamen University.
