FOR a nation of almost 1.4 billion, China’s history in the NBA has been limited.

Yao Ming was a No. 1 draft pick and genuine star with the Houston Rockets during an injury-ravaged yet still Hall of Fame career. But the four other Chinese basketballers who played in the league have had little impact.

It’s been nine years since a player from China even entered the NBA Draft, when Yi Jianlian went at pick six to the Bucks but found himself back in his homeland within five seasons with career averages of 7.9 points and 4.9 rebounds per game.

But a few years back a young giant with a huge wingspan emerged in the Orient, showcasing intimidating shot-blocking ability, solid ball-handling and a soft shooting touch. His name is Zhou Qi.

In the final of the 2011 FIBA Asia Under-16 championships, Qi announced himself to the world by pouring in 43 points and grabbing 19 rebounds in a 92-52 win against a helpless South Korean team.

Nicknamed “The Big Devil King”, Qi continued to grow, eventually stopping the tape at a monstrous 218cm. It wasn’t long before he was playing, and playing well, against the likes of Jianlian in the Chinese Basketball Association and becoming a key member of the senior national team.

Averages of 15.8 points, 9.8 rebounds and 3.2 blocks per game this season in a league that features several former NBA players gave the now 20-year-old the confidence he’s ready to mix it with the best players in the world and so he entered this year’s NBA Draft.

Zhou Qi, 20 years old (China), unofficially has largest wingspan (7'7.75") + standing reach (9'4.5") at '16 combine pic.twitter.com/lJHhEbvojz — NBA Draft (@NBADraft) May 11, 2016

Qi turned heads with his freakish size at the NBA Draft Combine this week when his wingspan was measured at more than 230cm and his standing reach was only a hand short of a basketball ring.

That puts him in the same bracket as noted NBA shot-blockers like Utah’s Rudy Gobert and Miami’s Hassan Whiteside — although Qi has nowhere the same bulk or athleticism as that duo.

Asian sports blogger Ren Hsieh argued Qi would be a project player from a physical point of view.

“Qi currently weighs only 95kg. Compare that to New York Knicks rookie Kristaps Porzingis, a player to which Qi shares some similarities, who was considered too skinny at 220cm, 104kg,” Hsieh wrote.

“One thing you can say about Porzingis, even if he is too skinny right now, he plays with fire. He wants to be great. Qi seems to lack motor, and you can’t be 95kg AND lack motor. This is the kind of kid Draymond Green would eat like my dad at the steak station at Golden Corral. Qi trying to post-up Draymond would have the poor kid setting up at half-court.”

Hsieh also argued Qi’s numbers in the Chinese league weren’t particularly impressive when compared to what Michael Beasley put up (31.9 points, 13.2 rebounds) before being recalled to the NBA by the Houston Rockets.

So where will he fall in the draft and what is his long-term projection as a player?

Hou Wie, the chairman at Qi’s Chinese club Xinjian Flying Tigers, told the Beijing Times he was reluctant to part with the star centre.

“We believe the time isn’t right [for him], but he himself wanted to give it a try,” he said.

But draftexpress.com currently has Qi going at pick 28 and most other predictions have him landing towards the end of the first round or early in the second.

Reaping the financial benefits of giving a home to the next Chinese star could also be a consideration. “While Qi isn’t going to be the next Yao Ming, he does look like a very draftable prospect, especially for a franchise that would like to enter the Chinese marketplace,” Basketball Insiders Steve Kyler wrote.

“With so many teams holding multiple picks in the first round, there is a real chance that Qi is one of the first 30 picks on draft night. He’s a dare-to-be-great selection late in the first round.”