bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

hooksAmpRedirectArticle

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

moreOnThisArticles

urlAlias

commentCount

authorLocations

authors

corrections

sponsorType

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

socialHeadline

headline

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

publishedDate

additionalInfoBoxes

images

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

createdDate

sponsor

paywallTypes

pdfFiles

seriesReverseOrder

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

readingTime

customTimezone

liveContents

Mike Chan

Ivan Yang Bo-wen said representing Hong Kong at the National Games in November would be an honour if selected, and he was aiming to help put local basketball “on the map”.
The 22-year-old, who has recently signed for local side Eastern, said he wanted to inspire the next generation to play the game he “fell in love” with as a child.
Making the Hong Kong squad would “mean everything”, the six-foot, six- inch (198 centimetres) forward added.
“I want to put Hong Kong basketball on the map,” Yang said. “It’s not easy, but I’m willing to put in the work to help my team to be in the best position possible.”
The city’s men’s under-22 squad for the Games has not yet been finalised but Yang was said to be in contention, despite spending the past few years in the United States.

“Hong Kong is my hometown. I was taught and grew up here, so it feels like an obligation for me to give back to the community,” Yang, who will be 22 in June said.
“Playing at the national level is not just for me; it’s representing my city, my people and everyone who believes in me, has faith in me, and helped put me in this situation. I want to prove that this city can compete at a high level.”
A graduate of Hiram College, a Division III school in Ohio, Yang averaged 9.5 points per game and 7.6 rebounds in 25 appearances for the Terriers last season, and was already on the Basketball Association of Hong Kong, China’s radar as a potential addition to the senior men’s team.
Yang has also been tipped to “become a top five” player in Hong Kong, by a consultant involved in the Asian basketball scene.
The Hong Kong-born forward described himself as a “relentless rebounder, I crash every possession.”
“On the offensive end, I like setting screens, hard rolling and creating contact,” he added. “But I need to work on my shooting consistency and the mental part. I also need to learn how to be more physical, how to use my body and initiate contact as I get into foul trouble sometimes.”
After attending Yew Chung International School in Beijing for seven years, he spent another year and a half at YCIS Hong Kong before moving to the IMG Academy in Florida in 2018.
Yang described himself as a “skinny teen” at little more than 150 pounds (68 kilograms) and 6 feet 1 inch (1.85 metres) tall when he left for the United States.

“I was not athletic. If you think of a shooter, rebounder, defender or ball handler, I was never even considered average,” he said. “As a really skinny Asian kid, going to the US, people often just doubt your skills and stuff.
“But I work harder every single day and work on my fundamentals and learn how to be a better team player.”
Yang first picked up a basketball as a seven- or eight-year-old under the influence of his father, Yang Wei, who played for Beijing Sports University before also coaching the team.
While it started as “filling in dad’s shoes and following in his footsteps”, the sport has since become a “way of life”.
“It challenges me physically every day, pushes me mentally and teaches me a lot of valuable life lessons that go beyond,” Yang said. “Each player has to go 100 per cent on the court and that applies to life, too.”
Yang is expected to feature predominantly in the local A1 Division league, as well as potential outings in the East Asia Super League and the Commissioner’s Cup of the Philippines Basketball Association, when his contract with Eastern starts on June 1 – but he is taking nothing for granted.
“As a rookie, I’m just trying to learn, grow and develop as a player,” he said. “So, first for me is to absorb because the professional level is way different from high school or college, I have to learn how to adapt.”


Hong Kong triathletes challenged to book National Games spots at Asian Sprint Championships

Hong Kong young gun wants to help put local basketball ‘on the map’ ahead of National Games

Issues to fix for National Games cross-border races, says Hong Kong official

National Games: here’s how you can represent Hong Kong in a mass participation event

2025 National Games

New Hong Kong Eastern signing Ivan Yang playing for Hiram College. Photo: Handout

Ivan Yang playing for Hong Kong Eastern, who he joined in the summer. Photo: Eastern

Ivan Yang at nine years old, already showing his love for basketball. Photo: Ivan Yang

Sport

Basketball

Hong Kong

Ivan Yang says representing the city at National Games would be an honour, and wants to inspire the next generation to play the sport


Ivan Yang says representing the city at National Games would be an honour, and wants to inspire the next generation to play the sport.
