Xiao “Smyle” Zhang was the final pickup for this Cyclone roster that is full of not only new faces, but international representation. Standing at a staggering 6-7, Zhang is coming in as the tallest player in Iowa State women’s basketball history, tied with 2013 WNBA draft pick Anna Prins.
While Bill Fennelly teams are generally known for their guards, when shown footage of the center, Fennelly knew he had to find a way to land her. Zhang averaged 12.4 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.5 blocks
per game at Beijing Normal University.
What does Zhang bring?
She’s six foot seven. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out the game plan for her, even though we have plenty of aerospace engineers at Iowa State. Opposing defenses will want to focus their attention on the surplus of guards that Iowa State provides, but they will have to figure out a way to stop a 6-7 center. By my count, there are only two opponents all season that have a player on their roster that can match or exceed Zhang’s height.
Sometimes with these very tall players, their mobility can be lacking and it can look like a giraffe trying to play basketball. That shouldn’t be the case for Zhang. In the exhibition game against Upper Iowa, Zhang recorded nine points, while going 5-of-7 from the free throw line. While post players aren’t known for their great FT%, if Zhang can shoot from even a 70% clip, that can remove any thought of a hack-a-shaq strategy. Zhang has some solid footwork on the post, and can apparently shoot the three a little bit? Why not?
How will Zhang be used?
This is still not rocket science. If Zhang gets herself in a good position on the post, the defense has a lose-lose scenario Iowa State fans should be very familiar with in recent seasons. If the defense stays one on one, then Zhang can use her height to win the majority of those contents. If the defense tries to send help, that is now an open shooter on the perimeter. In the long run, that is a lot of points for the Cyclones as long as both sides hold up their end of the deal.
Zhang still has enough mobility to reposition herself when the pass isn’t there, and I wouldn’t mind seeing her run some pick and rolls with Sienna Harvey and Ashleigh Connor. A mobile center is a rarity in basketball, so having one as a legitimate option could be huge for the Cyclones.
I expect Zhang to be in the starting lineup throughout the season, even if she splits her minutes more evenly with Tjaša Turnšek than some of the other starters with their counterparts. It’s not high level analysis to say that a 6-7 center throws a wrench into any opposing defensive gameplan, but this is an area that Bill Fennelly should not overthink. She’s the tallest person on the court (and potentially the building). Just find a way to give her the ball.
