WOMEN'S basketball may have found a star with massive potential - in more ways than one.
Chinese teenager Zhang Ziyu is being tipped to be the female Yao Ming after her highlights went viral.
Zhang and her 7-foot-3 frame have been leading China to impressive wins at the FIBA U18 Women's Asia Cup in Shenzen.
The 17-year-old centre towered over the opposition in a viral compilation, racking up points and making blocks.
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Zhang went 9-for-9 in China's 109-50 opening-game demolition of Indonesia, scoring 19 points in 13 minutes, with seven rebounds.
She put up 36 points, 13 rebounds and four blocks in a 90-68 win over New Zealand.
And that was followed by a 44-point, 14-rebound showing in an 87-81 win over Japan.
"Zhang Ziyu, aka WNBAâs next Yao Ming," a fan posted on X.
"Sheâs going to make thousands of dollars in the WNBA," added another.
"She does have good touch very impressive," a third posted.
Zhang is from Shangdong province and both her parents played pro basketball in China.
According local reports, she was 5 feet 2 inches tall at 7 and had hit 6-foot-9 by the time she was 12.
"There are some things we can't control. I regard it as a gift to me," Zhang told FIBA.
"I can easily reach the basket. But basketball is definitely more than that. I have to learn a lot."
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The sky's the limit for this determined student.
