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Yi Jianlian SELECTED BY: Milwaukee Bucks, Round 1(6)

SI Grade 9 10 - Worthy of top pick 9 - Top 10 pick 8 - Late lottery pick 7 - Mid first round 6 - Late first round 5 - End of first/Start of second round 4 - First half of second round 3 - Middle of second round 2 - Late second round 1 - Fringe draft pick to free agent Close

BIOGRAPHY: Yi is expected to be the next great Chinese player in the NBA. He's been scouted extensively by many NBA teams and already owns an endorsement deal with Nike. Yi first became known to American fans when he was invited to the prestigious ABCD Camp in Teaneck, N.J. in 2002, when he was reportedly 14 years old. He was the MVP of China's ABCD camp in May 2002. Two months later in New Jersey, Yi impressed many NBA scouts with his performance against top college talent. Yi's age is a major question. He is currently considered to be 19 years old, but there have been reports that he is actually between three to five years older. Yi played with Houston Rockets star Yao Ming for the Chinese national team in the 2004 Olympics and the 2006 world championships. He averaged 6.2 points and 5.7 rebounds for China in the world championships and his best effort was a 13-point, seven-rebound effort in a 121-90 loss to the United States on Aug. 20. Domestically, Yi played for the Guangdong Tigers in the Chinese Basketball Association. He helped lead the Tigers to three straight CBA titles from 2004-06 and averaged 24.9 points and 11.5 rebounds this past season, but the club fell in the finals to the Bayi Rockets. Yi had five dunks in one game with Boston Celtics general manager Danny Ainge in attendance. Yi is an outstanding shot-blocker, defender and scorer, but his inside game lacks polish. Still, Yi should be an immediate contributor in the NBA and could blossom into a player close to Yao's caliber.