March Madness will finally feature a Chinese face.

Finally, the news came that Lin Wei had officially joined the University of Oregon. This summer, he was the most troubled among those young players opting to go overseas, but the end result turned out well.

After completing last season in the CBA and carrying playoff stats of 30.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 11 assists per game, Lin Wei embarked on his journey to try for the NBA. At under 22 years old, with a mature professional league background, he set off full of confidence.

However, reality was harsh. Before the draft, Lin Wei only secured a tryout opportunity with the Dallas Mavericks. His shooting during the tryout was impressive, which is his signature skill. But his slow lateral defense and relatively older age caused him to go undrafted at the NBA Draft.

In fact, before the draft, it was widely expected that Lin Wei would likely go undrafted. A shorter guard with weak defense makes it very difficult to get selected. What people hoped for was that Lin Wei could get a chance in the Summer League, similar to the opportunity Zeng Fanbo received.

But in the following Summer League, Lin Wei ultimately did not participate. He took part in the G League international player draft and was picked eighth by the Mavericks’ affiliate team, but he chose not to sign with the G League team. So where does Lin Wei’s future lie? Back to the CBA or to play in European leagues?

What surprised everyone was that Lin Wei eventually decided to compete in the U.S. college league, joining the basketball powerhouse University of Oregon. In recent years, Oregon has produced NBA players like “Dame” Pritchard, Dillon, and Bol Bol.

The University of Oregon was the champion of the first NCAA tournament and has remained competitive over the years, ranking 29th nationally last season and making it to the March Madness tournament, where they were eliminated by the University of Arizona in the round of 32.

When I saw the announcement about Lin Wei, my first reaction was that our Chinese players have a great chance to appear in the main March Madness tournament. Actually, Lin Wei had been in contact with Oregon about a month ago; it just took time to complete exams, visas, and eligibility reviews before the official announcement.

The NCAA not only requires players to have solid basketball skills but also demands certain academic standards, which might have been the toughest hurdle for Lin Wei. Fortunately, he passed the review and will be able to compete in next season’s NCAA games. Lin Wei’s debut for Oregon is expected around October 25th.

Next NCAA season, several young Chinese players will participate: Lin Wei will represent Oregon, while Wang Junjie and Zhao Weilen will compete together at the University of San Francisco. Domestic fans’ enthusiasm for NCAA will reach an all-time high.

More and more domestic players choose to compete in the NCAA not only to challenge higher-level leagues but also because of changes in NCAA’s player income policies. In 2021, the NCAA passed new rules allowing college athletes to profit from their name, image, and likeness rights. Top players can earn millions per season, significantly increasing student-athlete income.

This has directly led to more players opting to stay in the NCAA longer rather than entering the draft after just one year. The NCAA’s competition level is also continuously improving. Lin Wei joining Oregon should bring him an income comparable to staying in the CBA.

I’m not worried about whether Lin Wei will get enough playing time. Oregon recruited him because of his ability to average over 20 points per game for two consecutive seasons in the CBA; they won’t let him sit on the bench. Given Lin Wei’s shooting skills, adapting to the NCAA won’t be too difficult for him.

I still remember Lin Wei’s CBA debut vividly: 22 points, 8 rebounds, and 3 assists. In the final moments, he hit a mid-range bank shot that bounced three times on the rim before dropping in as the buzzer sounded. Proud and confident, Lin Wei ran to the court to embrace Xirelijiang, who kept him in the game.

Scoring a game-winning shot in his first professional game, I knew then that Lin Wei was destined for more. When he decided to go abroad this year, he said, “If I don’t go now, I’ll regret it when I’m older.”

No matter the final outcome, I hope Lin Wei has an unforgettable experience, to pursue his dreams and strive forward.