Zhu stakes his claim in new look U19s

Young prospect expected to be pivotal to Team China's future development

Impressing with his smooth ball-handling, acrobatic layups, as well as his overgrown afro hairstyle, the young guard looks no different to any of his American-born peers who pattern their game, and style, on NBA legends like Allen Iverson.

Except for the bold letters spelling out "CHINA" emblazoned on his chest, that is.

The player in the spotlight during a warm-up game between China's under-19 team and Serbian club IBC was Zhu Zheng, an intriguing prospect, who goes by the name Jacob in the United States, and who's gained wide attention across China's basketball community for having opted to represent his father's native country after developing his game in the US.