BYU Basketball Notebook: BYU on Short List for 7-Foot-5 China Center Xu Xin

My article prologues are running out as BYU continues its search for a starting caliber big man. The latest miss was Croatian Center Michael Ruzic, who went to LSU in a massive money deal. BYU offered Ruzic millions of dollars, but it didn’t match LSU’s offer. I tend to not throw out numbers I hear publicly, but the number I heard from one connected source is that Ruzic got more money from LSU than BYU paid AJ Dybantsa.

Luigi Suigo is still out there and has until June 13 to withdraw from the NBA Draft. BYU would absolutely love Suigo, but I’ve heard for weeks he’s likely Villanova bound if he goes the college route and nothing I’ve heard recently makes me think any differently from that.

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May 20-31 is a “dead period” for college basketball recruiting, meaning no in-person recruiting is permitted. Teams can still talk to players, just nothing in-person. That’s why this past week you’ve seen BYU host the Fathers and Sons Camp and head coaches are attending the Big 12 meetings this week.

There are lots of international big men out there, but BYU is looking to find one that is a Big 12 caliber player. Below is some of what I’m hearing, with a focus on a Chinese big man.

Xu Xin, China

Xu Xin is a 7-foot-5, 22-year old Chinese big man that plays basketball in the Chinese Basketball Association. Earlier this week in the GEHB Discord server I gave details about BYU’s interest him. Industry sources have told me that BYU and Ohio State are currently two schools that are most involved with Xin. I’ve heard Big East schools, Purdue, NC State, and UNC connected, but as of right now I don’t think they are pushing as much as much as BYU and Ohio State are. The big men market is incredibly fluid and that could change today, but that’s the latest of where I’ve heard things stand from people in the industry familiar with Xin’s recruitment.

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Xin’s top quality is that he is massive (duh). At 7-foot-5 he is a great rim protector, active on the offensive glass, and can finish around the basket. In 43 CBA games this season, he is averaging 10.9 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks on 72% shooting from the field. He shot 73% from the foul line, which shows that he has some shooting touch. One scout with whom I talked and has watched Xin gave me the below breakdown.

“He’s massive, moves well for his size, skilled, and definitely moves the needle as a skilled 5. Don’t think you necessarily have to slow down tempo as he can always be in trail as opposed to rim running. Potential issue is eligibility, like all international kids.”

Xin can move well for someone as big as he is, but there are times where teams can beat him down the floor or he can be exposed in switches. He’s probably exclusively a drop coverage big in PNR situations, which teams could exploit if they have guard that can hit pull-up jumpers.

The CBA has some good pro and ex-NBA players, but there’s an unknown element of how well he will translate to high-major college basketball until we see him. With his multi-years of pro experience and his size, I think Xin’s floor is at least being a serviceable big that provides rim protection and can rebound. Khadim Mboup is trending to be BYU’s backup center, which he played a lot this past season, and Mboup’s ability to switch 1-5 would offset some of Xin’s deficiencies.

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At this point, I’d be happy with a Xin pickup and think he could be at least competent as a starting five with more upside if his offensive game shows more than just putbacks and lobs, which the scout I talked with thinks he has.

You can watch highlights below.