'Intern' puts in the work for Team China

A different path

His natural gifts of size and athleticism, coupled with hard work sharpening the fundamentals, helped Wang shine on the global stage after he was enrolled in the NBA Global Academy in Canberra in 2022 to train under veteran Australia National Basketball League coach Marty Clarke along with top international prospects.

At NBA's Basketball Without Borders Global Camp in February 2023, Wang stood out from a strong field that included current NBA stars Josh Giddey (Chicago Bulls) and Dyson Daniels (Atlanta Hawks), turning scouts' heads and earning offers from seven DCAA D1 college teams.

He eventually signed with the San Francisco Dons in April 2023 to become the first NBA Academy alumni from China to sign with a D1 program.

"Barry possesses great size and a skillset that gives him a chance to be an instant fan favorite here on the Hilltop. His work ethic, personality and high basketball IQ will make him a huge asset, both on and off the court," the Dons' head coach Chris Gerlufsen said in 2023 of Wang's arrival.

The road to the top, however, was a steep climb that has tested Wang's resilience to the limit.

"I barely felt pressure from my peers in China," Wang admitted in The Paper interview.

"Then I went from being the best to nearly the worst overnight. I felt tiny as dust. From starter, to almost the last man on the bench, it was frustrating."