The Oregon Ducks already felt like a men’s college basketball sleeper in both the Big Ten race and the wider national picture entering the 2025-26 season. Oregon returns its two leading scorers — point guard Jackson Shelstad and center Nate Bittle — from a 25-win team a year ago that won a game in the NCAA tournament. On Thursday, the Ducks’ roster got even stronger with a late addition who was playing professionally earlier this year.
Chinese guard Lin Wei committed to the Ducks, his agency announced. The 6’2 guard played this past season in the Chinese Basketball Association for the Nanjing Monkey Kings, averaged 21 points, five assists, 3.3 rebounds, and 1.4 steals in 34 games. Wei is 21 years old, and he’s immediately eligible for play for Oregon this upcoming season.
Wei played alongside former college stars Kendric Davis (SMU, Memphis), Tacko Fall (UFC), Jalen Harris (Nevada), and T.J. Leaf, the former UCLA star who became a first-round NBA Draft pick in 2017. He spent the summer playing hitting the international circuit at events like Adidas EuroCamp, and garnered enough interest to be selected No. 8 overall in the G League Draft by the Texas Legends.
He measured at 6’1 ¾“ barefoot, 191 lbs with a 6’2” wingspan and 7’11 ¼” standing reach, according to Jon Chepkevich of Draft Express. He flashed pull-up shooting ability and quickness off the bounce during his run at Eurocamp this year. You can watch his highlights here:
College basketball is often all about guard play, and Oregon suddenly has a loaded backcourt. Shelstad is one of the best guards in the sport, and should be primed for a fantastic junior year with his gifted creation ability off the dribble. TJ Simpkins also transfers in from Elon as a 6’5 guard who can get to the foul line on offense and likely depends the other opposition’s best ball handler. Now Wei comes in as another shot-creating guard who put up big numbers against solid competition as a pro in China. When you pair that perimeter with a stud big man like Bittle, Oregon suddenly looks really good.
Wei’s arrival to Oregon marks the first time a former Chinese pro has ever played college basketball. He follows fellow Chinese star Yang Hansen, the big man who was drafted No. 16 overall by the Portland Trail Blazers. We named Hansen has one of Cooper Flagg’s five biggest challengers for 2026 NBA Rookie of the Year.
I think Oregon looks like an Elite Eight team right now with Wei on board. The Ducks are going to be tested every night in the Big Ten. It’s going to be a great college season.
