TikTok, Kyrie Irving, YGOS: Yong Zhi’s Basketball Love Story

For Yong Zhi, basketball isn’t just a game, it’s everything. “It gives me a sense of belonging,” he said. “I can play without anyone judging me. And my teammates, they support me. That’s why I love it.”

His burning passion for basketball began in an unexpected way

One day, while lying on his bed scrolling through TikTok, he stumbled upon an NBA highlight edit. Something about it clicked. He picked up the ball he had at home and started shooting at the condo court near his house. Soon, he was playing every day and hasn’t stopped ever since.

Now, he wakes up early just to squeeze in practice before school. Sometimes he even plays in the dark, before the lights come on at 7:45am.

Like many aspiring players, he has his heroes. Kyrie Irving tops the list. “Not just because he’s good,” Yong Zhi explained, “but because of the courage he shows in the choices he makes, on and off the court.” 

Basketball also brought him to YGOS

“I was playing with my sister when one of the staff asked us to drop by. We went back to the centre, and from then on, I just kept coming.”

Before YGOS, Yong Zhi admits he was very competitive. With the gentle guidance of his mentor Stephanie, he began to see things differently.

“I think I matured. Last time I didn’t really know right from wrong. I just said whatever was in my head. Like when I play games, I’d call people “trash” or criticise them directly. Now I think twice before I talk. I try to encourage people, tell them how to improve and I give them chances to win.”

That change showed up in school too

Recently, at a sports carnival, he made a point to guide his teammates instead of going solo. After the game, his form teacher came up to him and said he could see how much Yong Zhi had changed, less focused on himself and more intent on helping the whole team succeed.

His dreams for the future?

When asked about his future, Yong Zhi is clear. “My dream is to be an international basketball player. Not NBA, that is too unrealistic, but maybe something like FIBA in Asia.”

At the same time, he is already thinking about a plan B. Inspired by his own teachers, he hopes to one day teach math or science in a secondary school. “I see how much my teachers enjoy what they do. I want to enjoy my job like that too.”

Basketball…and life…is more than just a game

For now, Yong Zhi still spends most of his free time on the court, whether at school, at home, or at the centre. But his story is about more than basketball. It is about growth and discovering the joy of lifting others up.

“What I’ve learnt from playing in a team is that the game is never just about one person. It’s about everyone improving together.”

Because life is bigger than any one of us, and what matters most are the people we grow with along the way.