With four months to go until the 2007 NBA Draft, China's top prospect Yi Jianlian is shaping up as a likely lottery pick.

The 19-year-old took the Guangdong Tigers to a first place finish in the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) regular season on Sunday as Boston Celtics' General Manager Danny Ainge looked on.

Ainge had announced that Yi was the reason for his coming to China.

"I hope I could get a read on him even if the competition isn't the best," Ainge told the Boston Globe. "He's more of a four-man 'power forward' who can shoot it, block shots. He's putting up some good numbers over there."

Yi registered his 10th double-double of the season with 28 points and 10 rebounds during Guangdong's win. Despite the CBA's relatively modest level, Ainge believed he could judge the player's quality.

"I remember seeing film of Kobe Bryant in high school and that wasn't the best competition," Ainge said. "But there are always things you can evaluate."

The Boston chief is on a global hunt for talent following his team's worst-ever showing this season. The 16-time NBA champions are currently on a humiliating 14-game losing streak, and rank bottom of the league with 12 wins and 34 losses.

Ainge has not publicly spoken of his interest in the 2.10-meter forward but this did nothing to dampen speculation in local media.

"Yi on target with the Celtics," reported Sina.com, while newspaper Titan Sports said "Yi slams in front of Boston manager Ainge."

However, experts warned that a mere visit by a general manager does not automatically mean a draft pick.

"I think Ainge just wants to take a look at Yi. It doesn't mean the Celtics already has a plan to recruit him with four months to go," said Xia Song, an agent who has worked with Menk Bateer and Wang Zhizhi, two other Chinese basketball stars.

Xia believes the Boston side may well obtain a top three pick due to its poor record this season with Greg Oden will be their first choice.

Yi is no stranger to talent spotters like Ainge. He was on the Chinese Olympic team in 2004, which was coached by Dallas Mavericks assistant Del Harris, before appearing as a mainstay at the World Championships in Japan in August and the Asian Games in December.

Despite the team's limited international success, Yi is highly rated by US scouts. Leading draft website NBADraft.net predicts the teenager could stand at seventh position in a strong draft.

On his home court Yi averaged 20.5 points and 9.6 rebounds last season to lead Guangdong to their third consecutive national championships. This season marked further improvement to 24.4 points and 12.3 rebounds this season.

(China Daily February 6, 2007)