To build a stronger team, he has also set up elaborate training and competition systems, as well as a specific development plan for the players.

There are rules and regulations for the players' accommodation, dining and competition trips outside campus. Additionally, all of them are required to attend regular academic classes on time and conduct basketball training mainly in the morning and after school.

"Excellence demands hard work, and an excellent student athlete should do well in both study and sports," says Zhang.

At around 5:30 am, the girls get up and practice some basic basketball skills, including dribbling, passing and shooting. After 1 hour and 30 minutes of training, they have breakfast and return to normal classes.

In recent years, some student athletes have been admitted to universities for their specialty in basketball, and some found ideal jobs on the back of their sporting ability.

So far, Zhang has developed over 40 national class-A basketball players and more than 100 class-B athletes from the women's basketball team.

"Each player is like a sapling, and they are the hope of a family," he says.