Career
He is currently projected to be a first round talent in the 2016 National Basketball Association draft. Zhou first gained international notice during the 2011 International Basketball Federation U-16 World Championship in Turkey, where he first recorded a considerably unprecedented triple-double of 41 points, 28 rebounds, and 15 blocks in a 94-90 semifinals victory against Germany. He then followed up that performance with a showing of 30 points, 17 rebounds, and 8 blocks in a close 67-66 victory against the host nation in the championship round.
A year later, Zhou would participate with the Chinese national team in the 2012 Albert Schweitzer Tournament.
During the event, Zhou would average 16.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 4.2 blocks in 28.2 minutes of action per game. He would also participate in the 2012 International Basketball Federation Under-17 World Championship in Lithuania, the 2013 International Basketball Federation U-19 World Championship in the Czechoslovakian Republic, and the 2015 Nike Hoop Summit.
Before beginning his, Zhou was scouted by multiple United States. universities as a potential center for one of their teams at hand. However, he would end up signing a three-year deal worth $744,000 American to play for the Xinjiang Flying Tigers.
During his first season with Xinjiang, he would first play for the team by coming off the bench for the team after Tang Zhengdong started for the team during some games for them.
Later on in the season, though, Zhou would end up overtaking Tang for the starting center role for the Flying Tigers. In his rookie season with the league, he ended up leading the entire league in blocks, averaging 3.29 per game throughout the entire season. He also recorded 14.06 points on 69.6% shooting, 6.97 rebounds, 0.84 steals, and 0.74 assists out of 29.1 minutes of action.
Zhou Qi would first make his professional debut with the Chinese national team during the 2014 Asian Games at Incheon, South of Korea.
After a somewhat disappointing showing at the Asian Games, he would return for the 2015 International Basketball Federation Asia Championship in Changsha, China. During this event, Zhou would prove himself as a valuable leader for China, as he would help lead China in a close 76-73 victory over South of Korea, provide a double-double against the Philippines, and be the second-best shot blocker throughout the event behind only Quincy Davis.
As a result of his performances combined with China remaining undefeated throughout the event, he was one of three Chinese players to be named onto the International Basketball Federation Asia Tournament All-Star team
