OAKLEAF - As a two-time Clay Today boys basketball player of the year, Oakleaf High's Jonathan Bryant was a slashing, shooting master of the paint basketball player with immense jumping ability, good height and a knack for lightning fast steps to the basket.
Now, at age 27, Bryant is a marquis international basketball player that has had recent success in Montenegro (Susanj team) where he still racks up the points at 20 points per game at a 60 percent shooting average, still 80 percent in free throws and a solid 9-10 rebounds per game.
Bryant lit up the nets for high games of 33 points in is first game in December 2023 with his average staying in the 20-30 points range all the way to April 2024.
From that work block, Bryant is now taking his game further overseas with an offer to play in China in the next international season in a move that will, hopefully, bringing him one step closer to his ultimately goal; playing in the National Basketball Association in America.
"I leave to China on Sunday (August 10)," said Bryant, who was home in Oakleaf for the weekend. "I've been training here for a few days, getting sharp to go there."
Bryant, a 2023 graduate of University of Tampa, with a stint at University of Tennessee-Chattanooga, said his connection to the China Basketball Association was mainly a social media find.
"I didn't go through my agent for this one, kind of talked with China on my social media apps," said Bryant. "They made contact, got film and made an offer."
Bryant said China's professional basketball entails two levels of league play; A Super 3 League (3 v 3); the Men's 3 x 3 Basketball Super League and a China Basketball Association (CBA) league.

"The Super Three is where I am, the CBA is where a lot of the NBA guys in America have played before," said Bryant. "I was told by the Super Three team that a few months of good play with them will generate interest in the CBA and that's kind of my plan."
In Nanjing, China, the Super Three Leagues; mens and womens, are considered a precursor to the China Basketball Association after their development in 2022.
In a press interview in Xinhua.net, CBA president and former NBA Houston Rocket eight-time All Star Yao Ming, who played at an astounding 7'-6" center in the NBA, called the Super 3 League "both the first and the highest-level professional 3 x 3 basketball league in China."
Ming, who was a Houston Rocket all star for eight seasons before injuries ended his career, also noted that 3 x 3 basketball is also an Olympic sport.
"If there is a barrier, we need to break it," said Ming. "More basketball players can have the chance to show their talent on a bigger stage."
Bryant thought there might be one more American on his team in China.
"I'm not sure, but we'll find out when I meet the team this week," said Bryant. "I know maybe three words in Chinese."
Bryant's passion for the game has always been at a high level and his want to travel has made the passion even more fruitful.'
"I'm living the dream, traveling around the world and still playing basketball with my ultimately goal still able to be achieved," said Bryant. "My body has been resilient through constant training and my mind is still good to go. If God keeps me going, I'll keep working."
Bryant's travel and living expenses are part of his package as well as a stipend to play with bonuses up to $16,000 for a league title and others for statistics enhancements and team wins.
Notwithstanding Yao Ming's stature as one of the tallest players ever in international basketball, Bryant's 6'-4" status is still competitive in the international spectrum.
"Height is just one part of my package, but the China game is very strong, fast-moving and competitive with a big push of four quarters of conditioning," said Bryant. "I've been taking smart steps to stay in shape with rest at proper moments and I think my physical readiness is always good."
One player Bryant may get to get elbows with at some point is former Oakleaf High teammate Nassir Little, who is at the Chiba Jets of the Japanese B League after a storied career at University of North Carolina and in the NBA with the Portland Trail Blazers and the Phoenix Suns.
Little, 25, left Oakleaf after playing two years with Bryant to finish his high school at Orlando Christian Prep with two state titles.