South Korean National Team 2013 Jones Cup Roster

South Korea National Team for the 35th William Jones Cup

 

Head coach Yoo Jae-Hak recently narrowed down the national team pool to 13 players for the 35th Williams Jones Cup to be held in Taiwan on July 6 to July 14, 2013.  The 13 man squad that is as follows:

 

Yang Dong-Geun (Ulsan Mobis Phoebus)
Kim Tae-Sol (Anyang KGC)
Park Chan-Hee (Anyang KGC)
Kim Sun-Hyung (Seoul SK Knights)
Kim Min-Koo (Kyung Hee University)
Moon Tae-Young (Ulsan Mobis Phoebus)
Lee Seung-Jun (Wonju Dongbu Promy)
Cho Sung-Min (Busan Sonicboom KT)
Yoon Ho-Young (Wonju Dongbu Promy)
Kim Joo-Sung (Wonju Dongbu Promy)
Choi Bo-Kyung (Seoul SK Knights)
Kim Jong-Kyu (Kyung Hee University)
Lee Jong-Hyun (Korea University)

 

Yoo cut Lee Seung-Hyun (Korea University), Moon Seung-Gon (Korea University) and Ki Seung-Ho (Changwon LG Sakers) to narrow down the pool into thirteen players. Lee Jong-Hyun, who suffered a nasal fracture while playing for his school, was sidelined for six months after reconstructive surgery. His condition has been improving which was better than expected. Lee will be with the team in the Jones Cup.

 

Lee (Left) Yoo Jae-Hak (Middle) Moon (Right)

 

Naturalized players Lee Seung Jun aka Eric Sandrin and Moon Tae-Young aka Gregory Stevenson are in the lineup as Yoo Jae-Hak has found it a most difficult choice to choose between the two. Unlike in 2011 where Hur Jae, then the head coach of the men’s national team opted for Moon’s older brother, Moon Tae-Jong as the naturalized player; over Lee Seung-Jun. Since Moon and Lee are considered naturalized and under FIBA stipulations that only one naturalized player per team, Yoo will decide between the two after the Jones Cup concludes.

 

 

 

 

South Korea National Team 2013 Preview: Kim Tae-Sol

5’11, built tough. Chiseled from the core into those brooding biceps, having the build of a rugby player. A pure point guard, tough as nails and is the KBL’s best defensive point guard. Takes a lot of contact, able to finish with an AND 1 even against those hulking foreign players.

Sounds like a mainstay for the South Korean national team right? Would you believe that despite Kim’s tenacity and physical gifts, this is the second time in four years that Kim Tae-Sol would suit up for the national team? The last being four years ago, in Athens where Korea was playing in the Olympic qualification wildcards. In 2012, Kim got his break back as his head coach, Lee Sang-Beom was named head coach of the national team, a week after winning the KBL championship with Anyang KGC’s youth core of Park Chan-Hee, Lee Jung-Hyun and Oh Sek-Eun.

In that championship team, Kim alongside teammate Yang Hee-Jong were considered the veterans of the team. Fast forward training camp, Lee Sang Beom named his most trusted point guard: Kim as the second quarter back of the team. Yang Dong-Geun was a lock, no South Korean team would be fighting against stronger nations without the arsenal at point. Next came Kim as he was personally handpicked by his coach.

“Kim can break aggressive traps and presses against Russia and the Dominican Republic” said Lee Sang Beom with a vouch of confidence. It was the return of Kim to the national team. Four years of absence, has been way too long. He saw teammates Park Chan-Hee a student of his and under his mentorship being named since 2009 until this day. Oh Sek-Eun, a current teammate was a beast in college and Korea’s most potent rebounding weapon. Yang Hee-Jong, a close friend, figured in as a wingman for the national team.

There is no sour-graping for Kim as he looks back in all those years where he could have had made a difference. He is just happy to be back with the national team, armed with the respect and acknowledgement of the circle of coaches in the KBL.

“Full Court Press for 40 minutes” exclaimed Yoo Jae-Hak. Kim is up to the challenge. That bruising physique is as quick as anyone in the team. Can keep up with gazettes like Park Chan-Hee and Kim Sun-Hyung. Can guard bigger teammates like Cho Sung-Min and Moon Tae-Young. When Yoo was drafting a defensive identity, he had Kim in mind. Yang Dong-Geun was the spitfire in offense and Kim will be the motor of the defense. Guards from the Middle East are bigger than the KBL and perhaps just as quick. You can see from his eyes that he is up to the challenge as his normal laid back demeanor as seen in his instagram and other social media accounts, turns into a prowling predator that can press and take bumps given a full court situation.

Kim maybe rigorous, but he can put on a show with those alley-oops you normally see in the NBA. Kim, never being teammates with Lee Seung-Jun, instantly developed that two man chemistry that will have you draw stark comparisons to Stockton-to-Malone, Payton-to-Kemp, CP3-to-Griffin and then some. Look beyond that physique, you can see a pure point with the finesse passing game; able to thread the needle when he is busys slicing and dicing into the lane, looking for a lob or an open shooter.

Welcome back Kim Tae-Sol where have you been?