The very same team that has won the East Asian Basketball Association championships for men earlier this year will be competing in the sixth East Asian Games. The team paved the way for the national team that finished third in the 27th men’s FIBA Asia championship to play in next year’s Basketball World Cup to be held in Spain.
The East Asian games squad is a mixture of the veterans of the Sang-Moo Military sports team and the collegiate stars from the Korean University Basketball League. Sang-Moo and the elite university team recently showcased basketball in the 2013 Korean Basketball Showcase.
Yoon Ho-Young, a member of the third place team leads South Korea’s brightest players against the East Asian rivals. Heo Il-Young, also a national team veteran, will play an important part for the team still in need of hardy veteran shooters.
Park Chan-Hee and Lee Jung-Hyun are Anyang KGC’s spirited youth roster and will provide the back-court depth. Park was cut prior to the FIBA Asia tournament in Manila, but he returns to provide the much needed versatility of a combo-guard while Lee, provides athleticism in the wings.
Park Chan-Hee and Lee Jung-Hyun
Kyung Hee’s trio of Kim Jong-Kyu, Kim Min-Goo and Doo Kyun-Min are considered the Big Three in the local university league. Kim Jong-Kyu was the starting center in the recent FIBA Asia. Kim Min-Goo was the revelation for the said team. Only 22 years old, Min-Goo was named in the tournament’s best five as he played better and better as the tournament progressed.
Doo Kyun-Min honed his three point shooting while playing for Korea’s Universiade squad that pitted against other universiade teams of the world in the other continents. Kyung-Hee’s Big 3 is an essential core of the East Asian games squad.
Korea University’s Lee Jong-Hyun may have missed the FIBA U19 world championships and the 35th William Jones Cup, but he has gained tremendous experience with the third placed Korean squad in Manila. Flashes of his potential were on display and armed with the senior’s experience, he brought that new found confidence in the 2013 Korea Basketball showcase as he destroyed reigning Korean Basketball League champions, Ulsan Mobis Phoebus with a monster double double and lead KU to the plum.
Lee Jong-Hyun is joined by Lee Seung-Hyun, who keeps on improving year in and year out. He was a very productive during the East Asian Basketball Championships and recently added that three point shooting range to his emerging game. Park Jae-Hyun is a versatile guard who also, saw action with the Universiade squad.
Yonsei’s Choi Joon-Young is the youngest of the Korean team who played in Manila, but the experience for him is a good step for his development. Choi did not play much during the last EABA championship, but he got good mileage in the world U19 championship and in Manila for FIBA Asia. Choi is an emerging talent that seems to be Korea’s answer for a tall and versatile forward. Don’t count out Kim Jun-Il, who has been good for Yonsei. Although he may play the third stringer for Kim Jong-Kyu and Lee Jong-Hyun, his perimeter shooting and footwork makes him a viable power forward rotation.
Choi Bo-Young’s discipline was a huge factor on why they won the 2013 EABA championship. Under his mentorship, Korea looks for the same competitiveness but improved potency of the squad.
Sakerland 