South Korea National Team 2013-2014

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Is the legendary Kim Joo Sung will be on the NT?

Since his short-lived retirement after the 2011 FIBA Asia Qualifiers and later re-emerging with the 2012 Olympic Qualifiers Pool, he has been silent about his future participation. Last week, he neither confirmed nor denied the possibility of suiting up for next year but he did praise the likes of Kim Jong-Kyu, Lee Jong-Hyun and Jang Jae-Suk as future stars.

At this point, the federation wants to continue their theme of prime players and future considerations for next year. Similar to this year's squad who played in Venezuela.

 

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Lee Jong-Hyun and Lee Seung-Hyun are playing well together this early. I thought they will take some to gel and adjust to each other's presence as big-men. Lee has gotten stronger, lost body fat and improved his mobility. While Lee Jong-Hyun is improving his reflex response in shot-blocking. Both dominated Sang-Myong in the College Basketball Festival.

While Jang Jae-Suk is working hard in toning his game.

South Korea could bank in the following for the future:

Lee Jong-Hyun / Kim Jong-Kyu
Lee Seung-Hyun / Jang Jae-Suk

I see Jang JS playing as a power forward in the KBL with him being more of a finesse oriented forward with decent athletics and improving footwork as well as the honing of his mid-range game. Kim Jong-Kyu is developing nicely but is more comfortable playing as center despite his mobility and outside touch. A good match for those big-men to slide over in the wings is Choi Jin-Soo who plays better as a small forward rather than a power forward.

 

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Wunderkind Lee Jong-Hyun lead Korea University to a thrilling win over Sang-Moo Phoenix. Having learned his lessons against the KBL teams, Lee put up a monster game of 21 points, 17 rebounds. Lee also showed a much better defensive assertion with 3 blocks. Korea University trailed most of the first half as they had trouble containing the spirited gunners of Sang-Moo.

Second half saw Korea University take a gambit of a 2-3 buffer zone and it worked as Lee Jong-Hyun and Lee Seung-Hyun protected the lanes and reduced Sang-Moo to long range shots. In offense, KU did right by realizing that they had the interior advantage against Sang-Moo and they pounded it in with Lee JH and Lee SH.

KU won 87-72. Lee Seung-Hyun with 26 points and 8 rebounds. Moon Song-On also found his range and scored 18 points.

Korea's young bigmen did great and showcased their still growing potential.

 

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A good written piece from JB Mag about the state of the national team against international competition. I'm so glad jumpball published this article apart from the magazine scans I used to read.

2013: Basketball Revival in South Korea?

 

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The Korean Basketball Association is hoping that Lee Jong-Hyun gets an invite for the 2013 Nike Hoop Summit in April.

 

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Oh Sek-Eun could miss the 2013 FIBA Asia tournament due to his ankle rehabilitation from a ligament rupture. Oh SK has been a part of the national team since 2008 in the Olympic Qualifying tournament held in Athens.

Perhaps Korea could tap Kim Min-Soo, who has been playing well as of late; the vital cog in Seoul SK Knights success. Then there are youngsters like Jang Jae-Suk and Choi Buk-Yong. Veterans like Kim Dong-Uk, Yoon Ho-Young and Lee Seung Jun for consideration?

 

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I think it is premature for the Korean Basketball Association to tell the press that South Korea's basketball is in a re-birth with the reformation of the KBA ranks due to solidifying ties within the High school basketball orgs, College Basketball org, KBL and WKBL. The new chairman of the KBA stated stated that his ground work will be establishing better coordination of the country's basketball organization as well as improving basketball quality in the local scene.

New chairman also said that for the 2013 FIBA Asia competitions, the senior men and women's teams are to be sent abroad for better training compared to the previous years where training was confined locally due to budget constraints. Eastern Europe was mentioned as a likely destination for training. Also, proposals for sponsor backing are being prepared.

 

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Pang Hyeol, who coached South Korea in the 1982 New Delhi Asian Games and 1988 Seoul Olympic games is urging unity. His former players like Yu Jae-Hak, Hur Jae, and Lee Chung-Hee have expressed joy about their mentor's election.

Now it is strongly believe that the next coach for the 2013 FIBA Asia World Cup Qualification could be among Pang's former players.

 

[CKR132]

According to an editorial entry from Daum.net, Kim Joo-Sung is also questionable to suiting up for Korea after the KBL season concludes. A string of ankle and knee injuries will leave the veteran out. Much like last year's Olympic wildcard tournament, Kim JS could not make the final twelve man roster due to a knee injury. Lee Seung-Jun was selected.

First Oh Sek-Eun and now the veteran Kim Joo-Sung. It is looking likely that Lee Seung-Jun will be tapped as the latter has always been adamant in suiting up for FIBA tournaments. Kim Min-Soo is also back in form.

That leaves Lee Seung-Jun and Kim Min-Soo to partner in the PF while wunderkind Lee Jong-Hyun and Kim Jong-Kyu as centers. Ironic in which the center players are the youngest while the power forward spots happens to be the most tenured.

I don't think Jang Jae-Seok is ready and given his under-usage in Busan, it might not be ideal to consider him for the Manila tournament. Maybe the FIBA East Asia qualifiers could see Jang JS suit up and also be a part of the 2014 Asian games team for consideration. There are also PF's like former KBL MVP Ham Ji-Hoon of Ulsan. Kim Dong-Uk who shoots better outside than inside and is a member of the national team that played in the wildcard Olympic qualifiers. The SK rookie, Choi Bu-Kyong who has a knack to clean the glass and hustle. They can also consider Korea University's Lee Seung-Hyun.

 

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Lee Jong-Hyun #32 added some mass and is still improving his upper body strength. Lee Seung-Hyun showing some improvement on his touch around the basket. The two blends well together.

 

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The Korean Basketball Association is planning to overhaul the selection and organization of the player pool for the FIBA international competitions. According to reports, they plan on creating a Senior Team for the qualifying tournaments for the Olympics, FIBA World Cup and Asian Games that will consist of professional players from the KBL alongside the best amateur standouts. A second developmental team will be used for the East Asian Games and World Universiade Games. Amateur standouts could be allocated to the development squad and either way, standouts from the development squad could be elevated into the Senior team.

It is a long term vision that is targeting a 2020 Olympic Games. Meanwhile, the 2014 basketball squad could showcase the new generation of players on which standouts like the ff: could be considered:

Lee Jong-Hyun
Lee Seung-Hyun
Kim Jong-Kyu
Kim Min-Koo
Choi Joon-Yong
Chon Ki-Beom
Cho Seung-Moo
Kang Sang-Jae
Hur Hoon

Also trips to Serbia, Lithuania and Latvia are being planned atleast for this summer. Reportedly for the preparation for the 2013 FIBA Asia qualifiers to be held in Manila.

 

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Any KBL or amateur players found guilty of cooperating with match fixing syndicates will face a lifetime ban from the national team.

 

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Former national team head coach and Kia Motors head coach Pang Hyeol was inaugurated as the chairman of the Korean Basketball Association. Pang, who coached the Korean national team in the 1988 Seoul Olympics, stated that under his term, he will strengthen the competitiveness of the men and women teams in the FIBA competition.

 

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Lee Jong-Hyun and Lee Seung-Hyun talking about playing together, college game and the chance to lead Korea as the next generation.

 

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Seeing Yang Dong-Geun in action tonight in the KBL finals and one would conclude that at 32, Yang still plays with that same tenacity like his younger years. But unlike his younger self, Yang is more focused on the end game than revving up the motor and go all out in the first quarter. He channels his aggression better at this point and turns up the afterburners in the 4th. That said, Yang is still good to go for this year's 2013 FIBA Asia championship.

Yang is doing well in mentoring Kim Si-Rae. The latter has benefited much from being trained and guided by the KBL's best. Prior to the season, Yang stated that he would love to see Kim Si-Rae play for the national team, while also praising Kim Sun-Hyung; the spitfire of SK and who happens to be their adversary in the current KBL finals.

Kim Sun-Hyung is more likely to be a locked in the national team after the finals while Yang Dong-Geun is the same. While an improving Kim Si-Rae will have to prove himself in the finals other than Yang's endorsement to not only be included in the player pool but to make the twelve man squad. After all, Kim is in competition with mainstays like Park Chan-Hee and Kim Tae-Sol.

The KBL finals is a showcase of South Korea's present and future point guards.

 

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Angyang KGC's Yang Hee-Jong, a fixture as a forward for the national team has opted for surgery to clean up bone spurs on his right ankle. Yang will be sidelined this offseason and will miss 2013 FIBA Asia tourneys.

That is another KGC player out of the national team as if Oh Sek-Eun's lost was not enough. However, Korea still has options in the small forward department like Busan's Cho Sung-Min. Then there is Yang's teammates in Lee Jung-Hyun and Choi Hyun-Min. While Ulsan's Moon Tae-Young has been floating around. LG's Kim Yong-Hwan could also be considered as the latter was healthy all season long and was a member of the 2011 National team that finished third.

Time for Korea to consider younger small forwards starting with Choi Jin-Soo. As the likes of Cho Sung Min (30), Yang Hee-Jong (29), Kim Yong-Hwan (30) and Moon Tae-Young (33) are aging.

They should also consider Kyung-Hee's Kim Min-Koo, a viable swingman that can play SF or SG. Kim's teammate, Kim Jong-Kyu is a fixture in the national team.

 

[asapa112]

Really Appreciate your update CRK13,

Just wondering what happened to Kang Byung hyun.. can he replace Yang hee dong at sf. he's still young at 28 years old and at 6'4" could be effective sf/sg. Last I heard was he was serving in the military.. does that bar him from playing?

 

[asapa112]

also, isn't Lee Seung-Jun and Moon Tae-young both considered as Naturalized S. Koreans? therefor the couldnt be called to the national team at the same time? right?

 

[CKR132]

Really Appreciate your update CRK13,

Just wondering what happened to Kang Byung hyun.. can he replace Yang hee dong at sf. he's still young at 28 years old and at 6'4" could be effective sf/sg. Last I heard was he was serving in the military.. does that bar him from playing?

Kang can still be considered for the national team as he stated interest to return to the national team despite him being left out for the 2012 Olympic qualifying tournament in Venezuela as his fellow military teammate Yoon Ho-Young was chosen instead. Kang stated that after KCC's season was over.

Kang plays better as a shooting guard as he can't defend much taller and stronger players from the middle east. Kang usually plays SG against teams that has bigger players but he played some minutes as SF back in the 2011 FIBA Asia tournament against Japan and Chinese Taipei.

also, isn't Lee Seung-Jun and Moon Tae-young both considered as Naturalized S. Koreans? therefor the couldnt be called to the national team at the same time? right?

They could be called for the pool but only one can suit up for the twelve man squad. In the 2012 player pool for the Olympics qualifiers, the pool had Lee Seung-Jun and Jeon Tae-Pong.

 

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The Korean Basketball Association has announced the roster that will compete in next month's FIBA East Asia tournament that serves as a qualifier for the 2013 FIBA Asia World Cup qualifier in Manila.

Head coach: Cho Bo-Young

Guards:

Park Chan-Hee (Military Sports Team)
Park Jae-Hyun (Korea University)
Kim Min-Koo (Kyung Hee University)
Du Kyung-Min (Kyung Hee University)

Forwards:

Yoon Ho-Young (Military Sports Team)
Hur Il-Young (Military Sports Team)
Lee Jung-Hyun (Military Sports Team)
Choi Joon-Young (Yonsei University)
Lee Seung-Hyun (Korea University)

Centers:

Kim Jong-Kyu (Kyung Hee University)
Lee Jong-Hyun (Korea University)
Kim Jun-Il (Yonsei University)


An interesting team mixed with the best of what the college ball circuit has to offer. While the federation inserted veteran talents from the military sign-ups for guidance. While the head coach, is from Kyung Hee University and the federation judged that it is time to tap into the amateur coaching scene, citing Team USA finding success with Mike Kyrzyzewski.

This early, the federation wants to expose the collegiate players to international competition for the 2014 Asian games. You have the big three from Kyung Hee leading the charge.

While the dynamic duo of Lee Seung-Hyun and Lee Jong-Hyun from Korea U is there, hoping to for their chemistry to click against the likes of China.

Choi Joon-Young is an intriguing prospect; he is versatile in offense and is shaping to be Korea's answer to a wingman defined in the NBA.

I'm just happy that Park Chan-Hee will lead the team! Lee Jung-Hyun and Park Chan-Hee of Anyang KGC will lead this team and it makes for an exciting back-court.