South Korea National Team 2013-2014

[CKR13]

Legend Seo Jang-Hoon congratulated the national team for reaching the World Cup next year. He stated that his 1998 team featured established veterans and pointed to Kim Joo-Sung as Korea's future back then. Seo added that the world competition from 1998 to present day has significantly improved and challenged the young players to get the most out of it.

[CKR13]

Houston Rocket star Dwight Howard, who is currently in South Korea for his ADIDAS promotion tour congratulated the Korean national team for qualifying for next year's World Cup in Spain.

Howard said that when Team USA faced Korea prior to the 2006 FIBA World Championships, he found them as a "spirited squad" and remembers his match-up with Ha Seung-Jin.

Howard said in a closing gesture that "Yeah, I'll see you soon hopefully" when a reported asked about what how will South Korea fare against Team USA if they played again.

Howard will meet fellow ADIDAS endorsers Kim Jong-Kyu, Kim Min-Goo and Doo Kyun-Min from Kyung-Hee university.



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I remember Howard swatting the three point attempt of Lee Kyu-Sup from the corner. Out of that 2006 Korea team, Yang Dong-Geun and Kim Joo-Sung were a part of the 2013 Korean team in FIBA Asia Manila. Ha Seung-Jin, Yang Hee-Jong and Choi Jin-Soo are currently inactive.

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When Howard said I'll see you soon, does that mean he will suit up for Team USA next year?

[CKR13]

Brookly Nets star Brook Lopez watched the KBLU All-Star game that featured the collegiate stars. Brook was asked by a reporter on who will he have trouble matching up against. In defense, Lopez pointed to #11 of the blue team (Kim Jong-Kyu) and in offense, Lopez pointed to #14 of the white team (Lee Jong-Hyun).

Lopez pointed to #11 that the bigman is very mobile and cannot be left alone in the perimeter while also pointing to #14 that the latter's wingspan can surprise even NBA bigmen.

Another reporter asked if Lopez is willing to play for Team USA next year and perhaps meet South Korea, Lopez said with a smile that he is interested.

[reamily]

Choi Jin Soo has been solid in KBL but can he be a good fit to the ntional team? As he may share playing time with Cho Sung Min, Yoon Ho Young, Yang Hee Jong when he returns at the 3 spot..I see him an asset against teams outside Asia(as guys like Yang would not be enough to stop other teams wing men)..

Jong Kyu, Min Goo and Jong Hyun are a given to be in Korea's team A but the rest should be consists of KBL guys...

[CKR13]

Choi Jin Soo has been solid in KBL but can he be a good fit to the ntional team? As he may share playing time with Cho Sung Min, Yoon Ho Young, Yang Hee Jong when he returns at the 3 spot..I see him an asset against teams outside Asia(as guys like Yang would not be enough to stop other teams wing men)..

Jong Kyu, Min Goo and Jong Hyun are a given to be in Korea's team A but the rest should be consists of KBL guys...

Choi Jin-Soo had a good rookie year, but slightly regressed for his sophomore season where his FG% dipped despite him playing near to the basket compared to his perimeter oriented rookie season. His 3pt% dipped even when he took less shots.

How can Choi Jin-Soo, be an asset against teams outside of Asia when his lateral movement and overall defense is exposed in the KBL? His wingspan works against him as he gets called for a lot of clothesline fouls.

Kim Jong-Kyu and Kim Min-Goo will be in the KBL next year while Lee Jong-Hyun and his KU buddies are two - three years away. Choi Joon-Young, Kang Sang-Jae and Choi Hyun-Min are the future SF tiers of South Korea.

[CKR13]

South Korea National Team 2013 East Asian Games

Head coach: Choi Bo-Young

Guards:

Park Chan-Hee (Military Sports Team)
Park Jae-Hyun (Korea University)
Kim Min-Goo (Kyung Hee University)
Doo Kyun-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)


Training will start September 11. This is the exact team that won the EABA Championships 2013.

[CKR13]

The president of the Korean Basketball Association, Mr Pang Hyeol stated in an interview with the press that the national team will have a naturalized player for next year's FIBA World Cup and the 2014 Asian Games.

Although names are not given, press assumes that Lee Seung-Jun will be the naturalized player for next year's world cup. But for the 2014 Asian games on Incheon, it draws a blank. Although there are a lot of discussions about Goyang's Leon Williams to claim his Korean citizenship before next year's Asian games. Then there is also the name of SK Knight's Park Sung-Ri for consideration, but it remains to be seen whether Park is as good as Moon Tae-Jong or Moon Tae-Young. Leon Williams has the height of a power forward but plays like a traditional center with some decent perimeter shooting. Lee Seung-Jun is still viable for the Asian games next year, as the World Cup and Asian Games are just weeks apart.

[CKR13]

Cho Sung-Min was interviewed by Chosun Ilbo and he stated that keeping healthy as well as winning with Sonicboom KT is his priority for this season. Cho also mentioned that he is looking forward to next year's 2014 World Cup with the national team.

Cho has been working out and losing weight to be injury free for this season and next year.

[CKR13]

Head coach Choi Bo-Young has expressed concern in regards with not only Kyung-Hee's trio, but also the other collegiate players in the East Asian games national team. Choi stated that aside from the set practices with the national team, college players have to practice, play in the university league and champions' league with their respective collegiate teams. Then there are the studies of each players.


Ironically, the veterans of Sang-Moo Phoenix have a more workable schedule compared to the young ones. I remember Lee Jong-Hyun hospitalized for a week due to exhaustion in late June as he was playing in the university league, practicing with the U19 national team and the senior national team.

[CKR13]

Choi Joon-Young is already showing remarkable improvement in the current season with Yonsei. His U19 and FIBA Asia stint got him the confidence and some lessons on how to utilize height over small players out in the wing was evident in the game against Korea University.

Come the East Asian games, I look for Choi to have an expanded role. With the exact team in the EABA tournament, Choi played sparingly due to injury and inexperience.

[CKR13]

Aside from the noticeable improvements of Choi Joon-Young, Kim Jun-Il is also improving this season. Despite being projected as a third string center behind Lee Jong-Hyun and Kim Jong-Kyu, Kim can play power forward and could alternate with Lee Seung-Hyun; allowing Yoon Ho-Young to play his natural SF role.

[CKR13]

The East Asian Games National Team was re-introduced by the federation awhile ago.

[CKR13]

It seems that the Military Administration alongside the Sports Council have amended the military service exclusion from winning an Asian games gold. Instead of direct exemption from an Asian games gold medal, there is a point system in place where an Asian games gold gets you 50 points and a basketball player will need an accumulated points of 100 to be qualified for a service exemption.

[CKR13]

Practicing but nursing injuries:

Yoon Ho-Young (Ankle sprain)
Park Chan-Hee (Knee soreness)
Kim Jong-Kyu (Ankle soreness)

[CKR13]

The veteran Heo Il-Young is out indefinitely due to a troublesome ankle. Korea University's Moon Seung-Gon was named a replacement. Moon was with the national team who finished third in the 27th FIBA Asia championship held last August.