Short but strong. The next big thing after Yang Dong-geun has been discovered.
Under Armour held the ‘UA NEXT: CAMP SERIES KOREA’ at All That Basket in Songpa-gu, Seoul from the 19th to the 21st. Under Armour selected 30 elite basketball players from the third grade of middle school to the first grade of high school across the country to help them grow. For two days and three nights, the players received various programs from professional trainers to improve their skills, from basketball skills and strategy training to mental training, conditioning, and dietary management 메이저놀이터.
On the final day, the 29 players were divided into four teams and competed in an all-star game. Professional athletes such as Oh Se-geun, Yang Hong-seok, Yang Hee-jong, and Park Ji-hyun served as evaluators to assess the juniors’ skills. The top six players with the best ratings received a special offer to join the IMG Academy program in the US. The players lit up and played fiercely.
The best player, according to the consensus of professional scouts and basketball journalists alike, was Kim Gun-ha (16, Murong High School), who, despite his small stature at 175 cm, turned heads with his excellent basketball sense and defense. His vision and passing ability to utilize his teammates’ abilities were top-notch. His hard work as a guard, including steals and blocked shots, was a common trait that earned him high marks.
“Really? I didn’t know. When they told me they were sending me to the U.S., I really wanted to go, so I played hard, and I think I got first place. It was fun to play basketball with my best friends. I can’t wait to go to the U.S. and play against American players,” he laughed.
The Ulsan native’s role model is Yang Dong-geun. “When I was in elementary school, I went to a basketball court and started playing basketball while watching Yang Dong-geun win three games in a row. I want to be like him,” he said.
In 2019, Hyundai Mobis already named Kim Gun-ha, an elementary school student, as an associate athlete. Kim will train with the support of Hyundai Mobis and will have the opportunity to join the organization without being drafted after graduating from high school. With a roster that is already dominated by high school signings, Hyundai Mobis will have a “second bucket” to help ease their guard concerns.
“I’m confident in my dribbling and defense, but my shooting is still lacking. I think my shots went in better today because I was wearing Curry basketball shoes. I want to improve my weaknesses and become the best in the pros like Yang Dong-geun,” he said.