Draft offers chance to see KBL's next star

Korea University forward Lee Seung-hyun, right, shakes hands with Goyang Orions head coach Choo Il-seoung after being drafted by the club, at the Seoul Students Gymnasium Wednesday. / Courtesy of the Korean Basketball League

By Kwon Ji-youn

The Goyang Orions picked up Korea University’s Lee Seung-hyun in the 2014 Korean Basketball League (KBL) rookie draft and tryouts at the Seoul Students Gymnasium, Wednesday, expecting to sharpen its offense this season in the league with the recruit.

Lee, a 1.97-meter forward, known for his stamina and three-pointers, was too nervous to recall his performance at the tryouts, which took place in the presence of KBL team coaches and staff, but said he did remember doing his best.

“I remember running and running and running, but that’s about it,” Lee said after a tryout game. “I was really nervous, so I couldn’t keep track of how many points I made or missed. I scored a few, but I also missed a few three-pointers.”

It has been said that Lee would become this year’s most sought-after player, having spent an impressive final year with his university, where he led his team to a triple-crown victory in the college league. Lee, a three-point-shooting center, recorded an average of 11.3 points and 5.5 rebounds.

But he did not have any clue which team would pick him until the last moment, as this year’s rookie draft underwent a lottery reform, which made the results even more unpredictable. In the past, the lottery had been weighted so that the first four picks went to teams that missed the playoffs the previous season. But this year, all teams excluding the champion and runner-up in the playoffs were given equal chances of 12.5 percent for lottery picks.

The Samsung Thunders drew second pick and chose Yonsei’s Kim Jun-yl. ET Land went next to pick Hanyang University forward Jeong Hyo-geun, followed by KCC which picked KU’s Kim Ji-hoo, and Wonju Dongbu Promy which went with Hur Woong, son of Coach Hur Jae of the KCC Egis.

This year’s draft was also different from previous events, as it was without the “ethnic Korean” regulation, which was implemented in 2009 and created a separate draft for players with either a Korean parent or those who would gain Korean citizenship.

Those players could receive up to 100 million won in annual salary for their debut year, and were limited to three years with one team.

The regulation was aimed at enhancing the strength of the teams without giving too much of an advantage to one club.

But since the regulation’s abolishment in 2012, ethnic Korean athletes were required to appear in the general draft for those who are not members of the Korean Basketball Association (KBA). If drafted, these players will need to obtain Korean citizenship within three seasons.

Thirty-five of the 39 in attendance were college students and members of the KBA. The remaining four had been selected in the general non-KBA draft on Sept. 4, and the four included two ethnic Koreans.

“This was my first pro draft, and the KBL experience was just amazing,” said Michael Sean Cassio, an ethnic Korean point guard from Portugal. “To be honest, I was really nervous. The games here are fast-paced, and I had to adapt. I missed a couple of shots and defensively I could have been better, but overall, it was a great experience.”

Cassio flew in from Portugal because he thought he could make an impact on the league.

“Basketball is my calling, here or anywhere else, and as long as I can make an honest living playing basketball, it doesn’t matter where I am,” he said. “I just need one coach and one club to want me, and invest in me. I have a feeling they won’t regret picking me, as I’m one of the hardest working players with regards to work ethic and discipline.”