'High School Ranking Number 1' Hongik University High School Park Jung-woong confidently challenges KBL
'High School Ranking Number 1' Hongik University High School Park Jung-woong confidently challenges KBL
Blog Article
Once again, the KBL is embracing the "early entry" craze. Three high school students, the largest number ever, will challenge themselves to become professionals in the 2024 KBL draft. One of them is Park Jung-woong (194 cm), captain of Hongik University High School, who is considered the "No. 1 in high school ranking" this year. Park confidently challenged himself to become a versatile forward comparable to Choi Jun-yong (KCC) and Lee Woo-seok (Hyundai Mobis), escaping from the shadow of his father Park Sung-bae, who used to be a professional basketball player. Why did Park choose to become a professional instead of going to college? What kind of future does Park dream of now that he has more stories to write? (This interview took place on September 12.)
"Blood can't be tricked." Father and son
Q: I didn't achieve my goal at the U18 Asia Cup. I think you must have been disappointed as the mainstay.
It is regrettable that the result was not achieved. The quarterfinal match against Jordan was not experienced enough because the home fans cheered for him and it was his first time playing such a game. Still, I think I learned some things. I definitely felt the physical difference between foreign players and realized that I needed to reinforce it more.
Q: I was roommates with my boss, Yang Jong Yoon. What did you talk about?
After losing to Jordan in the quarterfinals, (Yang) Jong-yoon was very upset at the accommodation. Next to me, he said, "I'm not blaming you. We were inexperienced. We should have prepared better. You're not the only one responsible, so let's do well in the next game." Jong-yoon also settled down and told his teammates to do his best to win all the remaining games. Thanks to that, I think I was able to win all the other games and finish the tournament in fifth place.
Q: Let's change the topic and talk about our childhood. I started playing basketball at the club when I was 6. My father is Park Sung-bae, a former player of Samsung. Was it his influence to catch the basketball?
That's right. My father runs a basketball class in Uijeongbu. When I was young, I had fun. I went to a lot of club competitions. When I was in the second grade of elementary school, I started learning basketball at Uijeongbu SK, Orion, Mokdong Little Samsung Thunder, and then moved to Uijeongbu Little Samsung Thunder at the end of elementary school.
Q: What kind of player do you remember Park Sung-bae as?
When my father was a player, unfortunately, I wasn't born, so I couldn't see the actual play. People say he was fast, but honestly, I couldn't believe it. But when I looked it up on the video, he was actually fast (laughs).
Q: Showing you a picture of winning the Little Thunder Cup when you were young) Do you remember that time?
Looking at it now, I'm very young and it's different. I usually played a lot with the older guys, but I'm good at scoring points and I'm tall, so I can defend to the back line. They kept complimenting me, saying, "You're good, you're good, you're good." So I wanted to do better, and I think I wanted to be an elite player.
Park Jung-woong Conquers Club Basketball to Spread His Dream in earnest
Q: Then you begin to become an elite basketball player in earnest among the college students.
When I was in the sixth grade at Uijeongbu Little Samsung Thunder, Cha Dong-il, a college assistant coach, offered me a scout, asking if I would like to play at the Inje Youth Championship. Since I was young, my dream was to become a basketball player, so after discussing with my father, I joined the college basketball team without much difficulty. Thanks to the coach's many opportunities since the first grade, I was able to play a lot. At that time, it was not the main offensive option like now, and it was a bad experience for me to play a lot of defense roles. I think it helped me a lot even after going to high school.
Q: After going to Hongdaebu High School, I won my first national competition in April this year. It will be more memorable because it was a dramatic come-from-behind buzzer beater. Also, I was named the MVP of the competition.
It was my first national championship since I started playing basketball. Even now, when people tell me to go back to that time, I want to go back. I was so happy and I've never felt that way in my life. I was so happy when I followed and hit Hyeon-jin who scored a buzzer beater, but I still vividly remember it as if it was just yesterday.
Q: He has attack, defense, and pass skills. Have you been such a versatile player since you were young?
Since I was young, I thought that a player should have at least one exceptional weapon, but my father shouldn't play basketball. He stressed that you need to know how to attack, defend, and pass. In fact, I didn't believe it until early this year. I had a lot of worries because I didn't have an exceptional weapon, but after some time, I thought that being good at everything could be my big weapon. Now, I'm trying to maximize my strengths by using versatility as my own weapon.
Q: I have a right hand in shooting, but I prefer to break through to the left. I dunk more often with my left hand. Is there a special reason?
When I was young, I heard that I used my left hand a lot. But my grandfather told me to develop a habit of eating with my right hand, so I started to use my right hand a lot. Then, my father emphasized that I should use both hands when playing basketball, so I think I practiced hard regardless of my left hand or right hand. Also, when I was in the third grade of middle school, I suffered pain in my right elbow, which was cracked at the age of 7. The hospital even told me not to play basketball in the future, but I practiced more with my left hand, thinking that if I can't use my right hand, I should play basketball with my left hand.
Why did you choose to challenge yourself as a professional instead of going to college?
Q: I was able to go to a good enough university as I got a good evaluation this year. But I decided to go to a professional college instead of going to a university. Why did you make this decision when it didn't seem like an easy decision?
At first, I thought of university first. I wanted to experience college life and regular competitions. Actually, my father wanted to challenge himself to a professional game rather than a university. I think he started to think little by little after the competition for the chairman of the association and the federation was over. I decided to train and play in the U18 national team. (Lee) Geun-joon was the first to declare an early entry, which was affected by it. Come to think of it, my ultimate goal is to be a professional, but I felt that it was right to try and adapt early and learn. Also, I thought there were many things to learn when I go to a professional.
Q: It's a life-threatening decision. I think it will take a lot of preparation and effort.
I saw an interview article by Seo Myung-jin (Hyundai Mobis), and I remember the comment, "You can be lonely. You have to be prepared for everything outside you." After all, in order to become a good player, you have to endure all those external factors and work twice or three times harder than others. I work hard on my individual sports, but if I go to a pro, I think I will have to learn a lot of athletic parts from my seniors.
Q: What advice did Hongdaebu High School coach Lee Moo-jin give?
He also emphasizes the importance of weight training, saying that professionals and high school are different, and that I can never survive with my dwarf body. He said that he can play basketball that he wants not to be pushed out of the physical fight. Actually, when I bumped into professional seniors in person, I felt that they were different from college seniors.
Q: His strength is his versatility. Is there a professional player you want to resemble?
I'd like to pick Choi Jun-yong and Lee Woo-seok. I played against Choi in a practice match during the U18 national team, and I felt that they were in the court and not in the same team. They are two meters tall and equipped with all the skills ranging from breaking through to shooting and ball handling. They are especially powerful. I bumped into them when I boxed out in a practice match, but I didn't expect them to be that strong (laughs).
Q: We have about two months until the draft. Please tell us your resolution.
During the remaining two months, I think I need to strengthen my power and weight so that I don't get pushed out of the physical fight. My goal is to make a good impression on professional players as much as possible during the combination and tryout and be selected as the top priority.
(*For your information, there has not been a single candidate from Hongik University High School in the KBL domestic rookie draft. It remains to be seen whether Park Jung-woong will be able to be the main character.)
Q: If you become a professional, do you want to play for Samsung, where your father was active? Like Lee Chang-soo and Lee Won-seok.
To be honest, I haven't imagined it, but if I go to Samsung, I think I'll feel different because it's the team my father played for.
Q: As a captain, I led classmates and juniors at Hongik University High School for a year. If you could say something to your fellow students.
I got a lot of help from my seniors when I was in the lower grades. On the contrary, I should have taught my juniors more and been good to them, but when I was assigned to the U18 national team, I didn't play much of a role as a captain. Nevertheless, I'm grateful that you followed me well until the end. I hope you spend the rest of your high school years well and become good players.
#"BONUS ONE SHOT_Son like a golden boy, until Woong comes out into the world." The love story of Park Sung-bae, mother Shin Dong-sun
As mentioned earlier, Park's father is Park Sung-bae, a former professional basketball player. There is an interesting story behind Park's appearance. His father, Park Sung-bae, and his mother, Shin Dong-sun, are the first player-cheer leader couple in professional basketball. They met when they were in Korea as tenders, and after a year of dating, they got married. On April 17, 2006, the youngest son, Park Jung-woong, was born. When Park mentioned the love story between his father and mother, he smiled and said, "I think it's a coincidence (laughs). I'm very grateful. My mom is tall (177 centimeters), so I inherited good genes thanks to her. However, it's a shame that she's not as fast as my dad." When asked who do I look like more between my dad and my mom, he said, "When I was young, I heard a lot that I look like my mom more. But the more I like my mom…"I laughed.
Lee Moo-jin Coach COMMENT
"I've had a great talent since I was a member of the squad. I have evenly divided my strengths in shooting, passing, and athletic ability. I'm just worried about my physical strength. I think you have to be physically prepared to blend in well at the professional level. I think you know it well. As much as you're a diligent player, I think you'll overcome it well." 메이저사이트