Korea make just one change from U16 Asia title-winning team
SEOUL (2016 FIBA U17 World Championship) - Korea head coach Oh Seil elected to keep his team’s excellent chemistry intact going into the 2016 FIBA U17 World Championship by calling nearly the exact same si
SEOUL (2016 FIBA U17 World Championship) - Korea head coach Oh Seil elected to keep his team’s excellent chemistry intact going into the 2016 FIBA U17 World Championship by calling nearly the exact same side that got them back to the global spectacle.
Oh is bringing back 11 of the all 12 players from the team that won Korea’s first FIBA Asia U16 Championship last summer, led by top scorer Yang Jaemin.
| Korea roster for 2016 FIBA U17 World Championship | |||
| Kim Dongjun | Kim Hanyeong | Kim Hyeongjun | Lee Doowon |
| Lee Hyunjung | Lee Junghyun | Park Minchae | Park Minwoo |
| Seo Myeongjin | Seomoon Sechan | Shin Minsuk | Yang Jaemin |
The only change is 15-year-old center Lee Doowon replacing Cho Hwiwoong.
Korea will face a tough test in Zaragoza in Group D, drawn with Europeans Bosnia and Herzegovina and France as well as Dominican Republic.
After appearing in the first two editions, the Koreans missed out of the FIBA U17 World Championship two years ago. But Oh and the team booked their spot for Zaragoza when they knocked off three-time reigning U16 Asian champions China in the Semi-Finals.
Korea then beat Chinese Taipei in the final for their maiden U16 continental title.
Oh’s team had five different players average double-digit scoring last summer with Yang, Shin Minsuk, Lee Hyunjung, Lee Junghyun and Seomoon Sechan.
Seomoon Sechan is one of four Koreans born in 2000.
Since they are shorter than much of the competition, Korea will need to rebound well as a team, especially low post players Shin, Yang and Lee HJ.
Meanwhile, Kim Dongjun will be responsible for getting Korea’s team in order offensively after averaging 7.0 assists a game last summer.
FIBA