Korea bring back same 12 players from FIBA U18 Asia Championship

SEOUL (FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup 2017) - Yang Jae Min recovered in time from an injury as Korea coach Lee Moojin called on the same 12 players from last summer's FIBA U18 Asia Championship 2016 for the up-coming FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup 2017.

Yang suffered an ankle injury during Korea's preparations for the competition and his status for Cairo 2017 was at times in doubt. But the versatile wing returned to fitness and was included on Lee's roster for the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup 2017.

The 12 players are the same group that beat Lebanon to take third place at the FIBA U18 Asia Championship 2016 to book their ticket to the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup for the fourth straight time and sixth edition of the last seven.

Han Seunghui paced the Koreans in the continental championship with 14.6 points to go with 6.5 rebounds while Park Jiwon was the top assist man with 5.3 assists a game.

Yang returned to Korea for the preparations after his first season in Spain with Torrelodones. And the 6ft 6in (1.98m) wing will be a key to Coach Lee's team, especially after being in Korea for the full preparations - even though he missed time with the injury. Last summer, Yang missed much of the FIBA U18 Asia Championship 2016 preparations after playing at the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup 2016.

Yang was second on the U18 team in scoring with 14.4 points and third in rebounds with 5.3 rebounds a game. The Seoul native also dished out 1.8 assists per game at the FIBA U18 Asia Championship 2016. Yang also was second in scoring for Korea's U17 team (14.3ppg) and second in rebounds (4.1 rpg) and third in assists (2.3 apg).

Yang is one of three players who helped Korea to a best-ever eighth place at the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup 2016 along with leading scorer Lee Junghyun and top rebounder Shin Minsuk.

Korea will take on Argentina, France and New Zealand in Group A of the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup 2017.

FIBA