Lee Jong-hyun (203 cm, C) is flying high after joining Jeonggwanjang.
Anyang Jeonggwanjang won 74-72 against Busan KCC in the first round of the 2023-2024 Jeonggwanjang Professional Basketball League at Anyang Indoor Gymnasium on March 7. The fifth-ranked team has a season record of 4 wins and 3 losses.
The game was capped by a dramatic three-pointer from Park Ji-hoon (184 cm, G). The game was also highlighted by the play of Lens Abando (188 cm, G) and Duvan Maxwell (198 cm, F). Abando and Maxwell shook up the KCC defense with their one-on-one attacks.
However, another player stood out in the eyes of head coach Kim Sang-sik. “All the players did their best, but I want to praise (Lee) Jong-hyun. He didn’t score a lot of points, but he was active on defense like rebounding and blocking shots. He’s doing really well.”
Jong-hyun has been touted as a big-time prospect to lead the Korean basketball team since his days at Whimunjung. His rapid height growth and long wingspan made him unstoppable at his age. At Korea University, he built a dynasty, winning every single championship.
After joining the Ulsan Hyundai Mobis as the No. 1 overall pick, Jong-hyun continued to excel in the professional ranks. His influence in defense was evident. He was even able to shut down foreign players. 보스토토
However, injuries slowed him down. In the 2018-2019 season, Lee tore his patellar tendon and anterior cruciate ligament. It was a long injury tunnel. He never looked or played the same after the injury.
As a result, fewer and fewer teams sought him out. It was a 180-degree turnaround from the past, when he could play center for any team. He swallowed his pride and asked coach Kim Sang-sik for one last chance.
In that game, Lee Jong-hyun proved to be a force to be reckoned with. Unlike the past few seasons, he was not easily pushed under the basket. He also showed off a chase-down block shot reminiscent of his Hyundai Mobis days. It was a move we haven’t seen in recent years.