In the 2006 draft, following Bang Seong-yoon the year before, Jeon Jeong-gyu (39‧187cm), a shooter from Yonsei University, was honored with the first overall pick. However, E-Land did not have a big smile. It was a joy more than anything to bring the first pick, but the reason why expectations for the draft were not high at the time in terms of the quality or quantity of the players.
Even compared to the two drafts immediately before, even if proven superstars like Bang Seong-yoon, there was a lack of clear impact in either direction, such as reliable guard resources (Yang Dong-geun, Lee Jeong-seok) and adventurous overseas players (Kim Hyo-beom, Han Sang-woong). Meanwhile, Jeon Jeong-gyu, who was called the best shooter of his age, Joo Tae-soo, the best center in college, and Kim Hak-seop, who was called a genius guard in high school, were among the candidates for the first place.
Kim Hak-seop was also expected to be nominated since the team was thirsty for the first year, but questions about his physical condition followed. In a way, it was the most benign choice.
As much as that, it was not easy to distinguish the largest fish class in the 2006 draft. It is an analysis that the ranking was not very meaningful because everyone did well. This tendency was clearly confirmed when looking at the subsequent nomination situation. Jeon Jeong-gyu, Kim Hak-seop, and Joo Tae-soo, who were the first candidates before the draft, were the so-called ‘big 3 patterns’. As if to prove this, SK unexpectedly nominated Noh Gyeong-seok (39‧188cm) as the 2nd pick, and LG also selected short guard Lee Hyun-min (39‧172.8cm) as the 3rd pick.
Kim Hak-seop (40‧182cm) was able to be nominated by Mobis after being pushed to the 4th place. It is expected that the intention was to use Kim Hak-seop, who has a different play style, as a backup guard, as Yang Dong-geun was the clear No. 1. As they both graduated from Hanyang University, the opinions of senior Yang Dong-geun may have influenced the nomination. Joo Tae-soo (40‧202cm), the biggest big man, is nominated by Orion in the 5th place.
Among the nominees after the 5th ranking, there were many players who performed well. 6th place Lee Won-soo (Lee Si-jun‧39‧180cm) left a record comparable to that of 1st place Jeon Jeong-gyu in his professional life, and the 5th place Han Jung-won (38‧200cm) in the 2nd round was also not much inferior to Joo Tae-soo. Above all, the jackpot hit the 8th ranked Jo Sung-min (39‧190cm), and he was able to wash away much of the disgrace of being the ‘worst poor draft ever’.
As can be seen from the nickname ‘Chosun’s shooter’, Cho Seong-min is a legendary shooter who enjoyed an era of KBL. He is active not only in his team but also as a national representative, and is considered a representative example of the success of the junior nomination along with Shin Ki-seong and Ham Ji-hoon. Considering that he did not receive much attention at the time of the draft, it is talked about as a good example of proving that his success in the professional world is not necessarily limited to the nominations.
Jeon Jeong-gyu, the 1st pick that did not meet expectations
Until the 2006 rookie draft, each university’s 1st pick nominees had their own color. Chung-Ang University stood out for its big men (Song Young-jin, Kim Joo-seong) with great height and mobility, and Korea University for its all-weather forwards (Hyun Joo-yeop and Lee Kyu-seop) who combined heavy power and shooting ability. On the other hand, when it came to shooters (Jo Sang-hyun, Bang Seong-yoon), it was definitely Yonsei University.
Although they were not of the draft generation, shooters from Yonsei University continued to be produced based on the short cycle from the previous Mungyeong-eun and Woo Ji-won, and they performed well in the league. There was even a saying, “You can trust and use shooters from Yonsei University.” For this reason, Jeon Jung-kyu was also expected to grow sufficiently as a team’s main player, if not as well as the outstanding Yonsei University shooter seniors.
He was also awarded the MVP at the basketball party, and as the captain of Yonsei University, he led juniors such as Yang Hee-jong and Kim Tae-sul well, and his leadership was recognized. However, as a result, Jeon Jung-gyu did not show a suitable appearance for the first place throughout his career, and even today, along with Park Seong-jin, Park Joon-young, and Park Jung-hyun, he has become one of the names often mentioned when discussing ‘unsatisfactory first place’.
Jeon Jeong-gyu was a shooter with clear strengths and weaknesses, and was a type that could not but be liked or disliked. In the meantime, it can be said that the disadvantages cover the advantages. Jeon Jeong-gyu was a player who was properly recognized for his shooting ability while he was a student at Yonsei University. He possesses not only thick guts, which is a must for a shooter, but also explosive power that allows him to pour outside shots like a dam once it starts to explode.
But that was it. The firepower is good, but it took a lot of combinations to use it properly. He came and went between number 2 and 3, but looking at his playing style, his main position was number 3 small forward. In terms of his size, the guard was right, but he did not have the speed to match it, and there were many regrets in ball handling, vision, and passing sense.
During his time at Yonsei University, such shortcomings were not revealed. This is because he had a well-equipped environment that made up for his shortcomings and allowed him to focus only on shooting. Kim Tae-sul, the best point guard capable of one-man leading, and Yang Hee-jong, who boasted a tremendous amount of activity and played the role of two people, supported me reliably, so I just had to throw well without worrying about this and that.
His professional stage was different. There was a big difference in all aspects, including average size and defensive pressure. In addition, E-Land at the time was not a team in an environment where they could play their part even if they were faithful to the shooter role like they were at Yonsei University. Shooters who lack size, such as Cho Seong-won’s speed and Kim Byung-chul’s drive-in, need other weapons besides shooting to improve their competitiveness. Unfortunately, Jeon Jung-kyu lacked a second option to continue his contribution even in situations where the shot did not come out.
Although his ability to make a single shot in the match was flawless, his defense was unstable, so he often allowed more points than he scored, and there were many cases where he became an unnecessary player on days when he didn’t make a shot. If there were other weapons, it would have been possible to hold out on the court until he regained the feeling of shooting, but since he did not have such a weapon, he was often replaced quickly if his shooting was sluggish. It would not have been easy for me to play comfortably in such a situation.
◆ Jeon Jeong-gyu’s regular league record ☞ Total average of 5.8 points, 1.6 rebounds, 1 assist, 0.7 steals in 476 games played
⁕ Highest score in one game: Score ☞ December 17, 2006 against Daegu Orions = 35 points (7 3-point shots, 3-point shots) Success rate 58.3%) / Successful 3-point shot ☞ March 22, 2008 Anyang KT&G match = 8 / Steal ☞ December 19, 2008 Seoul Samsung match = 6
No. 2 No Kyung-seok’s rising trend after being knocked down by injury Noh
Kyung-seok made his name known as a guard with good shooting skills throughout his high school and college days. Because of this, he was considered a candidate for the first round pick in the draft, but was not expected until the second pick. For this reason, when his name was called in SK, which had the second place nomination, there were not a few reactions. If Noh Kyung-seok had paid back with his skills, it would have been a wonderful anti-war drama, but unfortunately that did not happen.
There was a clear advantage of shooting, but there were many criticisms that he lacked confidence due to his passive play. Of course, there were times when he was good as a player with explosive power. It was then that he transferred to Ulsan Mobis after being discharged from the military. At the time, Mobis’ main shooting guard Kim Hyo-beom left the team as a free agent and nominated Noh Gyeong-seok as a compensation player. The reason for filling the vacancy of Kim Hyo-beom was great.
Of course, in the process of selecting the compensation player at the time, only Noh Kyung-seok caught their eye, and few expected him to properly fill the void left by Kim Hyo-beom. There are many who see it as simply increasing the number of possibilities with other candidates. However, in the 2010~2011 season, Noh Kyung-seok played a significant role by changing his mind. While Yang Dong-geun was selected as the representative of the Asian Games, he played an active role as the main scorer, and continued to play a prominent role through steady performances afterward.
He played 49 games, the most of his career, and averaged 11.3 points, 1.9 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 0.7 steals, and 0.3 good defense. All the records from the match and time were the best at this time. Unfortunately, there was something that caught his ankle at the point where he was about to hit the uptrend, and it was none other than an injury. He suffered an injury that damaged his meniscus and had to undergo surgery. After that, he spent four seasons just like that without finding his skills, and ended up stepping into his retirement. At this time, the number of games played in four seasons was only 36.
◆ Noh Gyeong-seok regular league record ☞ Total average of 5.2 points, 1.3 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 0.5 steals in 179 games
played Success rate 55.6%) / assist ☞ 2011.
From little giant Lee Hyeon-min to Chosun’s shooter Cho Seong-min…
Among the draft members, the rookie award was taken by Lee Hyun-min, who was nominated in the 3rd place. Lee Hyun-min became a hot topic from the time of the draft, and it was because of his small height (172.8 cm)메이저놀이터. He was about to fit within a finger even in the past, but his skills completely dispelled the underestimation of his size. There is a saying that ‘basketball is played with the heart, not the kidney’, but it is true that Lee Hyun-min was too small even considering that part.
Because of this, even when he performed well in his rookie days, there were not a few criticisms that he would soon hit the limit, but through constant self-management and steady performance, he played the most games among the draft members at the time and survived for a long time. In addition to his accurate shooting ability, the flutter he honed to overcome his height inferiority and his passing sense were also excellent, so his consistency without ups and downs was cited as his biggest strength. Throughout his days as a player, he was doubted about his long run and experienced frequent transfers, but he was a player who always did his part.
◆ Lee Hyun-min’s regular league record ☞ Total average of 5.1 points, 1.9 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 0.8 steals in 702 games
played Success rate 83.3%) / Assists ☞ 12/15/2016 against Goyang Orion = 14 / Rebound ☞ 3/22/2017 against Goyang Orion = 10 / Steals ☞ 3/16/2017 against Seoul Samsung = 5
Among basketball fans, there are often mentions of unfortunate players who may have even heard the word genius in their days, but failed to show an activity worthy of their reputation after coming to the pros. 4th place Kim Hak-seop is one of them. During his high school days in Jeonju, he was praised for having both game reading and scoring ability, and was even evaluated as No. 1 in the high school rankings. Injuries also piled up. Nevertheless, he was even mentioned as a candidate for the 1st place, and the fact that he was finally selected for the 4th place proves that the talent he showed in his childhood was enormous.
◆ Kim Hak-seop’s regular league record ☞ Total average of 2.6 points, 1.3 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 0.5 steals in 119 matches
played Success rate 50%) / Assists ☞ Against Daegu Orions on December 8, 2006 = 12 / Rebounds ☞ Against Jeonju KCC on December 16, 2006 = 10
5th place Joo Tae-soo is a case where he succeeded in a long run with his own color. He didn’t seem to have anything special about his mobility, shooting, attacking skills, or passing sense, but he had strengths that most KBL leaders would prefer. It was the so-called ‘body breadth’ based on his reliable physique. Not only domestic players, but also foreign big men were able to defend for a while. He had a decent free throw success rate and a good understanding of defense, so he was particularly valuable as a backup big man.
◆ Joo Tae-soo’s regular league record ☞ Average of 3.9 points, 2.8 rebounds, 0.6 assists, 0.4 steals, and 0.2 blocked shots in 356
matches , 2 3-point shots, 6 free throws all successful) / Assists ☞ December 17, 2008 against Daegu Orions = 5 / Rebounds ☞ November 26, 2011 against Ulsan Mobis = 13 6th place, now renamed Si-jun
Lee Lee Won-soo was not a style guard with strengths in game management or assembly, but it was a case where he survived the pro with his tenacious play with quick feet. His unique speed shined even when attacking, but it was useful when marking a fast opponent.
◆ Lee Won-soo (now Lee Si-jun) regular league record ☞ Average 5.2 points, 1.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 0.9 steals in 400 appearances
⁕ Highest record in one game: Scores ☞ 12/17/2011 Seoul SK match = 27 points (4 3-point shots, 3-point shot success rate 80%) / assists ☞ 3/15/2013 Jeonju KCC match = 10 / steals ☞ 2013 November 23, 2018 Ulsan Mobis match = 5
Hwi-jong Lim was a promising player with good size and potential for growth, but it was unfortunate that he joined Samsung due to KT&G’s 1st round pick-up right exchanged with Samsung’s 2nd round pick-up right. At the time, Samsung was a ‘guard kingdom’ with prominent guards such as Lee Sang-min, Kang Hyuk, and Lee Jeong-seok. ‘Pro speaks with skill. There may be an opinion that he should have overcome it by himself, but it is very difficult and rare for a black junior to push away star guard seniors who have a solid position in the team. Even if he consistently appeared on the court, he may not have grown as much as expected, but it is clear that he had very few opportunities to play.
◆ Lim Hui-jong regular league record ☞ Average 0.9 points, 0.5 rebounds, 0.7 assists, 0.3 steals in 57 matches played
⁕ Highest score in one game: Score ☞ February 6, 2007 against Jeonju KCC = 7 points / assists ☞ March 14, 2007 Sun Busan KTF = 4 / Rebound ☞ March 16, 2007 Jeonju KCC match = 3
Cho Seong-min, who was selected as the 8th pick by Busan KTF, should be in the forefront when it comes to picking the best stars born in the 2006 draft, which was called a poor harvest. In fact, it is not pushed at all even compared to the number 1 stars of all time, including having the most successful career out of the draft at the time. Along with Moon Kyung-eun and Cho Sung-won, he is mentioned as one of the best shooters of all time in KBL, and he even earned the nickname ‘Joseon’s shooter’ for his outstanding performance in the national team.
Kim Hak-seop was a classmate in elementary, middle and high school as well as university, but during school days, he was always covered as the second factor. Cho Seong-min was a shooter with outstanding versatility. In addition to his excellent shooting ability, Jira was well equipped with ball handling and passing skills, so he was good at auxiliary reading and 2-on-2 play. In his heyday, he boasted the aspect of a combined defense and defense team to the extent that he received a high score in his defense. Among the 2nd round graduates, Han Jeong-won definitely shines. He has been active for about 15 years, and his career record is not much different from Joo Tae-soo.
◆ Jo Seong-min’s regular league record ☞ Total average of 9.8 points, 2.2 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.1 steals in 550 games
played Success rate 83.3%) / Assists ☞ March 5, 2017 Seoul Samsung match = 9 / Rebound ☞ March 1, 2018 Ulsan Hyundai Mobis match = 8 / Steal ☞ January 12, 2019 Incheon Etland match = 6
◆ Yun Ho-seong’s regular league record ☞ Total average of 3.6 points, 0.3 rebounds, 0.1 assists, 0.2 steals in 23 games played
⁕ Highest record in one game: Score ☞ Dec. 16, 2016 against Ulsan Mobis = 14 points (4 3-point shots, 3-point shot success rate 66.7%) / assists ☞ Mar. 16, 2007 against Seoul Samsung = 1 / rebound ☞ 2006 December 29th against KT&G in Anyang = 2
◆ Background Han regular league record ☞ Average of 2 points, 0.3 rebounds, 0.2 assists, 0.2 steals in 18 matches
played = 6 points (2 3-point shots) / assists ☞ February 12, 2011 Seoul SK match = 1 / Steal ☞ March 16, 2008 Seoul SK match = 2 ◆ Han Jeong-Won regular league total record ☞ Total 423
appearances Average 3.3 points, 1.8 rebounds, 0.3 assists, 0.2 steals
⁕ Most records in one game: Scores ☞ 2012/01/08 against Jeonju KCC = 21 points / assists ☞ 10/20/2015 against Jeonju KCC = 3 / rebounds ☞ 2007 October 30, 2008 Jeonju KCC match = 11
Currently, Jeon Jeong-gyu is coaching at Myeongji Middle School, Lee Hyun-min at Whimoon High School, Kim Hak-seop at Jeonju Nam Middle School, Joo Tae-soo at Chungju Gukwon Elementary School, and Paik Baek-han at Muryong High School. Lee Won-soo (Lee Si-jun) is a coach at WKBL Bucheon Hanawon Q, and Jo Seong-min is a coach at KGC Ginseng Corporation. Noh Kyung-seok worked as a manager at Goyang Orion and left the team when it was sold to Day One. Han Jeong-won is currently playing in the field as a KBL referee.