From October 2024, Rookie has newly established a section to introduce youth prospects with KGC Ginseng Corporation, a "company that makes a healthier tomorrow."먹튀검증
The project was started by the combination of Rookie, who wants to introduce youth players, which can be said to be the starting point for expanding the basketball base, and KGC Ginseng Corporation's will to provide health products for young friends to enjoy basketball in good health.
And the 19th player to be selected for this project is Kim Hyun-min (Jangnae Middle School 1) from a high sports basketball class.
Kim Hyun-min, who said he likes sports, first encountered soccer, not basketball. When he was a fourth grader, however, he suffered an ankle injury while enjoying soccer. Although it was not a surgery, it took about two months due to treatment and rehabilitation at an early age, and he encountered basketball after he was fully recovered.
Kim Hyun-min said, "At the end of my rehabilitation, I came here (high sports basketball class) and played basketball at the recommendation of my brother. I remember I've been going since the summer vacation of the fifth grade, but I'm near my house and it was an opportunity to play sports other than soccer, so I've been going there until now."
He is 165 centimeters tall and has been learning basketball for three years. He is proudly playing for the middle school national team in high sports basketball class. His latest achievement was that he won the runner-up prize at a competition in Incheon in February this year.
"Playing against other teams in the competition, it was different because they had their own personality," he said. "When I played against them in person, other players were fast and tall. I thought I had to work harder to win that game."
He changed the sport while playing soccer, and the charm of basketball was that it was a sport that everyone had to play together.
"In soccer, attack and defense positions are usually divided, and players in offensive positions play offense, and players in defensive positions only play defense," Kim said. "However, basketball has some difficulties since five players have to play both offensive and defensive positions, but there are some areas where we get closer and cooperate as a team. I think that's better."
He enjoys playing basketball three times a week in high sports classrooms. He takes classes for the first grade of middle school on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and trains for the national team with other second and third graders on Saturdays.
Originally, there were national team classes for each grade, but because of participation in the competition, we trained together. Unlike regular classes, the teachers are a little strict in the national team class, and they complain that it's not as easy as it is because they are doing it with the older brothers.
After school on weekdays, it's 3-4 p.m. After school, I go to cram schools, have dinner, and come to the high sports basketball class at 8 p.m. Then, I exercise for an hour until 9 a.m. and go home at 9:30 a.m. It may be a difficult schedule for middle school students to pull off, but Kim Hyun-min said it's okay.
"It's a little hard, but I'm already used to it. It's not something I do every day, it's something I like to play basketball, so I can't even feel it's hard," he said.
"I'm currently training to prepare for the i-League, which will take place in June. My goal is to win, but for now, I'm going to do what the coaches tell me to do. I haven't participated in many competitions yet, so I want to participate in as many competitions as possible this year, and if possible, I want to win. And someday, I want to make a brilliant alley-oop dunk like my favorite player, Morant," he said with a smile.
Kim Hyun-min, who dreams of a colorful alley-oop dunk, was presented with a box of Hong Yi General's Jumpstick provided by KGC Ginseng Corporation to enjoy basketball in good health.