Yang Jun-seok, who filled the void left by Lee Jae-do’s injury
However, Yang Jun-seok suffered a serious injury in April last year, when he was in his third year, rupturing the anterior cruciate ligament of his knee. Because of this, an entire season was lost, but LG used its precious first-choice pick on Yang Jun-seok. That’s how high his potential was evaluated.
Yang Jun-seok, who devoted himself to rehabilitation even after joining LG, did not make his debut until the end of last season. He played an average of 9 minutes in 16 regular league games, recording 2.6 points, 0.6 rebounds, and 0.9 assists. He was not in perfect condition and the team already had Lee Jae-do, Lee Kwan-hee, and Justin Gutang, so he had a disappointing first season.
Yang Jun-seok, who spent his first professional offseason this year, gradually adapted to his team and improved his performance. Even in his practice games, he showed off his presence with the stable game management and sharp passes he showed during his time at Yonsei University. LG’s starting point guard Lee Jae-do suffered a microfracture on the back of his left hand just before the cup competition. Coach Jo Sang-hyun then gave Yang Jun-seok the opportunity to play.
Yang Jun-seok started as a starter in the game against Korea Gas Corporation in Daegu on the 11th and scored 9 points, 2 rebounds, and 7 assists in 22 minutes and 45 seconds. He assisted Assem Marey’s scores under the goal with accurate passes. He also assisted Lee Kwan-hee and Yoo Yu-sang’s 3-point shots on the outside. He received a passing grade by showing stable game management.
Yang Jun-seok, who also started in the Busan KCC game on the 13th, played 24 minutes and 49 seconds and recorded 8 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals. He was a force on offense, scoring 6 points in the first quarter alone. However, he did not accumulate an assist as the pass did not result in a score. It wasn’t until the third quarter that he delivered two assists. Compared to the Korea Gas Corporation game, the sharpness was somewhat lacking, and LG lost 89-91.
After the gas construction battle, coach Cho Sang-hyeon said of Yang Jun-seok, “Rather than how much I want to utilize him, I’m going to take him in the direction I want. Depending on the condition that day, Gu-tang or (Yang) Jun-seok may be the starter. Since (Lee) Jaedo is resting now, we have to compete. “It’s a happy worry for me,” he said with a laugh.
He continued, “I am now a senior in college. I want to grow within two years. “I will quickly integrate into the team so that I can become the future of LG,” he added.
Yang Jun-seok, who played in less than 27 games last season, is eligible for the new season’s Rookie of the Year award. If he shows improved play, he may be able to win the second-year rookie award, following Lee Woo-seok (Hyundai Mobis) in the 2021-2022 season. This is why we need to remember the names of Yang Jun-seok as well as Moon Jeong-hyun (KT), Park Moo-bin (Hyundai Mobis), and Yu Ki-sang (LG), who are attracting attention as big rookies in the upcoming season.