Lee Hyun-jung (born October 23, 2000) is a South Korean professional basketball player for the Illawarra Hawks of the Australian National Basketball League (NBL). He played college basketball for the Davidson Wildcats of the Atlantic 10 Conference (A-10).
.jpg) Lee Hyun-jung at the United States Naval Academy in 2019 | |||||||||||||||
| No. 2 – Illawarra Hawks | |||||||||||||||
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| Position | Shooting guard / small forward | ||||||||||||||
| League | NBL | ||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||
| Born | October 23, 2000 Seongnam, South Korea | ||||||||||||||
| Listed height | 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) | ||||||||||||||
| Listed weight | 210 lb (95 kg) | ||||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||||
| High school |
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| College | Davidson (2019–2022) | ||||||||||||||
| NBA draft | 2022: undrafted | ||||||||||||||
| Playing career | 2018–present | ||||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||||
| 2018–2019 | BA Centre of Excellence | ||||||||||||||
| 2023 | Santa Cruz Warriors | ||||||||||||||
| 2023–present | Illawarra Hawks | ||||||||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||||
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Medals
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Early life and career
editLee attended Samil Commercial School in Suwon, where he played basketball under the coaching of his father.[1] In middle school, Lee was only 170 centimeters (5 ft 7 in) and played as a guard, as he practiced dribbling and mid-range shooting. By the end of his middle school years, Lee grew to over 190 centimeters (6 ft 3 in). He played as a center during defense and a guard during the offense.[2] He modeled his game after Klay Thompson.[3]
In 2018, Lee enrolled at the NBA Global Academy in Canberra, Australia.[4] While at the academy, he played for the BA Centre of Excellence in the South East Australian Basketball League (SEABL) in 2018 and then the NBL1 in 2019.[5] In conjunction with the NBA Global Academy and the Centre of Excellence, he attended Lake Ginninderra Secondary College,[6] where he learned to speak English.[4]
Lee committed to playing college basketball for Davidson over an offer from Washington State. He drew the attention of head coach Bob McKillop and his staff at a Basketball Without Borders event.[4] He would become the fourth player and the second men's player from South Korea to play NCAA Division I basketball.[7]
College career
editAs a freshman with the Davidson Wildcats in 2019–20, Lee appeared in 28 games off the bench and finished seventh among A-10 first-year players in scoring, averaging 8.4 points per game.[6] On February 7, 2020, he scored a season-high 20 points in a 73–62 loss to VCU.[8] He was subsequently named to the Atlantic 10 All-Rookie Team.[6][9]
As a sophomore in 2020–21, Lee started all 22 games and finished second on the team in scoring and assists. He became the first-ever Wildcat to conclude the season shooting at least 50 percent overall, 40 percent from three-point range and 90 percent from the free throw line. He twice scored a season-high 23 points.[6] He averaged 13.5 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game.[6]
As a junior in 2021–22, Lee played in 34 games and made 33 starts, averaging 15.8 points, 6.0 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game.[6] On December 1, 2021, he recorded a career-high 32 points and 14 rebounds against Charlotte.[10][11] He was subsequently named first-team All-Atlantic 10.[12]
On April 26, 2022, Lee declared for the NBA draft, forgoing his remaining college eligibility.[13]
Professional career
editSanta Cruz Warriors (2023)
editAfter suffering a foot injury,[14][15] Lee went undrafted in the 2022 NBA draft.[16]
On February 20, 2023, Lee was acquired by the Santa Cruz Warriors of the NBA G League.[17] In 12 games to complete the 2022–23 season, he averaged 5.5 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game.[18]
Lee played for the Philadelphia 76ers in the 2023 NBA Summer League.[19]
Illawarra Hawks (2023–present)
editOn July 11, 2023, Lee signed a three-year deal with the Illawarra Hawks of the Australian National Basketball League (NBL).[19] On January 20, 2024, he had career-best night in the NBL with 24 points on 5-of-8 three-point shooting in a 96–89 loss to the Adelaide 36ers.[20]
National team career
editLee played for South Korea's junior national team at the 2015 FIBA Asia Under-16 Championship. He averaged 14 points and 5.7 rebounds per game, leading his team to its first gold medal at the tournament.[21][22] Lee represented South Korea at the 2016 FIBA Under-17 World Championship and 2018 FIBA Under-18 Asian Championship.[1] He averaged 26 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 6 assists per game at the 2018 tournament.[23] He played for the senior team at the 2020 FIBA Men's Olympic Qualifying Tournaments and during the 2022 FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers.[24]
Personal life
editLee's mother, Sung Jung-a, won a silver medal while representing South Korea in basketball at the 1984 Summer Olympics. His father, Lee Yoon-hwan, played semi-professionally before becoming a high school athletic director and coach. His older sister, Lee Ri-na, played for the South Korean under-16 national team.[25]
Career statistics
edit| GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game |
| FG% | Field goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field goal percentage | FT% | Free throw percentage |
| RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game |
| BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game | Bold | Career high |
College
edit| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019–20 | Davidson | 28 | 0 | 20.9 | .467 | .377 | .857 | 3.1 | .8 | .6 | .1 | 8.4 |
| 2020–21 | Davidson | 22 | 22 | 29.9 | .508 | .442 | .900 | 4.0 | 2.5 | .5 | .4 | 13.5 |
| 2021–22 | Davidson | 34 | 33 | 32.1 | .474 | .381 | .777 | 6.0 | 1.9 | .7 | .3 | 15.8 |
| Career | 84 | 55 | 27.8 | .481 | .397 | .823 | 4.5 | 1.7 | .6 | .2 | 12.7 | |
NBA G League
edit| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022–23 | Santa Cruz | 12 | 0 | 17.6 | .319 | .292 | .600 | 4.2 | 1.7 | .8 | .3 | 5.5 |
| Career | 12 | 0 | 17.6 | .319 | .292 | .600 | 4.2 | 1.7 | .8 | .3 | 5.5 | |
References
edit- ^ a b "Could Lee Hyunjung be the next Yuta Watanabe? Steph Curry's college coach thinks so". FIBA. July 14, 2020. Retrieved December 21, 2020.
- ^ Yoo, Jee-ho (May 8, 2019). "S. Korean basketball prospect to join Davidson in NCAA". Yonhap News Agency. Retrieved March 2, 2022.
- ^ Gershon, Josh (April 16, 2019). "Hyunjung Lee: 2019 South Korean SF planning two official visits". 247Sports. Retrieved December 22, 2020.
- ^ a b c Scott, David (February 17, 2020). "From South Korea to Australia to Davidson: Hyunjung Lee's journey never lost sight of home". The Charlotte Observer. Retrieved December 21, 2020.
- ^ "Hyunjung Lee". usbasket.com. Retrieved June 27, 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f "Hyunjung Lee". davidsonwildcats.com. Retrieved June 27, 2023.
- ^ Yonhap (May 8, 2019). "Lee will be Korea's 4th NCAA Division I baller". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved December 21, 2020.
- ^ "Rams Ride Wildcat Miscues to Win". Davidson College Athletics. February 7, 2020. Retrieved December 22, 2020.
- ^ Scott, David (March 10, 2020). "Davidson's Kellan Grady, Jon Axel Gudmundsson make all-Atlantic 10 teams". The Charlotte Observer. Archived from the original on June 30, 2023. Retrieved December 22, 2020.
- ^ "Lee scores 32 to lift Davidson over Charlotte 75-58". ESPN.com. December 1, 2021. Retrieved June 30, 2023.
- ^ "Hyunjung Lee Game Log 2021-22". ESPN.com. Retrieved June 30, 2023.
- ^ "Brajkovic Named Atlantic 10 Player of the Year, McKillop, Osunniyi Earn Top Honors". atlantic10.com. March 8, 2022. Retrieved June 30, 2023.
- ^ Yonhap (April 27, 2022). "S. Korean player Lee Hyun-jung declares for NBA draft". The Korea Herald. Retrieved January 3, 2023.
- ^ "NBA draft hopeful Lee Hyun-jung likely out for months with foot injury". Korea Times. June 23, 2022. Retrieved January 3, 2023.
- ^ "Hyunjung Lee: On mend from foot injury". CBS Sports. Retrieved January 3, 2023.
- ^ Yoo, Jee-ho (June 24, 2022). "S. Korean player Lee Hyun-jung goes undrafted in NBA". Yonhap News Agency. Retrieved January 3, 2023.
- ^ "2022-23 NBA G League Transactions". gleague.nba.com. Retrieved February 20, 2023.
- ^ "Hyunjung Lee". realgm.com. Retrieved June 27, 2023.
- ^ a b "Hawks Welcome Korean Sharpshooter Hyunjung Lee". Hawks.com.au. July 11, 2023. Retrieved July 11, 2023.
- ^ "Sixers climb off bottom, hand Hawks third straight loss". NBL.com.au. January 20, 2024. Archived from the original on January 20, 2024.
- ^ "Korea power their way past Chinese Taipei for maiden FIBA Asia U16 title". FIBA. November 7, 2015. Retrieved December 22, 2020.
- ^ "Hyunjung Lee (KOR)'s profile - FIBA Asia U16 Championship for Men 2015". FIBA. Retrieved December 22, 2020.
- ^ "Hyunjung Lee stats". FIBA. Retrieved March 23, 2022.
- ^ "Davidson's Hyunjung Lee Selected to Senior National Team". Atlantic 10 Conference. May 11, 2021. Retrieved January 11, 2022.
- ^ "S. Korean basketball prospect to join Davidson in NCAA". Yonhap News Agency. May 8, 2019. Retrieved December 21, 2020.
