[Park Kangja's Basketball Story 7] 3X3 Basketball Han Junhyuk "Basketball is a Boomerang"

[Asia Economy Park Gang-ja, Guest Reporter] This year, 3x3 basketball gained sensational popularity. Fans' interest increased not only in domestic tournaments but also in international competitions. Among the players who fiercely dominated the 3x3 court is the 'Little Giant' Han Jun-hyeok (22).

Han Jun-hyeok is currently a junior at Yeungnam University. He started playing basketball in the 4th grade of elementary school and continued his athletic career through middle and high school, entering Dongguk University. However, after enrolling at Dongguk University, he realized he had been playing with incorrect basketball rules and dropped out after six months. Deciding to leave the basketball court, he re-enrolled in the Department of Physical Education at Yeungnam University to become a physical education teacher. By chance, his connection with basketball continued. At the end of 2017, the KBA 3x3 Korea Tour Daegu tournament was held at Yeungnam University, and he jumped into the 3x3 scene. Recently, I met Han Jun-hyeok at a caf? in Seoul and listened to his basketball story. [Text by Park Gang-ja / Photos by Park Gang-ja & Lee Ga-kyung]

Player Han Jun-hyeok [Photo by Lee Ga-kyung]

■ Han Jun-hyeok's Basketball Career

I asked him what made him start playing basketball. "My father loved sports and dreamed of becoming an athlete, but circumstances didn't allow it. Instead, he decided that if he had a son, he would definitely make him play sports. To spark my interest, he took me to baseball, soccer, and basketball stadiums. Baseball games were too long and boring. I played a lot of soccer when I was young, but my father thought I lacked foot skills. Basketball was left, and I felt the heat and fun at the basketball court. At that time, player Kim Seung-hyun and the foreign players showed real Showtime basketball. That small player was good. He was similar to me. So I started to like it."

▶ Basketball Player Career Record

How was his player career after seriously starting basketball?

"In elementary school, it was just fun. I ran around playing basketball, and I think I enjoyed it then. In middle school, I started to mature a bit. When I moved from 2nd to 3rd grade in middle school, I was short and thought I had no outstanding skills, so I practiced a lot even after training hours ended." His efforts shone. In the 3rd grade of middle school, he achieved a triple-double (27 points, 11 rebounds, 11 steals) at the 2012 Federation President's Cup Middle and High School Basketball Tournament.

He said, "In high school, I worked harder than in middle school and grew technically." He added that he learned a lot about steps and pick-and-roll techniques from Heo Hoon (KT), who was two years his senior at Yongsan High School.

However, he dropped out just six months after entering university. "I learned that you shouldn't play basketball like that in university."

▶ General University Life Record

How was his university life after entering the Department of Physical Education at Yeungnam University?

"In my first year, I studied as if my life depended on it. There were 60 students in the Department of Physical Education, and only 10%, six students, qualified for teacher certification in the second year. I quit a university in Seoul and came to Yeungnam University aiming for physical education, so I wanted to be in the top 10%." He succeeded in obtaining the difficult teacher certification.

At the end of 2017, the KBA 3x3 Korea Tour Daegu tournament was held at Yeungnam University, and Han Jun-hyeok participated. "Kim Dong-woo (former KCC) hyung told me to go comfortably. The tournament was held on weekends at Yeungnam University gym, and after some hesitation, I joined. I used to play basketball as a hobby when I couldn't study. I just practiced right-hand shooting steadily. Actually, I had shot with my left hand throughout my player career but practiced switching to right-hand shooting as a hobby."

He realized after entering university that shooting with his left hand was wrong. "I followed my favorite player Kim Seung-hyun in elementary school and shot with my left hand. The coach thought I was left-handed and taught me left-hand shooting motions. During my time as a Dongguk University player, I heard that NBA players throw a baseball to improve shooting feel, so I tried it. I couldn't control a fastball with my left hand, but with my right hand, I controlled it perfectly."

As he mastered right-hand shooting, his thoughts about basketball grew again.

"In early 2018, after being selected for teacher certification, I wanted to try basketball more, so I challenged the Korean Basketball League (KBL) rookie draft in November. Since I had changed to right-hand shooting, I wanted to show scouts the change. There was the Asian Games, but suddenly only under-23 players could participate in 3x3 basketball, so I challenged it with Kim Tae-gwan. The KBL WINZ came out, so the opportunity was unfortunately lost, but I set a goal to keep playing basketball until before the draft."

He said 3x3 basketball is a sport that fits the current trend.

"Attack and defense repeat nonstop, the number of players is small, and the court can be used widely. So you can show many cool plays and shoot confidently. I wanted to become a 3x3 player. After failing the KBL draft, I was contacted by Elephant Friends in February last year and signed a contract."

Lee Jeong-jun, Kim Cheol, Han Jun-hyeok, and Kim Dong-hyun of Elephant Friends are cheering after winning the 2nd round of the Com2uS Korea 3X3 Premier League 2019.
Photo by Park Kang-ja

■ Han Jun-hyeok's 2019

Han Jun-hyeok spent a busy 2019 as a 3x3 professional player while attending university. He said, "It passed like a slideshow and was a memorable year."

In the Com2uS Korea 3X3 Premier League, Elephant Friends won twice (2nd round, 6th round), and he was selected as the Most Valuable Player (MVP) twice, having improved his breakthrough and outside shooting skills. He was also selected for the national team, wore the Taegeuk mark, and participated in the FIBA 3x3 U23 World Cup 2019 held in Lanzhou, China.

▶ Elephant Friends' Han Jun-hyeok

Han Jun-hyeok said, "We each practiced individually and met on Friday nights to coordinate team play for about 2-3 hours. I think I gained a lot this year. I created a team where I stood out, and the older players recognized and trusted me a lot, which was good. Elephant unexpectedly won twice and did well. We were eliminated in the preliminaries in the 1st round, and people around said it wouldn't work, but we united and won immediately in the 2nd round. I was very happy," he said reflecting on the season.

Recalling the final match against the strong team Musso in the 6th round, he said, "It was a game where every shot went in," and "I was really happy."

Han Junhyuk is attempting a drive during the match against Lithuania at the FIBA 3x3 U23 World Cup 2019 held in Lanzhou, China, last October.
[Photo by FIBA]

▶ FIBA U23 3x3 World Cup National Team Member Han Jun-hyeok

When asked about his impressions of the 3x3 World Cup, he replied, "I wondered if a short Asian player could compete, but when I actually played, I thought my speed was special. I felt I needed to improve defensively."

"They shoot over my head (laughs), so even if I get the ball, I have to make them shoot from a distance. If I were weak, they would come close to the basket, so I try to build strength to withstand and make them shoot from far away, which lowers their shooting percentage."

At that time, U23 3x3 national team coach Jung Han-shin said, "He showed passionate performance as a 3x3 basketball player. Despite his short height as a basketball player, he performed well and was selected for the U23 national team. He fulfilled his role during the tournament. I am grateful. If he continues with this attitude, he will develop as a 3x3 player," offering encouraging advice.

2020 Uniform
Photo by Han Junhyuk

■ Basketball is Like a Boomerang to Me

Han Jun-hyeok said basketball is like a boomerang that keeps coming back to him. He said, "At first, I thought 'I won't play basketball!' and quit Dongguk University, but I found myself practicing right-hand shooting before I knew it. Even after failing the KBL draft, I thought 'I won't play basketball!' but I came back again. Like a boomerang, it keeps coming back somehow. Now, I will try not to abandon basketball."

■ Han Jun-hyeok's Back Number

He has worn number 11 continuously since the 6th grade of elementary school. "I originally liked number 11 because I wanted to grow tall." When he started basketball again, he changed his number. "When I was young, in clubs or hobby groups, the older players always took the good numbers, and the leftover number became mine. Later, I wanted to remember how I performed wearing that uniform, so from age 22, I increased my number by one each year. Last year, I wore number 23 for Elephant and also number 23 on the national team uniform. This year, my number is 24. I also had my own logo embroidered on the uniform. 'My name has many H's, so I put a basketball pattern in the H of my logo.'"

Player Han Jun-hyeok [Photo by Lee Ga-kyung]

■ Leaping Toward 2020

"This year, as I move to the 4th year, I have to do student teaching. I had shoulder surgery in January and expect 3-4 months of rehabilitation. The 3x3 season usually starts in April or May, so I can return accordingly. Because of my shoulder, I haven't signed a contract yet. If I sign, I might feel pressured and overdo it. I plan to sign after my shoulder gets better."

His team, Elephant Friends, unfortunately disbanded at the end of the 2019 season. Some teams have offered him to join. "It will be a year to take a little break and prepare for a better future. For now, I will watch without rushing, and if I get a chance in the second half, I will try to perform better."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.