Lee Ga-hyun, the No. 1 rookie, was nominated by Shinhan Bank. Park Jihyun's role model. Speed, physical fight, strengthen weakness, and become a good player. The 2nd one is Lee Wonjung and the 3rd one is Gori Me

Aug 20, 2025

Shinhan Bank Lee Ga-hyun (right) and Choi Yoon-ah. Photo courtesy =WKBL

BNK director Park Jung-eun and Lee Won-jung. Photo courtesy =WKBL

KKB Director Kim Wan-soo and Kori Mi. Photo courtesy =WKBL

Lee Ga-hyun (18, Supia Girls' High School) ranked first in the honor of rookie draft in women's professional basketball.

Lee Ga-hyun was nominated by Incheon Shinhan Bank in the WKBL Rookie Draft held at Bucheon Indoor Gymnasium on the 20th and was selected as the No. 1 overall.

Shinhan Bank won the first nomination right at the earlier nomination ceremony.

It was an early prediction of the No. 1 pick.

Lee Ga-hyun is one of the top high school basketball players with a tall height of 1m80 and solid basic skills. It has accurate mid-jumper and solid defense. He is considered to play similar to Hong Yoo-soon, who was the No. 1 rookie draft player and selected for the national team last year. In addition to personal skills, good BQ (Basketball IQ) is highly regarded for playing basketball necessary for teams such as off-the-ball moves.

He won the rebound award at the 49th National Men's and Women's Middle and High School Basketball Competition and played a key role in the U-19 national team.

Choi Yoon-ah, head coach of Shinhan Bank, said "He is a player who plays stably at a good height. I plan to use it as a forward. Loved the big stature, wingspan, and wide shoulders. If you strengthen your physical fight and power, you will be a good player."

Lee Ga-hyun ranked first among a total of 40 players with a wing span of 1m89 at the draft combine held on the same day.

Lee Ga-hyun said, `I'm confident in the defense and rebounding that the team needs and the movement when I don't see it. However, the physical fight is weak and you need to increase the speed. The role model is Park Ji-hyun. I liked Park Jihyun's play the most since elementary school"I played with my professional sisters in the U-19 national team, and I definitely felt that they were different in offense and defense." I will make up for my weakness and become a player who helps Shinhan Bank."

Busan BNK, which won the second nomination right, chose Onyang Girls' High School guard Lee Won-jung (18, 1m72).

Lee Won-jung, one of the highest guards in high school, also dominated the MVP, scoring, rebound and defense awards at the 50th National Men's and Women's Middle and High School Basketball Championship. He played as a member of the U-19 national team.

The strong speed is excellent, and the pass ability is strong after the breakthrough. However, there is also an evaluation that the shooting ability is weak. BNK secured the resources to succeed Ahn Hye-ji, the main point guard, by choosing Lee Won-jung.

Lee Ga-hyun and Lee Won-jung were evaluated as the rookie draft 'Big 2' early on. There was nothing unusual about it.

Cheongju KB, which won the third-place nomination, made an unexpected choice. KB chose Kori-mi, a Korean Japanese who played in Sacheon City Hall. After graduating from Mukokawa Women's University in Japan, Kori Mi, a forward of 1m76, played for Sacheon City Hall.

This rookie draft was in the fog from the third place. Most of the coaching staff and fronts of the six teams just before the rookie draft are expected to be Lee Ga-hyun and Lee Won-jung. However, his skills are far from the third place. In the end, it is highly likely that the nomination ranking will be flexible depending on the tryout performance on the day of the draft and the position required for the team."

Gorimi was well received in the tryout. He showed active movement, activity, and solid basic skills in offense and defense. In the end, KB, which was struggling, chose Gori-mi as the third priority.

Hana Bank, which won the fourth nomination right, chose forward Hwang Yoon-seo (1m78) of 1m81, Samsung Life Insurance selected Yang Hye-eun (1m78) at Sookmyung Girls' High School, and Woori Bank selected forward Choi Ye-won (1m78).

Shinhan Bank, which won the first nomination in the second round due to Kang Gye-ri's transfer to Woori Bank, chose Hwang Hyun-jung of Onyang Girls' High School. Hwang Hyun-jung, who is considered the best 3-point shooter in the women's high school team, has been invited to the 2024 NBA Basketball Camp without borders and the 2025 Basketball Without Borders Global Women's Camp. Samsung Life Insurance, ranked second in the second round, nominated Han Ji-min from Sunil Girls' High School, and Dankook University Park Ji-soo from BNK, ranked third. In three years, a college player has been nominated for a professional position. No. 4 KB chose Kim Min-kyung from Beopsung High School, No. 5 Hana Bank chose Lee Eun-seo from Beopsung High School, and No. 6 Woori Bank chose Park So-young from Sunil High School.

Initially, 12 players were expected to be selected by the second round, but there was an upset. Shinhan Bank named Gwangju University guard Chung Chae-ryeon as the first priority in the third round, and Hana Bank called Sookmyung Girls' High School Kim Yeon-jin, who also serves as a guard and forward.