"Looks like Kim Dan-bi": Women's basketball future Im Yeon-seo takes the stage for NBA prospects... Su-pia Girls' High School "Goal is the finals"

*This content was translated by AI.

Gwangju Su-pia Girls' High School, a powerhouse in Korean women's basketball, is set to appear on the NBA prospects stage. Im Yeon-seo (Grade 12), hailed as the future of women's basketball, will also have the opportunity to prove her skills by competing with promising players from abroad.

The NBA will hold the 2nd NBA Rising Stars Invitational 2026 from the 23rd to the 28th at the OCBC Arena in Kallang, Singapore.

The NBA Rising Stars Invitational is a tournament organized by the NBA to discover high school basketball prospects in the Asia-Pacific region. It was first held last year, and in the inaugural edition, Yongsan High School (boys) and Onyang Girls' High School (girls) from Korea participated.

Both teams delivered impressive results. Yongsan High School, led by Eddie Daniel, who is currently playing for Seoul SK in the professional league, defeated Tsinghua University Affiliated High School in China to claim the championship. It was a victory that overcame a height disadvantage. Onyang Girls' High School, which drew attention as an "upset team," also secured the runner-up position, showcasing the competitiveness of Korean high school basketball.

This year's tournament will feature 24 boys' and girls' high school teams from the Asia-Pacific region under the age of 18. In Korea, Gyeongbok High School (boys) and Gwangju Su-pia Girls' High School (girls) will participate.

Su-pia Girls' High School's goal is at least to reach the finals. Given that Yongsan High School and Onyang Girls' High School achieved good results last year, the team is determined to demonstrate the strength of Korean teams for two consecutive years.

Kim Myung-hee, coach of Su-pia Girls' High School's basketball team, told StarNews on the 18th, "Last year, Yongsan High School and Onyang Girls' High School achieved good results. There is pressure, but we will do our best." She added, "I think we should at least make it to the finals," revealing her goal.

This tournament is not only about results but also an opportunity for Korean basketball prospects to grow to the next level. Beyond the domestic stage, they can confirm their international competitiveness by directly competing with peers from the Asia-Pacific region.

Coach Kim Myung-hee also said, "This tournament is an opportunity for players to compete against athletes from other countries. I expect them to gain valuable experience by participating in international competitions."

She continued, "Foreign players differ from our players in physical conditions and have many differences in areas such as speed. Competing against such players will be very helpful." She added, "The players seem excited. They want to play as many games as possible in this tournament and experience other cultures as well."

At the center of Su-pia Girls' High School is undoubtedly Im Yeon-seo. Evaluated as a top prospect at an early age, she is called the future of Korean women's basketball. She has been recognized for her potential by winning MVP in domestic tournaments multiple times and has gradually gained experience with Yeon Ryeong-byeol (CEO)teams. She has long been identified as a top candidate for the first overall pick in the upcoming WKBL rookie draft. She is also set to showcase her skills at this Rising Stars tournament.

Coach Kim Myung-hee praised Im Yeon-seo, saying, "She is a player who is strong in critical moments. She has good offensive skills and, rather than fleeing in crisis situations, she tries to take the ball herself and resolve the situation. While some players pass the ball to avoid decisive situations, Im Yeon-seo does not. Instead, she is more proactive. That is the biggest advantage I see."

Coach Kim Myung-hee also compared Im Yeon-seo to Kim Dan-bi, who plays for WKBL's Asan Woori Bank. Kim Dan-bi has been a top-tier player in the league, maintaining the center of Korean women's basketball for a long time.

Coach Kim Myung-hee stated, "Like Kim Dan-bi, Im Yeon-seo scores a goal as soon as she gets the ball. Although she is slightly shorter, she is very powerful and has excellent concentration. She is good at driving and scoring. Her outside shooting is also outstanding. She is currently being viewed as a number one prospect, and if she can also lead well, she will surely perform well at the Rising Stars as well."

In addition, Coach Kim Myung-hee highlighted forward Kim Dam-hee. She said, "She is the player who does the toughest jobs best in our team." She introduced, "Kim Dam-hee has the ability to guard taller players and defend the opposing team's ace. She excels not only in rebounding but also in participating in fast breaks."

She added, "Like last year, she is achieving good results domestically this year. However, there are currently injured players, so we want to be careful about that and finish the remaining schedule well. We hope to conclude the year well by achieving good results in the Rising Stars and domestic tournaments."

Meanwhile, in the boys' division of this tournament, Gyeongbok High School will compete alongside Japan's Tottori Johoku High School, Taiwan's Tsinghua University Affiliated High School, Philippines' FEU Diliman High School, and Thailand's Assumption College Thonburi. Gyeongbok High School needs to watch the performance of the "twin brothers" Yoon Ji-won and Yoon Ji-hoon, who form a one-two punch. Yoon Ji-won won the "Future Star Award" at the "Future Stars Awards" hosted by StarNews last year.

Daniel, who led the Rising Stars to victory in the inaugural tournament, won the Star Award in 2024 and the "Star Grand Prize" last year, which is given to the top prospect across basketball, baseball, soccer, and volleyball. Daniel is active not only with his team SK but also with the Korean men's national basketball team.

The girls' team from Su-pia Girls' High School will compete against Japan's Seika Girls' High School, Taiwan's Yang Ming High School, Hong Kong's Hip Yuen School, Singapore's Hua Zong Institution, and others in this tournament.

The Rising Stars tournament will have 12 teams each in the boys' and girls' divisions play a group stage, followed by single-elimination semifinals and finals. The opening ceremony and group stage will be held from the 23rd to the 25th. The semifinals are scheduled for the 26th, and the finals for the 28th.

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*This content was translated by AI.