[Interview] 'As expected, the top pick' — Shinhan Bank coach Choi Yoon-ah, who watched Kaneda firsthand: "High basketball IQ and good shooting"... What's needed now is 'physical condition'

*This content was translated by AI.

There was a reason for being the overall first pick. Kaneda Mana, 28, a Japanese-Korean who joined Incheon Shinhan Bank, is now adapting to her new stage while undergoing full team training. Her first evaluation from coach Choi Yoon-ah, who has directly coached Kaneda, was also positive.

In a phone interview with StarNews on the 1st, Coach Choi said about Kaneda: "She is adapting well. It seems she is indeed a good player," and added, "I expect that as we fill in the areas that need improvement and address necessary aspects one by one, she will continue to develop."

Kaneda was selected as the overall first pick by Shinhan Bank in last month's Women's Korean Basketball League (WKBL) rookie draft.

Born in 1998, Kaneda graduated from Osaka University of Human Sciences and played for Chanson V-Magic in Japan's W-League from 2020 to 2024. She later also played for Toyota Antelopes, gaining experience in the Japanese professional league.

In this draft, she was considered one of the top prospects alongside Im Yeon-seo (Gwangju Suwha Girls' High School), who dominated high school basketball. Shinhan Bank ultimately chose Kaneda, who brings rich practical experience, over younger promising players.

At the time of the selection, Coach Choi expressed her expectations: "Kaneda has diverse experiences in Japan. I believe she is suitable as an immediate contributor. We have been watching her for a long time."

Even after conducting joint training and exhibition games, positive evaluations continued.

The first strengths highlighted by Coach Choi Yoon-ah were Kaneda's high basketball IQ and shooting ability. She stated, "First of all, it seems she has good basketball understanding. And her shooting is also good."

Kaneda is a player capable of handling both the 2nd-guard and 3-guard positions on offense. Shortly after the draft, Coach Choi also projected that she could be utilized broadly from the 1st-guard to the 4th-forward position on defense.

In the current plan, Kaneda's primary position has not changed significantly. Coach Choi explained, "Her position will likely be 2-guard or 3-guard."

With Kaneda joining, Shinhan Bank now possesses a roster that is considered a dark horse capable of threatening the upper standings.

Shinhan Bank has secured the overall first pick in the rookie draft for three consecutive years, including this year. Hong Yu-soon grew into a player for the South Korean national team, and top prospect Lee Ga-hyun also gained valuable experience in the professional league.

With the addition of Kaneda, the team's strength has become even more solid. Veteran players at the league level, such as Shin Ji-hyun and Kim Jin-young, are holding strong positions, and recently, Taiwan national team big man Huang Xiang-ting was also signed.

However, Kaneda is not yet in perfect condition. Coach Choi pointed out that for Kaneda to fully showcase her strengths at Shinhan Bank, improving her physical condition is the first priority.

Coach Choi stated, "Her physical condition has not yet fully recovered," and added, "For now, her physical condition could be a disadvantage."

Beyond skill, how quickly she adapts to the new environment is also an important challenge. For Kaneda, who lived in Japan for a long time and continued her playing career there, joining WKBL and living in Korea represents a new challenge.

However, it appears there are no major issues with team adaptation so far.

In particular, captain Shin Ji-hyun is actively helping Kaneda adapt. Coach Choi shared, "Captain Shin Ji-hyun has been greatly assisting Kaneda in adapting, both in daily life and in team atmosphere."

She continued, "Kaneda is also getting along well with the players during training and daily life. It seems she will be fine with the adaptation process."

For Kaneda, Korea is not just another overseas league. Her father holds South Korean citizenship. Her mother also previously held South Korean citizenship before naturalizing as a Japanese citizen.

At the time of the draft, Kaneda explained her decision to come to Korea: "Since I have Korean blood in me, I have always liked Korean basketball. I had thoughts of playing in Korea, and because I have Korean heritage, I decided to participate in the rookie draft."

She further added, "Whether on defense or offense, I want to be a player who can contribute to the team," and expressed her determination: "I hope to help the team win by aligning with what Coach Choi Yoon-ah expects."

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*This content was translated by AI.