[On-Site Interview] "Congratulations on your selection by KB" — Heo Ye-eun sent the text first... Kim Seong-eon, from high school junior to now a teammate: "I want to adapt to professional basketball quickly"

*This content was translated by AI.

"My senior Heo Ye-eun reached out to congratulate me."

Four years ago, Kim Seong-eon chose university over the pros. As the captain of Dankook University, she led the team to its first-ever regular season championship and a perfect 10-0 record. Now, only the playoffs remain. After achieving her final goal on the collegiate stage, she will head to the Cheongju KB Stars, who selected her in August. There, she will share the same locker room as Heo Ye-eun, her senior from Sangju Girls' High School.

Dankook University, led by Head Coach Baek Ji-eun, defeated Gwangju Women's University on the 29th in the final regular season game of the 2026 KUSF College Basketball U-League women's division, held at the Cheonan Dankook University Main Stadium.

With this victory, Dankook University completed its first-ever regular season championship with a "perfect record," winning all 10 games this season.

The achievement held special significance for captain Kim Seong-eon as well.

After the game, Kim Seong-eon told StarNews, "It is truly wonderful that we won our final game and achieved the goal of a perfect regular season championship," smiling.

She added, "As captain, the players followed me very well, and I think that is why we were able to achieve such good results, making it even more meaningful." She emphasized, "I want to carry this momentum straight through to the playoffs."

This season holds another special meaning for Kim Seong-eon.

In the 2026-2027 WKBL Rookie Draft held in August, she was selected by the Cheongju KB Stars with the second pick in the second round, fulfilling her dream of entering professional basketball.

Immediately after the draft, she received a welcome message from Heo Ye-eun, the star guard of the KB Stars.

Kim Seong-eon smiled and said, "Senior Ye-eun contacted me to congratulate me after I was selected."

The two players share a special connection. Both Heo Ye-eun and Kim Seong-eon are alumni of Sangju Girls' High School. Heo Ye-eun is her senior by three years.

Kim Seong-eon explained, "Because we are three years apart in age, I was never able to play a game with her at school." Although they did not have the opportunity to stand on the court together during their school days, they will now compete wearing the same uniform in the pros.

Kim Seong-eon cheered more than anyone for Heo Ye-eun's performance and the Yeo Ja-nong-gu (CEO) national team's gold medal challenge at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.

She said, "I was shouting while watching the broadcast."

Watching her senior Heo Ye-eun perform, Kim Seong-eon also harbored a new dream of wearing the national team badge.

Kim Seong-eon shared, "I talked with Head Coach Baek Ji-eun about holding our ground in the pros and working hard so that we can try for the Seong In (CEO) national team as well."

For Kim Seong-eon, the professional stage is a challenge she has long awaited.

Upon graduating high school, she chose to attend Dankook University instead of immediately knocking on the door of the pros. After spending four years in college, she participated in the rookie draft for the first time and was ultimately chosen by the KB Stars.

The time spent in university greatly broadened her perspective on basketball as well.

Recalling her experience of being selected three times for the Lee Sang-bak Cup Korea-Japan University Seon Bal-dae-hoe (CEO) Team during her four years in college, Kim Seong-eon said, "Going to Japan made me think a lot that if we only stay within Korean college basketball, we might become 'frogs in a well.'" She added, "I also felt that the style of basketball played in Japan is very different from Korean college basketball."

She continued, "I believe the difference between college and the pros will be even greater," and has mentally prepared herself.

Therefore, her first goal after joining the KB Stars is "adaptation."

Kim Seong-eon said, "The senior players on the KB team have been training continuously during the off-season, but I could not train with them because I was playing in the college league. There will definitely be a difference in that aspect." She added, "It won't be easy to adapt immediately, but my first goal is to blend into the team as quickly as possible."

Even so, she did not hide her bold determination befitting a rookie.

Kim Seong-eon said firmly, "If given the opportunity, I want to show that 'I can do this much too.'" She added, "I also want to show that I am a player with conviction and a big heart."

She has already had a unique experience that made the move to the pros feel real: she completed her rookie profile photoshoot.

Kim Seong-eon said, "I have taken profile pictures during my four years in college, but taking them for the pros was on a completely different level." She added with a smile, "It was also the first time I had that kind of makeup done by Navy Headquarters. Everything is a new experience, so it still feels a bit awkward."

Once she completes all her schedules at university, Kim Seong-eon will head to Cheongju. Depending on the playoff schedule, she is expected to join the KB Stars between late October and early November.

However, there are still things left to finish at Dankook University.

Kim Seong-eon said firmly, "In the National Sports Festival, we will face professional teams, but we have youthful passion and stamina. I want to try beating the senior players." She added, "I want to carry this current momentum straight through to the playoffs and truly experience what it feels like to win a championship."

<© STARNEWS. All rights reserved. No reproduction or redistribution allowed.>

*This content was translated by AI.