"I will win the Grand Prize next year." Yoon Ji-won keeps promise made one year ago, ultimate goal is NBA... also received special advice from Lee Hyun-joong [2026 Futures Star Awards]

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

"I will work hard to grow even more so that I can receive the Grand Prize next year."

The promise made one year ago has become reality. Yoon Ji-won (18, Gyeongbok High School), a top prospect in Korean basketball, has captured the Star Award, the highest honor this year, following his Future Star Award last year. However, Yoon's challenge does not end here. He is now looking toward the bigger dream of entering the National Basketball Association (NBA).

Yoon Ji-won received the Star Award at the "2026 Futures Star Awards (hosted and organized by StarNews, sponsored by the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee, National Sports Promotion Foundation, Korea Baseball & Softball Federation, Korea Basketball Association, Korea Volleyball Federation, Korea Sports Leisure Co., Ltd., and Palseok Mian)" ceremony held on the 26th in the press conference room on the 19th floor of the Korea Press Center in Jung-gu, Seoul. He also received a prize money of 3 million won.

This award is even more special for Yoon Ji-won. This is because he secured the Star Award, the highest honor, just one year after receiving the Future Star Award in the basketball category at the same ceremony last year.

In particular, it holds unique significance in that he actually fulfilled the pledge he made at last year's ceremony.

Standing on the stage for the award, Yoon Ji-won said, "I am grateful to those who gave me this big Star Award," adding, "Last year, when I received the Future Star Award here, I said I would challenge for the Grand Prize next year, and I think it is an honor that I could keep that promise. From now on, I will play basketball even harder to become a player who can shine Korean basketball."

Yoon Ji-won not only dominated the domestic high school basketball scene this year but also proved his value by performing exceptionally well in international tournaments.

Gyeongbok High School achieved a season four-peat by winning the 63rd Spring National Men's and Women's Middle and High School Basketball League Haenam Tournament, the 51st Association President's Cup National Men's and Women's Middle and High School Basketball Yeonggwang Tournament, the 2026 League President's Cup National Men's and Women's Middle and High School Basketball Tongyeong Tournament, and the 56th Autumn National Men's and Women's Middle and High School Basketball League Sangju Tournament.

He also shone on the international stage. In June, he participated in the "NBA Rising Stars Invitational 2026," held by the NBA for high school prospects in the Asia-Pacific region, leading Gyeongbok High School to victory.

In particular, he exploded with 36 points and 12 rebounds in the final against Japan's Tottori Johoku High School, leading the way to an 82-72 win. Yoon Ji-won was also selected as the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the men's final.

In August, he also participated as a member of the Korean national team at the 2026 International Basketball Federation (FIBA) Under-18 (U-18) Asia Cup held in India, contributing to the team's advancement to the semifinals and securing a berth in the main round of the 2027 FIBA U-19 World Cup.

Yoon Ji-won also looked back on this year as a special one. He met with StarNews at the ceremony and said, "I think I have achieved almost everything I could achieve on the high school stage," adding, "Unlike last year and the year before, I stepped onto the Asian stage this year. It seems we were able to raise the status of Korean basketball by achieving good results in the NBA Rising Stars Invitational or the U-18 Asia Cup. That is why it was a more meaningful year."

Now Yoon Ji-won is looking toward a bigger stage. In particular, the performances of seniors Park Jeong-woong (Anyang Jung Kwan Jang) and Eddie Daniel (Seoul SK), who previously won the Futures Star Awards, are also serving as good motivation for Yoon Ji-won.

Yoon Ji-won said, "Like senior Park Jeong-woong and senior Eddie Daniel, they have not been in the pro league for long, but they are playing as sixth men or starters with their own roles," adding, "We want to work even harder to do better than those seniors in basketball terms, and we also have a desire to surpass them."

He then emphasized, "Whether it is the pro league or an overseas league, I want to go to a higher stage quickly to gain diverse experiences and grow."

In addition, Yoon Ji-won also received special advice from national team senior Lee Hyun-joong, who is active on overseas stages.

Lee Hyun-joong, who challenged overseas expansion first, reportedly candidly shared the trial and error and difficulties he experienced with his juniors.

Yoon Ji-won said, "Senior Hyun-joong went overseas before us to gain experience. He told us in advance about the failures and difficulties he experienced while challenging overseas," adding, "He gave us a lot of advice so that we could continue our challenges more smoothly when we go overseas later."

He also revealed the most memorable piece of advice. It was English and an active attitude.

Yoon Ji-won said, "The first thing senior Hyun-joong emphasized was English," explaining, "He said that when he first went overseas, his introverted personality made him not step forward and wait for someone to approach him. But he said that doing so meant no one offered help or showed interest first."

He added, "He told us never to do that when going overseas. He advised us to approach people first and live actively and energetically, even if we are not good at English."

Lee Hyun-joong also actively supported his juniors' challenges in overseas expansion. Yoon Ji-won said, "Senior Hyun-joong thought our overseas challenge was very impressive and proud of us. We were able to listen to advice happily and ask many questions about what we were curious about."

Yoon Ji-won's ultimate goal is also clear. It is entering the NBA, the world's top basketball stage. He said firmly, "Of course, my ultimate goal is the NBA stage," adding, "As a player, I will always be humble and know how to be grateful."

On this day, Yoon Ji-won shared the joy of winning with his twin brother Yoon Ji-hoon (18), adding meaning to the occasion. Yoon Ji-hoon also received the Star Award in the basketball category, receiving 1 million won in prize money and 1 million won in gift certificates.

Yoon Ji-won, who had taken the stage last year as a Future Star Award winner to talk about new goals, returned one year later as a Star Award winner. And this time, he issued a challenge toward the bigger dream of the NBA.

Meanwhile, the Futures Star Awards, hosted and organized by StarNews, is an award established for the development of Korean sports and the revitalization of amateur athletics. It started with baseball in 2022 and is now in its fifth year.

This year, a total of 10 promising athletes received the honor across seven sports: baseball, soccer, basketball, volleyball, golf, skateboarding, and artistic gymnastics.

2026 Futures Star Awards Ceremony

■ Winners and Prizes (Total 10 people)

◇ Baseball

Ha Hyun-seung (18, Kiwoom Heroes 1st round), 3rd year at Busan High School: Prize money 3 million won

Lee Ho-min (18, KIA Tigers 1st round), 3rd year at Gyeongnam High School: Prize money 1 million won and gift certificates worth 1 million won

◇ Soccer

Ahn Ju-wan (17, Seoul E-Land FC), 2nd year at Sinpyeong High School: Prize money 1 million won and gift certificates worth 1 million won

Jung Hyun-woong (18, FC Seoul), 3rd year at Osan High School: Prize money 1 million won and gift certificates worth 1 million won

◇ Basketball

Yoon Ji-won (18), 3rd year at Gyeongbok High School: Prize money 3 million won

Yoon Ji-hoon (18), 3rd year at Gyeongbok High School: Prize money 1 million won and gift certificates worth 1 million won

◇ Volleyball

Son So-yeon (16), 1st year at Sunmyeong Girls' High School: Prize money 1 million won and gift certificates worth 1 million won

◇ Golf

Yang Yun-seo (18), 3rd year at Incheon Girls' High School Affiliated Broadcasting & Open High School: Prize money 1 million won and gift certificates worth 1 million won

◇ Skateboarding

Kang Jun-i (18), 3rd year at Yeongdeungpo High School: Prize money 1 million won and gift certificates worth 1 million won

◇ Artistic Gymnastics

Hwang So-hyeon (18), 3rd year at Incheon Sports High School: Prize money 1 million won and gift certificates worth 1 million won

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original