Chung-Ang University's (CAU) Basketball team enjoys a high reputation. There was a time when it was renowned especially because of two basketball players. They are Song, Young-jin and Kim, Ju-seong. They were the lead players guiding with a strong leadership CAU's basketball team without rival. CAU's basketball team won almost every game. For instance, the team was on a three-game winning streak at the Basketball Big Feast and Universities league. They entered the professional league as first draft new players in the drafts of 2001 and 2002. The Chung-Ang Herald (CAH) met Song, Young-jin. Though he entered professional basketball as first new player, he fell into a slump. He had a hard time and strived to overcome the slump. Last season, he won the talent development prize. This paved the way for getting out of the slump, and he is now the most outstanding player in this season exceeding his own personal records. 

 

CAH: Did you have a particular reason for entering Chung-Ang University?
Song: CAU is famous as a university, and has a high reputation in basketball. In addition, the relationship between seniors and juniors is very friendly compared with other universities' basketball teams. For these reasons, I determined to enter CAU.

CAH: When did you think to be a basketball player at first?
Song: When I entered my first year of middle school, my height was 180 cm. It is not ordinary in middle school. Therefore, I caught my school basketball coach's eye, because of my height. I started to play from that time. Moreover, I set my mind on becoming a great basketball player.

CAH: How about your CAU life?
Song: I exercised throughout the whole campus. My major was Business Administration, so I often went to the Social Science Building.

CAH: How did you feel, when you were indicated as a first draft pick in 2001? 
Song: In faith, I am indeed glad that it happened.

CAH: How did you endeavor to get out of you slump? 


Song: I tried to get out of the slump in various ways. However, it was hard to overcome a slump by myself. While I made an effort in many ways, I perceived that environment was an important element for me to get out of a slump. Just at the right time, I transferred to KTF Magic Wings from LG Sakers. I wanted to make this change a good chance and to get out of my slump with this change. Therefore, I did my best.    

CAH: How do you feel, when you play a game against friends or seniors or juniors from your university days?
Song: Of course, I am glad to meet my old friends, seniors, and juniors. However, professional basketball is keen competition. For this reason, winning a victory is very significant. Therefore, I devote myself more to winning a victory than personal feelings. 

CAH: Please tell me about being singled out as a national basketball player of the 15th Asian Games Doha 2006 and World Basketball Challenge.
Song: I was satisfied about only one thing that I had grown into myself professionally. I wanted to make the best use of this opportunity. It was a stepping-stone, and I became a more mature player. Furthermore, I do my best to honor CAU and Korea.   

CAH: What do you enjoy in your free time?
Song: Before I played basketball in earnest, I liked every sport like baseball, soccer, running and so on. Even now, I cannot pass by a 500 won baseball batting cage. That is, I like batting a ball that is thrown by a machine. I really enjoy that. Even so, my hobby is not sports. I do not play a sport as a hobby. My hobby is watching movies and playing games, because I cannot do these things while I am in lodgings.  

CAH: What is your plan in the future?
Song: In fact, I do not think about my future plan in the concrete. However, when the occasion offers, I want to become an instructor for juniors' cultivation.  

To my juniors in CAU
I spent most of my CAU life exercising. So, when I look back on the past, most of my remembrances of my university days is related to exercising. However, after graduation, I missed university life. I want you to do the things you really want to do in university. There are things that we can do only while at university. I am sure that it is a sacrifice of itself for social life. I always remember CAU and try my damnedest to be a boastful senior, too.    

CAH watched Dong-bu Promy versus KTF Magic Wings game to take a picture of Song, Young-jin. He ran almost the whole time on the court. Kim, Ju-seoung, who is a main player with him when CAU's basketball team reached its peak was a Dong-bu Promy player. We could see the game between good partners when they were in CAU. CAH is proud of them. They are singled out as national basketball players of the 15th Asian Games Doha. CAH expects that we can see them play as they did, when they played for CAU in their university life.

 

 

 

 

Biography of Song, Young-jin

Birthdate: October 2, 1978                                  Height: 198 cm
Career: Professional Basketball player               Weight: 94kg
Position: Power forward                                    Blood type: B
Player number: 38


Changwon LG Sakers (2000~2005)
Pusan KTF Magic Wings (2005~)
National Basketball Player of 15th Asian Games Doha (2006~)
National Basketball Player of World Basketball Challenge (2006.8~)


 

저작권자 © 중앙헤럴드 무단전재 및 재배포 금지