[정영재 曰] Song Gyo-chang’s choice of’high school basketball king’

The’High School MVP’ was born in 24 years in Korean professional basketball, which was launched in 1997. Song Gyo-chang (25·2m), who graduated from Samil Sang High School in Suwon and joined KCC in Jeonju in 2015, is the protagonist. Song Gyo-chang received 99 out of 107 votes by reporters at the 2020~21 professional basketball regular league awards ceremony held on the 7th, and surpassed’Heo Jae’s son’ Heo Hoon (8 votes) with a margin.

Forward Song Gyo-chang, who is good at both ball and hand, ranked second among domestic players this season in goals per game (15.1 points) and rebounds (6.1 points). Thanks to Song Gyo-chang’s performance, KCC won the regular league title after 5 years.

I met Song Hee-soo, the father who raised his eldest son, over the phone. Song said, “Gyochang was a very quiet and introverted child. I ordered baseball and basketball to make my personality active and increase my physical strength, but my child showed interest in basketball,” he recalled. Song Gyo-chang, who made his determination to succeed with basketball, said to his father who came to pick him up after training after 9 p.m. from junior high school days, “I’ll do an extra 30 minutes of personal exercise.”

In 2015, when it was natural for Ace, who had finished high school, to go to a prestigious university, the World Championship for Youth Under 19 was held in Greece when his career was almost solidified. There, Song Gyo-chang is shocked to see his peers playing basketball to the next level.

This is the words of his father, Song Hee-soo. “If I go to college, I will play with my seniors and juniors for a year or two, but I was wondering if my skills could improve further. Anyway, if I had bet my life in basketball, I decided to go to the pros right away and learn by colliding with seniors.”

Song Gyo-chang, who was nominated for the KCC as the 3rd place in the 2015-16 season for the rookie draft in professional basketball, gained experience step by step in the D-League where new players play. Coach Seung-gyun Cho, who boasted the strongest defensive power during his active career, taught the basics of defense. Director Jeon Chang-jin, who took office in 2019, awakened Song Gyo-chang’s inner attacking instinct. As the experience gained year by year, Song Gyo-chang has grown into the strongest forward to’chew the league’.

Song Gyo-chang is the second of three brothers, and all three did not go to college. The first is an Internet-based business, and the youngest is helping his older brother. The father respected the talents and choices of his sons. “Sometimes, I have a glass of soju on pork belly with my children at home. When I ask if I have ever regretted not going to college, I can say,’Dad, I don’t know how fortunate it is to not go to college. How happy it is to live while doing what I like.”

Song Gyo-chang is also an MVP for good deeds. Earlier this year, a courier without a sender was delivered to 150 freshmen in 30 middle and high school basketball clubs nationwide. Basketball shoes that match the size of the recipient’s feet were contained in the delivery box. As it turned out, it was what Song Gyo-chang did with the’Long Legs Uncle Project’. My father said, “I want to do something like that, so I said,’Isn’t it too early?’ .

Song Gyo-chang obtained the free agent (FA) qualification this year. It is four years earlier than his peers who went through college. The KCC said they would definitely catch it, and the other 9 teams are preparing unconventional proposals for recruitment. It is natural that the ransom of Song Gyo-chang, whose annual salary is 330 million won, will soar.

Everyone has a moment of choice in their lives. Will I go on a path that everyone else has to go, or will I go on a path that others have not chosen? Will you choose the one you are comfortable and familiar with, or will you take a direction that is worth the challenge even if it is difficult? Song Gyo-chang’s choice of’high school basketball king’ reminds me of many things.

Jung Young-jae Sports Reporter/Central Content Lab