Will Kim Jung-eun Save Shinsegae?

The winter league will heat up with the addition of a super rookie and foreign players from the U.S.’ WNBA.

Noteworthy rookies this season are Shinsegae’s first draft choice Kim Jeong-eun (181cm•Onyang Girls HS, photo), and initially Keumho Life’s second draft choice, Yi Gyeong-eun (176cm, Seonil Girls HS), who was picked up by Uri Bank which, in return, gave up their “shot blocking queen” Yi Jong-ae.

Kim Jeong-eun was the MVP of this year’s High School Autumn League with her 25.4 points per game and 7.4 rebounds per game. She has been praised as having great elasticity and basketball instinct. Yi Gyeong-eun also was the MVP in the Autumn League with a per-game average of 31.5 points, 7 rebounds, and 4.5 assists. Yi has been commented as being in better shape than Jeon Ju-won (Shinhan Bank) in her high school days. Yi is the lead point guard of her team.

As for foreign players, having won the best foreign player award and the leading scorer award in the last winter league, Elena Beard (180cm, Shinsegae) is the cream of the crop. She was with the Washington Mystics of WNBA this year and ranked ninth in scoring.

Sung-Kyu Kim kimsk@donga.com