Song Kyo-chang

Song Kyo-chang (born 3 July 1996) is a South Korean professional basketball player. He currently plays for Jeonju KCC Egis in the Korean Basketball League and the South Korean national team.

In this Korean name, the family name is Song.
Song Kyo-chang
No. 2 – Jeonju KCC Egis
PositionForward
LeagueKorean Basketball League
Personal information
Born (1996-07-03) 3 July 1996
Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea
NationalitySouth Korean
Listed height199.5 cm (6 ft 7 in)
Listed weight95 kg (209 lb)
Career information
High schoolSamil Commercial High School
KBL draft2015: 1st round, 3rd overall pick
Playing career2015–present
Career history
2015–presentJeonju KCC Egis
2022–2023→ Sangmu (loan)
Career highlights and awards
Korean name
Hangul
송교창
Hanja
宋喬昌
Revised RomanizationSong Gyo-chang
McCune–ReischauerSong Kyoch'ang

Early life

Song was introduced to basketball in elementary school but preferred baseball as his lack of height was considered a disadvantage. By the time he entered middle school, he had grown much taller than his peers, prompting him to switch back to basketball. He graduated from Samil Commercial High School in Suwon.[1] Samil was known as one of the top basketball schools outside of Seoul and he caught the attention of scouts, especially after his performances with the youth national teams. He opted against playing college basketball in order to be eligible for the 2015 KBL rookie draft.[2]

Career

Professional

Song was drafted by Jeonju KCC Egis as the third overall pick. It was the first time since 2005 a high school graduate was drafted so early in the first round.[1] He was sent to the D League reserve team to gain more regular playing time and was gradually integrated into the professional team towards the end of the season.

Song began the 2019-20 season on a sour note, being ejected from the first game of the season for accumulated fouls. He averaged 15.05 points and led the league for points among domestic-born players. He was named into the KBL Best 5 and nominated for the Most Valuable Player Award but lost to Busan KT Sonicboom guard Heo Hoon.[3][4] He was the top scoring domestic player, overtaking assists leader Heo by a slim margin of 0.1 points.[5]

The 2020-21 was a break-out season for Song, who averaged 15.6 points and was regularly his team's top scorer in games. Song was named into the Best 5 and won the KBL Most Valuable Player Award, becoming the first "prep to pro" player to win it.[6][7] Additionally, he became the youngest player to reach 3,000 career points.[8] With his five-year contract ending after the season, Song re-signed after successfully negotiating his contract.[9] His new contract meant that he was the league's highest-paid domestic player.[10][11]

Weeks into the 2021–21 season, Song suffered an open fracture of his left fourth finger during the away game against Daegu KOGAS Pegasus. He had collided with Andrew Nicholson mid-air while attempting to block the latter's dunk and landed awkwardly on his left hand. The career-threatening injury required surgery as the entire ligament was ruptured, sidelining him until January.[12] In December, he was named Male Basketball Player of the Year at the Dong-a Sports Awards honoring domestic professional athletes across all disciplines.[13] He returned on schedule, making his comeback in the January game against Goyang Orion Orions.[14][15]

On May 16, 2022, Song enlisted for mandatory military service and was assigned to the Korea Armed Forces Athletic Corps' Sangmu basketball team. He is scheduled to be discharged in November 15, 2023.[16][17][18]

National team

Song participated in the 2015 FIBA Under-19 World Championship where he averaged 16.5 points and ranked fifth in the tournament.[19][20]

Song was first called-up to the senior national team in 2017.[21] He participated in the 2019 William Jones Cup and in several qualifiers for the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup.[22][23] However, he was ultimately cut from the final 12-man squad for the World Cup as head coach Kim Sang-shik opted for a more experienced line-up.[24]

Personal life

Song enrolled at Kyung Hee Cyber University and completed a degree in sports management.[25]

References
  1. "고교생 송교창, 대학생 형들 제치고 KCC로". JoongAng Ilbo (in Korean). 27 October 2015.
  2. "KCC 송교창 어머니가 말하는 '아들' 송교창". Jumpball (in Korean). 8 May 2017.
  3. "[KBL 시상식] 허훈-송교창-김종규-자밀 워니-캐디 라렌, BEST 5로 선정". BasketKorea (in Korean). 20 April 2020.
  4. "'모두 새 얼굴' 확 바뀐 프로농구 베스트5-수비5걸". The Dong-a Ilbo (in Korean). 20 April 2020.
  5. "허훈, 최고 듀얼 가드 우뚝…KBL 첫 국내 득점·어시스트 1위 동시 석권". Seoul Shinmun (in Korean). 7 April 2021.
  6. "2020-2021 현대모비스 프로농구 시상식 결과 안내" (in Korean). Korean Basketball League. 7 April 2021.
  7. "송교창, 고졸 출신 첫 MVP". JoongAng Ilbo (in Korean). 8 April 2021.
  8. "물음표에서 느낌표로, '고졸 첫 MVP' 압도적 송교창 KBL 새 역사 썼다". The Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). 7 April 2021.
  9. "'영원한 KCC맨' 송교창 "다른 선택 NO, 챔피언 향해 다시 GO!"". The Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). 25 May 2021.
  10. "2021-2022시즌 KBL 선수 등록 마감 결과 안내" (in Korean). Korean Basketball League. 30 July 2021.
  11. "[바코 인사이드] 'MVP' 그리고 '보수 1위', 송교창의 질주는 아직 끝나지 않았다!". BasketKorea (in Korean). 3 October 2021.
  12. "[부상] 송교창, 손가락 수술 무사히 마쳐…회복까지 10주 예상". Jumpball (in Korean). 24 October 2021.
  13. "이정후, 2021 동아스포츠대상 프로야구 '올해의 선수'". The Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). 6 December 2021.
  14. "90일 만에 돌아온 송교창 "경기를 뛰는 게 설렜다"". Jumpball (in Korean). 19 January 2022.
  15. "충격의 부상 털어내고 돌아온 송교창 "코트에 서니 설??다"". The Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). 19 January 2022.
  16. "허훈·송교창·김낙현 합류… 드림팀 된 상무 농구". Kukmin Ilbo (in Korean). 27 April 2022.
  17. ""발전해서 돌아오겠습니다" 송교창·유현준의 군 입대 각오". Jumpball (in Korean). 16 May 2022.
  18. Kim, Hyuk (October 9, 2023). "[KBL컵] "팀에서 기다리는 선수들" KBL 판도 흔들 병장들의 전역, 상무 장창곤 감독의 계획은?" [[KBL Cup] "The Players Waiting in the Team" KBL shake-up, what's Chang-Gon Jang's plan?]. Rookie the Basket (in Korean). Retrieved October 9, 2023 – via Naver.
  19. "2015 FIBA U-19 World Championship profile - Kyochang SONG". FIBA.
  20. "이승현-김준일 등 프로 6명, U-대회 대표팀 후보". Rookie (in Korean). 4 May 2015.
  21. "농구대표팀 '막내' 허훈·송교창 "태극마크 영광스럽다"". Yonhap News Agency (in Korean). 15 May 2017.
  22. "허웅 등 FIBA 농구월드컵 예비엔트리 24명 발표". The Dong-a Ilbo (in Korean). 1 November 2018.
  23. "남자농구 대표팀 명단 발표…이정현·양홍석 등 포함". Yonhap News Agency (in Korean). 31 January 2019.
  24. "이대성·허훈·양희종, 농구월드컵 최종명단 12명 발표" (in Korean). 24 July 2019.
  25. "'선수도 공부해야' 시즌 중단, 학업에 집중하고 있는 송교창-유현준". The Dong-a Ilbo (in Korean). 15 April 2020.
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