'Top High School Prospect' Lim Yeon-seo Drafted No. 2 by BNK... "I'm Confident I'll Do Well"

In a women's basketball rookie draft featuring a flood of Zainichi Korean prospects with experience in the Japanese league and upcoming college graduates, the player called second overall was "top high school prospect" Lim Yeon-seo (18, Supia Girls' High School).

Standing 170 cm tall, guard Lim Yeon-seo donned the Busan BNK uniform after being called second overall at the 2026-2027 Women's Korean Basketball League (WKBL) rookie draft held at Cheongju Gymnasium on the 19th.

Speaking with reporters after the draft event, Lim expressed her astonishment, saying, "I never expected to be called this early. I am truly grateful for being selected with such a high pick."

On this day, Lim stepped onto the podium as the second overall pick, following veteran guard Kaneda Mana (Shinhan Bank), who has played in Japan's W League since 2020.

Her selection in the upper rounds had been widely anticipated early on.

As a guard prospect, Lim is a top-tier prospect who led Supia Girls' High School to victory at the Spring National Middle and High School Basketball Federation Tournament held last March, sweeping five individual awards (MVP, Scoring Award, Assist Award, Rebound Award, and Defensive Award).

She has passed through age-group national teams across the board and has also been named to the roster for the upcoming International Basketball Federation (FIBA) U-18 Women's Asia Cup.

BNK has built a "super team" for this season, featuring a starting lineup with national team-caliber skills, including Ahn Hye-ji, Lee So-hee, Park Hye-jin, Lee Sem, and Kim Sonia.

While rookie Lim will need to break through fierce internal competition to secure playing time, sharing the court with top-tier veterans in the league itself will serve as an invaluable growth opportunity.

Regarding her strengths, Lim boldly stated, "I can play both point guard (position 1) and shooting guard (position 2). Because of my strong offensive tendencies, I am confident I can do well even as a point guard, and I can also distinctly stand out through playmaking and passing."

On competing for a starting spot against formidable seniors, she resolved, "There are so many wonderful older players, so to earn opportunities and stand out, I need to first fill in my own shortcomings. Since the pro stage is by no means easy, I will work tirelessly with the mindset of starting over from scratch. I will become a player who does not settle for reality and continues to grow."

(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.