Korea teen star Park Jisu comes of age

SEOUL (FIBA World Championship for Women/2015 FIBA Asia Women's Championship) - It's hard to believe that in 2014, a 15-year-old took part in international basketball's toughest competition for women.

At last year's FIBA World Championship for Women, Korea's team featured Park Jisu, a 1.95m center who was born on 6 December, 1998, in the city of Seongnam.

Even more remarkable is that Park didn't just play, but started and at times was her country's best player on the court. In fact, she finished as Korea's leading scorer, averaging 11 points per game.

In the team's opener against Belarus, she had 15 points and six rebounds. Then, in a do-or-die game against Cuba, she did even better with 16 points and seven rebounds.

The Koreans lost both games, however, falling to Belarus (70-64) and then to Cuba 73-57. The second of those defeats was a contest that was much closer than the score suggests.

The Asian side lost all three games in Group C to crash out in the Group Phase, but a young squad that included Park gained invaluable experience.

Four months on from that game against Cuba, Park considers herself fortunate to have played in the 16-team tournament.

"Above all, I was very honored to be there at the World Championship and also to play with many high quality and great players," she said to FIBA.com.

It was very exciting to see WNBA players I have been watching on YouTube. - Park

Park says she learned a lot.

"More than anything, I learned that weight training is very important because it will help me develop and improve basketball skills when I have a good and proper body balance," she said.

"In this regard, I am currently doing fitness and weight training at the same time."

Park showed a lot of skill on the hardwood but she has not played the game that long.

As a 10-year-old, she saw her older brother playing the game and thought that it looked fun.

"Then I told my parents that I want to play basketball," she said. "In fact, my father was a basketball player and also coach."

For Park, 2014 was not just a year in which she turned up and played for the national team.

She had represented Korea in June-July at the FIBA U17 World Championship for Women in the Czech Republic and led the way with averages of 18.6 points, 13.4 rebounds and 4.0 blocks.

That performance convinced the Koreans that she was ready to make her senior team bow.

Korea qualified for Turkey 2014 by reaching the Final of the 2013 FIBA Asia Championship Women in Bangkok.

Most of the players from that team remained at home to compete in the Asian Games in Incheon, though, and that opened the door for the likes of Park to compete in Turkey.

After Turkey, Park helped Korea qualify for this summer's FIBA U19 Women's World Championship with a superb display at the FIBA Asia U18 Championship.

Korea finished third at the event.

At the 12-team tournament in Amman, Jordan, she averaged 16.2ppg, 15.7rpg and 3.8bpg. 

Now that she has gotten a taste of the big time, Park wants more.

"Being a player representing my country, that is my goal and hope," she explained.

2015 is hugely important for Korea. The national side will take aim at a spot in the Rio de Janeiro Games when it plays in the FIBA Asia Championship for Women.

Going to the Olympics would mean a great opportunity to boost women's basketball in Korea. - Park

Making it to Brazil is at the front of Park's thoughts.

The country also has to first qualify. Park would then have to battle for a spot in the squad.

"I believe in order for me to be able to represent my country, it is important to practice faithfully without injury," she said.

The chances would appear to be pretty good that Park will be with the senior team this summer or next, though competition for places in the team will be fierce.

Players from the title-winning side at the Asian Games will also be vying for spots.

Age will not be an impediment for Park because as the saying goes, "if you are good enough, you are old enough."

FIBA