“I dreamed of being drafted by the KB Stars.”
Sufi athlete Go Hyun-ji “Maxer” Ko was drafted first overall by the Cheongju KB Stars at the 2023-24 WKBL Player Draft on Thursday at Cheongju Gymnasium.
For Ko, the KB Stars are a very special team. It’s where her mother, Korean women’s basketball legend Cho Moon-ju, played. She even dreamed of joining the team.
Sufi athlete Ko Hyun-ji “Maxer” received the No. 1 overall pick from Cheongju KB Stars at the 2023-24 WKBL Draft on Thursday at Cheongju Gymnasium. Photo courtesy of the WKBL
Once her mother’s team,바카라사이트 the KB Stars are now her team. As the fifth No. 1 overall pick in KB Stars’ history, he has begun to etch his name into the history his mother built.
Here’s a one-on-one with the No. 1 overall pick.
Feelings on being drafted.
I’m so honored, it’s where I wanted to be and I’m grateful for the selection. I still have a lot to work on. I’ll do my best to help the team.
Why did you want to come to KB Stars?
My mom told me that she wanted me to go to KB Stars, where she played. I also heard that KB Stars is a club with a lot of fans, so I wanted to come to Gok. I liked the manager and coaches, and I wanted to learn a lot from them because I have national team sisters like (Kang) Isle and (Park) Ji-soo.
I wore the yellow jersey I wanted so much. Does it feel real?
I actually dreamed of joining the KB Stars (laughs). Now that it has become a reality, it still doesn’t feel real. I regretted that I was so bad at tryouts. I didn’t play much this season, and I was nervous. I was worried that I wouldn’t be selected.
I cried hot tears right after the nomination.
I didn’t think I would really cry until I was on the podium. When I got up there and started talking about the people I was thanking, I got very emotional. And then the tears came.
What advice did your mother give you?
My mom was a center, so she taught me a lot of skills under the basket. I also learned a lot about shooting skills. I didn’t see her after the tryouts. I asked around and they said I didn’t cry at all (laughs).
KB Stars was your mother’s team until now. Now it’s the team of her daughter, Ko Hyun-ji. Photo courtesy of WKBL
Which player did you miss the most in KB Stars?
I miss Ji-soo the most. I watched the Park Shinja Cup games and used to look her up on my phone. I learned a lot from her. I felt it a lot and tried to imitate it. The way she throws it over her head when she shoots is so beautiful. He’s also a three-point shooter. Finishing in clutch situations is also cool.
Is there a particular position you want to play?
I want to play the 3 or 4. (Q. The coach wanted the 2.) Ah! I want to play the 2, 3, and 4 (laughs).
You were selected by the KB Stars in your rookie year.
We got to know each other a lot during the youth national team. When the second round came around, I was hoping to be selected, but I was also worried. After I was selected, I was so happy. He’s a very good guard. I think we will have a synergistic effect playing together.
I think I need to add weight to compete in the pros.
I know I’m not strong enough. It’s also my constitution. In fact, I haven’t had any systematic weight training. I hope to get help from the trainers when I join KB Stars.
Now you’re a professional athlete. What do you want to do first?
I want to grow my hair (laughs).
I’d like to get my first paycheck.
I want to buy something delicious for my teachers, family, and juniors.