No. 11 – Seoul SK Knights | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Position | Forward | |||||||||||||||||||||||
League | Korean Basketball League | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Born | Busan, South Korea | August 5, 1985|||||||||||||||||||||||
Nationality | South Korean | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Listed height | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Listed weight | 201 lb (91 kg) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Career information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
High school | Dong-a High School | |||||||||||||||||||||||
College | Konkuk University | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Playing career | 2009–present | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Career history | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
2009–2021 | Daegu Orions / Goyang Orion Orions | |||||||||||||||||||||||
2012–2014 | → Sangmu (military service) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
2021– | Seoul SK Knights | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Career highlights and awards | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Medals
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Korean name | |
Hangul | 허일영 |
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Hanja | 許日寧 |
Revised Romanization | Heo Il-yeong |
McCune–Reischauer | Hŏ Ilyŏng |
Heo Il-young (born August 5, 1985) is a South Korean professional basketball player. He plays for Seoul SK Knights in the Korean Basketball League and the South Korean national team.
A native of Busan, Heo grew up playing baseball in elementary school.[1] He was persuaded to switch sports and attended Dong-a High School, one of Busan's most notable high school basketball programs, and was schoolmates with national teammate Kim Tae-sul.[2] As he was taller than most of his peers in high school, he played as a center, before converting into a forward in college.[3]
Heo went on to Konkuk University. During his senior year, he led the unfancied team to the final of the National Basketball Festival, a winter tournament contested by college teams and KBL D-League reserve teams, and was the tournament's top scorer.[4][5][6]
Heo was the second overall pick of the 2009 KBL rookie draft and was chosen by Daegu Orions, which later moved to Goyang and became Goyang Orion Orions.[7][8] Although he came from a lesser-known college basketball program, he emerged as the Orions' brightest prospects and dubbed the team's "solver" due to him scoring decisive points in the fourth quarter of crucial games.[6] He finished his rookie season with an average of 10.5 points in 51 games.[9]
In May 2012, Heo enlisted for mandatory military service and was assigned to the Sangmu team after completing basic training.[10] He was discharged in January 2014.[11][12]
During the 2019-20, Heo was plagued by a recurring hamstring injury which sidelined him for more than half the season's games.[13] After the 2020-21 season ended, he became a free agent but chose not to renew with the Orions.[14] He signed a three-year contract with Seoul SK Knights ahead of the 2021-22 season.[15][16]
In 2014, Heo participated in both the World Cup and the Asian Games.[17][18] He was recalled for the 2018 Asian Games but missed out on the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup.
Heo married his girlfriend of three years in April 2016.[19] They have two children, a son and a daughter.[14]
Heo is a fan of his hometown KBO League team Lotte Giants and has been spotted attending their home matches.[20]