SEOUL, Aug. 1 (Xinhua) -- South Korean men's basketball team released a 12-man roster for the 2019 World Cup to be held in China late this month, including former coach Heo Jae's younger son Heo Hoon and naturalized player Ra Gun A (Ricardo Ratliffe).
Heo Hoon, the first overall pick in the 2017 Draft of the country's top division basketball league KBL, is the youngest among the 12 call-ups at an age of 24 years old.
"It means a lot for me to be included in the World Cup squad. I'm looking forward to it," he said.
"I had the experience of playing high-level games since my days in the youth national team, and this time I'll prove myself while facing powerful opponents like Russia, Nigeria and Argentina," Heo added.
It's also important for Ricardo Ratliffe, aka Ra Gun A, as it will be his first cap after earning the South Korea citizenship.
South Korea will play against Argentina on August 31, Russia on September 2 and Nigeria on September 4 in the group stage.
Squad:
Choi Jun Yong, Heo Hoon, Jung Hyo Geun, Kang Sang Jae, Kim Jong Kyu, Kim Sunh Yung, Lee Dae Sung, Lee Jung Hyun, Lee Seoung Hyun, Park Chan Hee, Ra Gun A and Yang Hee Jong.
