Hawks Sign Sharpshooting South Korean International

The Illawarra Hawks have added sharpshooting South Korean wing Hyunjung Lee to their NBL24 roster, signing the former Santa Cruz Warrior to a three-year deal.

After going undrafted following a three-year collegiate career at Davidson, Lee joined the Warriors and played 12 games over the course of his first season.

He has prior experience in Australia, having participated in Next Generation camps as part of the NBA Global Academy, and he represented the BA CoE in NBL1 during 2019, alongside the likes of recent Brisbane signing Josh Bannan, Cairns rookie Taran Armstrong, and former Adelaide guard Josh Giddey.

He was also the first player in the history of Davidson’s collegiate program to register a 50-40-90 season, and his mark of 44.2 per cent shooting from the three-point line in 2021 is a school record, ahead of NBA superstar Stephen Curry.

Lee is a member of the Philadelphia 76ers side currently taking part in the 2023 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas.

Lee comes from a strong basketball pedigree with his mother, Seong Jeong-a part of the South Korean silver medal-winning team at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. Lee's father, Lee Yun-Hwan, played semi-professionally during the same period and has been a leading high school coach since retiring in 1991.

"We are excited to add an elite shooter and emerging talent in Hyunjung Lee to the club," Hawks GM of Basketball Mat Campbell said.

"As a club, we have followed Lee's progress with real interest; we think he will be a great fit with our current group."

Lee says the opportunity to play with a handful of former teammates was part of what attracted him to the Hawks. While at the CoE, Lee built relationships with current Hawks Sam Froling, Dan Grida, and Wani Swaka Lo Buluk.

"I am thrilled to be joining the Hawks organisation for the next three seasons," Lee said.

"To represent a club with such a proud history and to have the chance to play with the likes of Sam, Dan, and Wani is something I am looking forward to.

"The Hawks are well respected for their ability to nurture and develop their players in achieving their international and NBA goals, which was a key driver in my decision-making.

"I have heard great things about Wollongong, and I look forward to meeting the coaches, my teammates and the Hawks faithful as we prepare for an exciting NBL24 campaign."

The Hawks' NBL24 main roster is now complete, with Hyunjung Lee joining Tyler Harvey, Sam Froling, Justin Robinson, Gary Clark, Wani Swaka Lo Buluk, Dan Grida, William 'Davo' Hickey, Mason Peatling, Lachlan Olbrich, Todd Blanchfield, and AJ Johnson along with development players Harry Morris, Biwali Bayles and Luca Yates.