By Yoon Chul
Staff Reporter
Hyun Joo-yup of the LG Sakers announced his retirement Wednesday, just one day after KT Magic Wings player Yang Hee-seung, Hyun's former teammate at Korea University, announced that he too will be leaving the court.
Hyun, who had been rehabbing his knee after surgery on May 7, is under contract with the Sakers through next season, but has said that he now wants to a coach.
The 33-year-old, dubbed the ``Korean Barkley,'' will leave a lasting impression on the Korean Basketball League after a nine-year career.
The 1.95-meter power forward averaged 13.3 points, 5.2 assists and 4.1 rebounds in 397 career games. Hyun, who recorded seven career triple-doubles, was known for his playmaking ability. He ranked second in assists with 7.83 per game in 2004-05, leading many to call him a ``point forward.''
Hyun was drafted first overall in 1998 by the SK Knights. He was traded to the Goldbank Clickers in 1999 and then signed with the Sakers in 2005. Last season, he averaged 6.7 points, 3.3 assists and 2.2 rebounds in 44 games.
The well-mannered player received just five technical fouls in 2005-06, which earned him the Fair Play award.
Yang, meanwhile, reluctantly made the decision to leave the game after he was put on waivers by Busan. The 34-year-old shooter has been hampered by shoulder and knee injuries over the past two years.
The 1.92-meter fan favorite averaged 10 points per game until the 2006-07 season, but saw his average drop to 7.8 points in 35 games last season.
Yang felt he could have come back and played another season.
``My knee injury was exaggerated too much,'' Yang said. ``I don't have anything to say right now,'' he added disappointedly.
While two former Korea University stars have retired, three still remain _ Shin Ki-sung of the MagicWings, Kim Byung-chul of the Daegu Orions and Lee Kyu-sup of the Samsung Thunders.
Meanwhile, Korea University's archrival Yonsei University still has four star graduates playing in the KBL _ Lee Sang-min of the Thunders, Seo Jang-hoon of the ET Land BlackSlamer, Woo ji-won of the Ulsan Mobis and Cho Sang-hyun of the Sakers.