Moon is first overall in half-Korean KBL draft

Jarod Stevenson, who has a wide range of experience in professional leagues around the world, will compete in the Korean Basketball League under the name of Moon Tae-jong for the ET Land Elephants starting next year.

The 34-year-old small forward was taken first overall in the second annual half-Korean draft in Yangje, southern Seoul yesterday afternoon.

“It feels great,” said Moon in a post-draft interview. “I plan on staying with my family in Seoul and I like the fact that Incheon is close by.”

The University of Richmond product started his professional career with Strasbourg IG of the French League in 1998 and went on to play in Israel, Italy, Russia, Turkey, Spain, Greece and Serbia.

He was signed with the KK Hemofarm STADA of the Serbian League until last month, when he left the club without permission to participate in the draft workouts.

Born to an American father and a Korean mother in Seoul in 1975, Moon grew up in America. His younger brother Moon Tae-young was drafted by the LG Sakers last season and is the leading scorer in the league. Moon is averaging 21.8 points, 7.9 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game this season for the Sakers.

Listed at 196 centimeters (6 feet 5 inches) and 95 kilograms (209 pounds), Moon Tae-jong is a natural small forward with a smooth shooting touch, but he says he’s ready to take on the role of power forward for the Elephants if the team is in short on size up front.

At the recent KBL draft tryout, Moon showed flashes of his well-rounded game, with an excellent mid-range and long-range jump shots. He scored 12 points and added five assists in 14 minutes of play.

While five clubs which did not participate in the inaugural half-Korean draft were given the rights to select players, the Daegu Orions, Dongbu Promy, SK Knights and Mobis Phoebus did not make a selection in this year’s draft. A total of six other players were available in the draft.

In the KBL rookie draft, KT&G held the rights to the top two picks and took Park Chan-hee and Lee Jung-hyeon.

Park, a Kyung Hee University graduate, is a point guard. Listed at 190 centimeters, Park boasts good size and a well-rounded offensive game.

Lee is a Yonsei University graduate who plays as a forward.

Park Yoo-min of Chung-Ang University went third overall to the Daegu Orions.

By Jason Kim [jason@joongang.co.kr]