Another Korean NBA prospect?

South Korean prospect opening eyes
By Justin Young, Rivals.com Basketball Recruiting Senior Writer

Intriguing has always been the tag line that followed Jin Soo Kim, a 6-foot-9, 200-pound forward from South Kent (Conn.).

According to his head coach Ralph Chillious, coaches are changing their tune after seeing more of the three-star prospect this fall.

"This year I think they'll be saying 'Off the charts.' He's been terrific," Chillious said. "Everyone that has been up here to see someone else, they've usually walked away and said 'We gotta have Jin Soo Kim.' He's playing with so much confidence."

Kim, a native of South Korea, is gearing up for his moment in the spotlight this season after sitting behind a host of high-level prospects that have worn South Kent jerseys the last couple of years.

"This is his third year here. He knows this is his opportunity because he doesn't have to play behind all of those other players," Chillious said. "He's playing off the charts. He's not only shooting the ball well, he's putting the ball on the floor and he's crashing the glass on both ends. He's really on a mission.

"I'm just happy for him because he knows what this level is all about. He's not a deer in the headlights anymore. He knows what it takes."

Recruiters certainly like what they see. Chillious said Cal, Maryland, Georgetown, Georgia Tech, Indiana and a number of others are recruiting him hard. "He gets the most mail out of all of our guys," Chillious said. Gary Williams was just in on Tuesday to see the long and lanky wing in action.

"The first chance he gets a break from school, he's probably going to go down to Maryland and Georgetown for an unofficial visit." Chillious said. "He tried to do that before in August but he couldn't back to school on time. He's put it on hold but he definitely wants to see those two schools for sure."

Kim returned to his home for the summer and played with South Korea's junior national team and performed well, Chillious said, for his country. Had he played in the United States this summer, his coach doubts Kim would be as under the radar as he is right now.

"If he played in AAU in the spring and summer, he'd be in everybody's top 30 in his class, easily," Chillious said.