Jin Soo Choi

Who is Jin Soo Choi?

Choi Jin-Soo is a South Korean basketball player who played for University of Maryland, College Park and the Korea national basketball team. He is the first South Korean to receive a full NCAA Division I basketball scholarship.

He is listed as a small forward but he is able to play shooting guard, power forward, and center. Usually, he plays small forward in the United States, and power forward when he plays for the Korea national basketball team.

He came to the United States as a high school freshman in 2004. As a freshman, he was a starting forward for Montclair Prep. He transferred to South Kent for his sophomore year. At South Kent, he played for three years as a Forward. In October 2007, he verbally committed to the University of Maryland. He graduated from South Kent in 2008, and became a freshman at the University of Maryland, College Park.

In Choi's first game as a Terrapin, he scored 20 points in an exhibition vs. Northwood University. Choi immediately became a fan favorite of the Maryland students, as they were cheering his name by the end of the game.

On January 27, 2009, Choi was declared academically ineligible. Maryland appealed the decision to the NCAA and he was reinstated a few days later.