GAME NOTES: GROUP A — Suwon KT Sonicboom (1-0) vs. Taoyuan Pauian Pilots (0-0)

October 23, 2024 — Suwon KT Sonicboom Arena, Suwon, S. Korea 

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Storylines 

Rayshaun Hammonds’ Offensive Prowess

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In Rayshaun Hammonds’ debut with KT, the forward notched a game-high 39 points and 14 rebounds against the Philippine Basketball Association’s San Miguel Beermen. No player yet has eclipsed his scoring total through four games in the 2024-25 East Asia Super League season. 

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During the Sonicboom’s come-from-behind 87-81 win, Hammonds converted through a variety of offensive maneuvers. Most of his baskets early came in the paint and around the low block. But as the contest continued, Hammonds stepped out to hit a few 3’s and also cashed in on a handful of mid-range pull-ups. 

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Yet Hammonds’ scoring talent didn’t just reflect in his EASL debut. On opening day for the Korean Basketball League, he tallied a game-high 19 points despite KT’s 77-72 loss to arch-rivals Busan KCC Egis. 

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With Taoyuan’s first EASL game in hostile territory at KT’s home arena, the Pauian Pilots must contain Hammonds to win.  

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All Eyes on Treveon Graham

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Treveon Graham — a 6-foot-5 wing — joined Taoyuan in the offseason. Graham most recently played for the Motor City Cruise — the G-League affiliate for NBA side, the Detroit Pistons. 

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Graham attended Virginia Commonwealth College for four years (2011-2015) before going undrafted in the 2015 NBA Draft. With the Rams, he accumulated a multitude of accolades including being named First-Team All-Atlantic 10 in consecutive years (2014, 2015) and earning 2015 Atlantic 10 Tournament MVP honors.  

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Graham began his professional career with the Idaho Stampede — the Utah Jazz’s D-League team, now known as the Salt Lake City Stars. From there he played for a few other NBA teams, and their developmental league affiliates, before a year-long stint with the National Basketball League of Canada’s Montreal Alliance. 

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A physical slasher, who prioritizes inside buckets, Graham can also knock down the occasional catch-and-shoot 3. He’ll be a vital piece for the Pauian Pilots this year in both EASL and domestic competition. 

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Living Without Ha Yungi 

Suwon KT center Ha Yungi will likely be sidelined against Taoyuan due to an ankle injury sustained in the Sonicboom’s 77-72 loss to the Busan KCC Egis on Oct. 19.  

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On a fast break opportunity early in the fourth quarter, Ha landed awkwardly on the foot of KCC star Deonte Burton. He exited the game and did not return. On Sunday, Ha also missed KT’s second KBL game of the season — a 72-63 win over the Seoul Samsung Thunders. 

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During the team’s opening EASL victory against the San Miguel Beermen, Ha registered nine points and five rebounds in just under 14 minutes of play. He ran the floor efficiently and did well to contain San Miguel star EJ Anosike for most of the second half. 

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Without Ha, the Sonicboom loses a towering post presence on both ends of the floor. At 6-foot-7, he’s the perfect complement to Hammonds and has even been preferred at times to KT’s newest import addition, Jeremiah Tilmon Jr. 

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Ha’s absence could mark a key advantage in Taoyuan’s favor. 

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Suwon KT Sonicboom (S. Korea — KBL) Players to Watch:

#2 Heo Hoon — Guard, 5-foot-11

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• 2024-25 EASL Averages some text
  • 17.0 points, 1.0 rebounds, 7.0 assists 
• Joined the Suwon KT Sonicboom in 2017 
• 2020 KBL Most Valuable Player 
• 2-time KBL Best 5 (2020, 2021) 
• 2018 Asian Games Bronze Medalist with the South Korean national team
• Selected as the 1st overall pick in the 2017 KBL Draft 
• Heo attended Yonsei University 
• Heo is from Seoul, South Korea 

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#1 Han Hui Won — Forward, 6-foot-10

• 2024-25 EASL Averages some text
  • 14.0 points, 2.0 rebounds, 1.0 assists 
• Joined the Suwon KT Sonicboom in 2019 
• Previously played for the KBL’s Anyang KGC (2016-2018, 2019-20) and the Incheon Electroland Elephants (2015-16)
• Han went undrafted in the 2015 NBA Draft 
• Han is from South Korea  

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#35 Jeremiah Tilmon Jr. — Forward, 6-foot-10

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• 2024-25 EASL Averages 
  • 8.0 points, 11.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists 
• Joined the Suwon KT Sonicboom in 2024 
• 2022 CEBL Champion with the Brampton Honey Badgers 
• Tilmon Jr. went undrafted in the 2021 NBA Draft 
• Played for NBA G-League teams — Lakeland Magic (2021-22), Raptors 905 (2022-23 and the Greensboro Swarm (2023-24) 
• 2021 Second-Team All-SEC 
• Tilmon Jr. attended Missouri (2017-2021) 
• Tilmon Jr. is from East St. Louis, Illinois, USA

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Taoyuan Pauian Pilots (Chinese Taipei — P. LEAGUE+) Players to Watch:

#21 Alec Brown — Center, 7-feet

• 2023-24 P. LEAGUE+ Averages some text
  • 12.8 points, 7.8 rebounds, 1.1 assists
• Joined the Taoyuan Pauian Pilots in 2023 
• Played for the NBA developmental league affiliates, Bakersfield Jam (now known as Motor City Cruise) (2015-16) and Windy City Bulls (2016-17) 
• Brown was selected by the Phoenix Suns with the 50th overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft 
• 2014 Horizon League Defensive Player of the Year
• 2-time First-Team All-Horizon League (2012, 2014) 
• Brown attended Green Bay College (2010-2014)
• Brown is from Winona, Minnesota, USA 

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#69 Lu Chun Hsiang — Guard, 6-foot-1 

• 2023-24 P. LEAGUE+ Averages
  • 16.8 points, 4.1 rebounds, 3.3 assists 
• 2024 P. LEAGUE+ MVP 
• 2-time P. LEAGUE+ First-Team of the Year (2023, 2024)
• 2-time P. LEAGUE+ Defensive First-Team of the Year (2023, 2024) 
• 2022 P. LEAGUE+ Sixth-Man of the Year 
• 2022 P. LEAGUE+ Second-Team of the Year 
• 2021 SBL Rookie of the Year 
• Joined the Taoyuan Pauian Pilots in 2021 
• Lu attended the Taichung National University of Science and Technology
• Lu is from Chinese Taipei 

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#42 Julian Boyd — Forward, 6-foot-6

• 2023-24 P. LEAGUE+ Averages 
  • 17.4 points, 10.5 rebounds, 1.9 assists 
• Joined the Taoyuan Pauian Pilots in 2024 
• Before Taoyuan, Boyd spent time with the Formosa Dreamers (2023-24, 2021-22) (known as the Formosa Taishin Dreams from 2020-2023)
• 2019 Icelandic Champion with KR Basket 
• 2019 Úrvalsdeild Playoffs MVP with KR Basket 
• 2019 Úrvalsdeild Foreign Player of the Year with KR Basket 
• Boyd went undrafted in the 2014 NBA Draft 
• 2012 AP Honorable Mention All-American 
• 2012 NEC Player of the Year 
• 2-time First-Team All-NEC (2011, 2012) 
• 2018 NEC Rookie of the Year 
• Boyd attended Long Island University (2008-2012) 
• Boyd is from San Antonio, Texas, USA 

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Suwon KT By The Numbers: 

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Team History: 

• Founded in 1997 
• 2010-11 KBL Regular Season Champions 
• 2022 KBL Cup Champions 

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2024-25 EASL Statistic Leaders 

• Points: Rayshaun Hammonds — 39.0 ppg 
• Rebounds: Rayshaun Hammonds — 14.0 rpg
• Assists: Heo Hoon — 9.0 apg
• Steals: Moon Seong-gon — 4.0 spg
• Blocks: KT has not recorded a block this season

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2024-25 EASL Results 

• 87-81 win over the San Miguel Beermen — Oct. 2 

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2024-25 EASL Upcoming Games 

• Home vs. Taoyuan Pauian Pilots (P. LEAGUE+) – Oct. 23, 2024
• Home vs. Hiroshima Dragonflies (B.LEAGUE) – Dec. 4, 2024
• Away vs. Taoyuan Pauian Pilots (P. LEAGUE+) – Dec. 11, 2024
• Away vs. Hong Kong Eastern (HK) – Jan. 7, 2025
• Home vs. San Miguel Beermen (PBA) – Feb. 12, 2025

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2024-25 KBL Results 

• 77-72 loss to the Busan KCC Egis — Oct. 19
• 72-63 win over the Seoul Samsung Thunders — Oct. 20  

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2024-25 KBL Statistic Leaders

• Points: Rayshaun Hammonds — 21.5 ppg
• Rebounds: Rayshaun Hammonds — 14.0 rpg 
• Assists: Heo Hoon — 7.0 apg 
• Steals: Heo Hoon — 2.0 spg
• Blocks: Ha Yungi — 2.0 bpg

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Taoyuan By The Numbers: 

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Team History 

• Founded in 2020 
• Formerly known as the Taoyuan AirApe (2020) and Taoyuan Pilots (2020-2022) 
• The Pauian Pilots play in the Taoyuan Arena  

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2024-25 EASL Upcoming Games 

• Away vs. Suwon KT Sonicboom (KBL) — Oct. 23, 2024
• Away vs. San Miguel Beermen (PBA) — Nov. 13, 2024 
• Home vs. Suwon KT Sonicboom (KBL) — Dec. 11, 2024 
• Home vs. Hiroshima Dragonflies (B.LEAGUE) — Dec. 25, 2024 
• Away vs. Hiroshima Dragonflies (B.LEAGUE) — Jan. 22, 2025 
• Home vs. Hong Kong Eastern (Hong Kong) — Feb. 5, 2025 

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2023-24 P. LEAGUE+ Runners-Up 

• Regular season record: 26-14
• Finished 1st in P.LEAGUE+, named regular season champions
• Defeated Hsinchu Toplus Lioneers (4-2) but lost in PLG Finals to the New Taipei Kings (4-1)

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2023-24 P. LEAGUE+ Statistic Leaders 

• Points: Jason Washburn — 21.9 ppg
• Rebounds: Jason Washburn — 13.2 rpg
• Assists: Anthony Tucker — 6.6 apg 
• Steals: Anthony Tucker — 2.1 spg
• Blocks: Alec Brown — 1.3 bpg 

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