Jun Seok, We Hardly Knew Yeo: A Farewell to One of Gonzaga’s Most Intriguing Talents

Jun Seok Yeo is officially on the move—either to begin his professional career in Korea or to find a new college home through the transfer portal. A fan favorite during his two years in Spokane, Yeo brought effort, energy, and flashes of real offensive skill every time he stepped on the floor. He was a legitimate prospect with NBA-level tools, and even seven minutes a night as a freshman under Mark Few is no small thing. Few kept looking for ways to slot him in—and that says something. Whether he lands overseas or in another program, Yeo leaves Gonzaga with huge upside and the kind of untapped potential that makes him a steal in the portal.

From Seoul to Spokane: Jun Seok Yeo’s Road to Gonzaga

Jun Seok Yeo came to Gonzaga with one of the most intriguing résumés in recent memory. Before arriving in Spokane, he led Yongsan High School to a Korean national title, trained at the NBA Global Academy in Australia, and competed with the Australian Centre of Excellence at the 2019 NBA Academy Games. He was also selected for the prestigious Basketball Without Borders Global Camp in 2020.

His breakout moment came at the 2021 FIBA U-19 World Cup in Latvia, where he led the entire tournament in scoring (25.6 points per game) and ranked second in rebounds (10.6). He dropped 27 points and 13 rebounds on Argentina, followed it up with 26 and 12 against Spain, and put up 21 on a U.S. team led by Chet Holmgren. He closed the tournament with back-to-back scoring explosions: 31 against Puerto Rico and 36 against Japan.

Later that same year, he made his debut for Korea’s senior national team and helped them qualify for the FIBA Asia Cup, averaging 12.3 points over three games, including a 23-point performance in a blowout win over Thailand.

So when Gonzaga brought him in as a transfer from Korea University, there was real buzz. It felt like the program’s international pipeline was up and running again—and that Yeo might be the next in a line of versatile, high-upside wings with pro potential. The raw tools were there: strength, athleticism, scoring instincts, and a track record of producing against elite competition.

Yeo never carved out a steady role in Spokane, but that didn’t stop fans from loving him. He was easy to root for—positive, energetic, and always giving maximum effort. Whether it was in shootarounds, warmups, or garbage time, he never coasted. The physical profile—6’8”, strong, quick, and more athletic than he often got credit for—paired with real skill. He’s a smooth ball-handler, a dribble-drive threat off the bounce, and a mid-range specialist who can elevate and score over defenders when given the time and space to operate. In the right system—especially one where he’s allowed to be “the guy”—he’s a proven bucket-getter. That system just wasn’t Gonzaga, where hyper-efficient role execution has always been the priority.

Freshman Year: Adjusting to a New Stage

Yeo actually committed in January of the 2022–23 season and joined the program midyear, spending several months with the team before officially debuting as a freshman. It was a smart move—giving him time to adjust to the language, the system, and the structure of Gonzaga’s culture before ever logging a minute of game action.

Yeo’s freshman season offered glimpses of what made him such a compelling recruit. He appeared in 25 games, starting once, and averaged 2.3 points and 1.2 rebounds in limited action. He shot 43.5% from the field across 46 total attempts and got to the free-throw line 21 times—modest numbers, but reflective of someone trying to make the most of short stretches.

He had his best outings early, including a 10-point, 4-rebound performance against Arkansas-Pine Bluff and a 9-point, 7-rebound night against Eastern Oregon. In a January game against Pepperdine, he played 13 minutes—right around his season high—and picked up four fouls in that span. It was chaotic, but it tracked with how he played: hard, fast, all-in.

At 6’8”, 215 pounds, Yeo looked the part of a modern forward—but his role was never quite clear. He wasn’t a low-post guy, and he didn’t fit the mold of a spot-up shooter either. Gonzaga experimented with him at the wing, but spacing was an issue, and the rotation was deep. Still, he never seemed like someone just soaking up minutes. He looked like someone searching for a way in.

Sophomore Year: The Role Shrinks

If Yeo’s freshman season raised questions about how he might be used, his sophomore year offered fewer answers. He appeared in just 14 games and never played more than 10 minutes in any of them. His averages fell: 4.1 minutes, 1.6 points, 0.6 rebounds per game. He took just 19 shots all season and went to the line five times.

Part of it came down to rotation. Yeo was stuck behind Dusty Stromer at the three, but even Stromer’s role diminished as the Zags leaned into a two-big lineup late in the season—leaving both players out of place. For Yeo, it meant a sharper drop-off in opportunity. He still shot 47.4% from the field and 27.3% from three, but there was no rhythm, no real sample size, and no runway to build on. By the time February rolled around, his place in the rotation wasn’t unclear—it was gone.

And yet, there he was, still competing, still grinding out defensive possessions, still playing like he had something to prove. He was a foul magnet, sure, but it was never lazy. He worked. He cared. That was obvious.

Farewell

There’s a version of Jun Seok Yeo’s story that could’ve unfolded differently—one where the fit was cleaner, the minutes steadier, and the flashes turned into something more. But college basketball careers don’t always follow a clean arc. Sometimes they’re messy, brief, or unclear. Sometimes they just don’t quite land.

Still, Yeo gave Gonzaga two years of work, patience, and total buy-in. He brought real talent and a well-earned reputation as a scorer. He never mailed it in. He stayed upbeat. He gave the fans everything he had, whether it was in mop-up duty or scrimmages we never saw. And he leaves with a set of tools—size, strength, skill, touch—that someone else will absolutely want to develop.

Whether he goes back home to play professionally or transfers to a different program, Jun is a big-time pickup for whoever gets him next. He’s a 6’8” athlete with real touch, elite body control, and years left to develop. In the right context—with space, structure, and trust—he could be a star. The fit at Gonzaga didn’t quite click. But the bet is that it will somewhere else. And when it does, people in Spokane will be watching.