ROANOKE, VA. — Even the most dedicated hoops fan may not be familiar with the National Basketball Development League, the National Basketball Association’s officially sponsored and operated minor league system. So chances are you probably missed the opening act of Sung-Yoon Bang’s American basketball adventure.

After a stellar amateur career in Korea — he was a standout at Yonsei University and vaulted into national-hero status after leading the South Korean team past Yao Ming and China to gold medal glory at the 2002 Asian Games — Bang came to the United States to play for the Roanoke Dazzle during the 2004-’05 NBDL season. He caught the eye of Kent Davison, the Dazzle’s head coach, at a basketball camp in Sarasota, Fla., last August.

“I got to see firsthand what he could do, and I knew I wanted to have him on my team,” says Davison, who nabbed the 6-foot-5, 193-pound guard with a fourth-round selection in the November 2004 NBDL draft.

And what a find it was for the 53-year-old veteran coach. Bang, at the age of 21, made quite an impression in the D-League, which runs from November to April. Not only did he knock down clutch shots, dive on the floor for loose balls and take charges on defense, but he also flashed an infectious smile, won the respect and admiration of his coaches and teammates and became a fan favorite, all while learning a new language. Now Bang, who was named by NBDL Director of Basketball Operations and Player Personnel Chris Alpert to his “All-Surprise Team,” is one step closer to reaching the NBA.

Even if you’ve never seen him play, all you have to do is just listen to how his coaches gush about his fundamentally sound shooting stroke and how he brings back memories of Steve Kerr and Drazen Petrovic, and it becomes quite obvious that the strength of Bang’s game is his deft shooting touch.

“He’s going to shoot it when he gets an open look,” says Davison. “And that’s what I want him to do. I tell him all the time: ‘I pay you to shoot.’ Other guys I pay to rebound, other guys I pay to pass the ball; I pay him to shoot.”

Roanoke assistant coach Chucky Brown adds, “When he has the proper mechanics, he never misses. It’s like every time he takes a shot, we believe it’s good.”

“I grew up admiring Michael Jordan, and as he became famous for his dunking abilities, I want to become famous for my shooting ability,” says Bang through an e-mail interview.

However, he is not just a one-dimensional player popping shots from the perimeter. He can drive past defenders who overplay him for his jumper and get to the rack. Bang is also a solid ball handler and passer, makes an effort to play defense, and is a decent rebounder, according to his coaches. Rounding out his game is his hustle and dedication.