Japanese NT 2016 - 2020: Tokyo2020 Hayabusa Program

[CKR13]

Japanese NT 2016 - 2020: Tokyo2020 Hayabusa Program

Next year marks the relaunch and start of the 2020 Hayabusa Program under the new and reformed JBA that will train the young stars of Japan today to transition to a competent team in Asia that will produce good results for FIBA to be convinced that Japan is worthy of an automatic seeding in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

Current Level 1 Hayabusa Members - Full fledge NT members that are FIBA Asia veterans and prospects who have been called up to train with the senior's NT, thus becoming full fledge Level 1 Hayabusa national team members.

Atsuya Ota (Hamamatsu Phoenix Higashimikawa)
Yuta Tabuse (Link Tochigi Brex)
Gaku Arao (Chiba Jets)
Kosuke Takeuchi (Toyota Alvark)
Joji Takeuchi (Hitachi SunRockerz)
Takuya Kawamura (Mitsubishi Diamond Dolphins)
Takatoshi Furukawa (Link Tochigi Brex)
Takahiro Kurihara (Toshiba Brave Thunder)
Ryumo Ono (Chiba Jets)
Kosuke Kanamaru (Aishin Sea Horses)
Shohei Kikuchi (Toyota Alvark)
Naoto Tsuji (Toshiba Brave Thunder)
Yuki Mitsuhara (Hitachi SunRockerz)
Shigehiro Taguchi (Akita Northern Happinets)
Takumi Ishizaki (Mitsubishi Diamond Dolphins)
Makoto Hiejima (Aishin Sea Horses)
Yuya Nagayoshi (Toshiba Brave Thunder)
Daiki Tanaka (Toyota Alvark)
Takeki Shonaka (Toyota Alvark)
Tenketsu Harimoto (Toyota Alvark)
Kengo Nomoto (Toshiba Brave Thunder)
Kosuke Hashimoto (Tokai University)
Yuki Togashi (Chiba Jets)
Ryoma Hashimoto (Aishin Sea Horses)
Naoya Kumagae (Link Tochigi Brex)
Yuta Watanabe (George Washington)
Yudai Baba (University of Tsukuba)
Rui Hachimura (Mesei HS)

Current Level 2 Young Hayabusa Members - Pool of prospects to be trained and evaluated if they will be called up to the Level 1 Hayabusa members for the national team.

Yuma Fuji (Toshiba Brave Thunder)
Ryosuke Shirahama (Aisin Mikawa Seahorses)
Soichiro Fujitaka (Hitachi SunRockerz)
Takanobu Nishikawa (Levanga Hokkaido)
Yutaro Suda (Link Tochigi Brex)
Akito Uchida (Tokai University)
Yuya Kamata (Toshiba Brave Thunder)
Seiya Ando (Meiji University)
Taito Nakahigashi (Meiji University)
Takaya Sasayama (Meiji University)
Akihisa Kosaka (Osaka University)
Leo Vendorame (Tokai University)
Kevin Hareyama (Toshiba Brave Thunder)
Shunsuke Fujita (Kink-Dai)
Shoma Yamazaki (Daito-Bunkadai)
Ryogo Sumino (St. Thomas More)
Rei Goda (Osaka Gakuin-Dai)
Kato Toshizaku (Hosei-Dai)
Leo Vendrame (Tokai University)
Masataka Izawa (Meiji University)
Ryosuke Akaishi (Takushoku)
Seiya Funyu (Aoyama Gakuin)
Syuta Hara (Kokushikan)
Seiji Ikaruga (Hiroshima Dragonflies)
Yuto Tongu (Tokai University)
Keisuke Murakoshi (University of Tsukuba)
Narita Masahiro (Takushoku-Dai)
Jotaro Mitsuda (University of Tsukuba)
Yusuke Sekido (Nihon Taiikudai)
Kazuke Ikejima (Kwansei Gakuin University)
Shuto Ando (Aoyama Gakuin)
Koyo Takahashi (Nihon-Dai)
Takuya Nakayama (Tokai University)
Tsubasa Obara (University of Tsukuba)
Hayato Miyawaki (Waseda) 193cm
Tsuyoshi Kibayashi (University of Tsukuba)
Tatsuya Ito (Tokai University)
Keita Sawabe (Osaka Gakuin-Dai)
Yusei Sugiura (University of Tsukuba)
Hayashi Shotaro (Tokai-Dai Gaku Kyu)


First stop next year is the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament that will not be exclusively for young prospects as the JBA still wants veterans to help mentor the youth and be atleast competitive so there is a chance we could see Kosuke and Joji Takeuchi play together.

[CKR13]

After the era of the Takeuchi twins, most likely the front-court will be represented by Yuta Watanabe (203cm) and Taiga Watanabe (207cm). The 18 year old Taiga grew from 205cm to 207cm from last year. Signed by Mitsubishi late last season, Taiga is preparing his first full rookie season with Mitsubishi and his international experience is from the U16 in 2013, U18 last year.

Taiga is still raw and his conditioning will need to be improved. Similar to an 18 year old Joji Takeuchi in 2005 when he and his brother were called up for training and making the national team the following year for the 2006 WC.

With Mitsubishi, Taiga is mentored by retired NT player Shunsuke Ito and Dieye Sakamoto, the famous NT training big man. Practice against Amath M'Baye will also help in his development.

For next year Kosuke and Joji Takeuchi + Atsuya Ota will still be serviceable and Japan could tap Tenketsu Harimoto, Gaku Arao, Kosuke Hashimoto or Kengo Nomoto and any of the Watanabes for training in the OQT.

[judasmartel]

Any news on whether Japan will field in naturalized players in the OQT or in the 2017 FIBA WC Qualifiers?

[CKR13]

Any news on whether Japan will field in naturalized players in the OQT or in the 2017 FIBA WC Qualifiers?

No discussions so far about naturalized players at this point. Maybe early next year.

[CKR13]

Good read about this year's campaign and how Japan could use that momentum for a springboard into the future.

http://sportiva.shueisha.co.jp/clm/otherballgame/2015/10/07/post_485/index.php

[judasmartel]

Where's Sean Hinkley though? Didn't see him this year.

[CKR13]

Hinkley is back in the United States, studying in UC Irvine.

[CKR13]

Rui Hachimura will be playing for Gonzaga

http://www.scout.com/college/basketball/recruiting/story/1613659-source-gonzaga-lands-japanese-star

[locdogjr]

Where's Sean Hinkley though? Didn't see him this year.

Honestly, I never thought he even looked all that good when I saw him play.

[locdogjr]

Rui Hachimura will be playing for Gonzaga
http://www.scout.com/college/basketb...-japanese-star

that is a great look for both him AND Japanese basketball.

So few Asian players actually make it to top tier schools, and Gonzaga is definitely that. Great for him! We could see some Rui Hachimura vs Kobe Paras matchups, would be cool!

[CKR13]

that is a great look for both him AND Japanese basketball.

So few Asian players actually make it to top tier schools, and Gonzaga is definitely that. Great for him! We could see some Rui Hachimura vs Kobe Paras matchups, would be cool!

The level of play in the West Coast conference will be huge leap from that of the regional and national play of Mesei HS. Hachimura will need to improve his ball-handling ASAP as he was mostly used as a big SF against smaller players. In Japan, Hachimura was able to bully or power his way against smaller players into the rim. Now, his size advantage is negated as there are bigger and stronger players in the competition. What sold him to Gonzaga was his U17 stand against Team USA and the exposure from the Jordan Brand international showcase.

I remember Yuta Watanabe first making his way into St. Thomas More where he was really raw. He worked on his conditioning and overall game refinement until he was able to secure interest from George Washington. Hachimura will benefit from the experience and so will Japan.

[locdogjr]

The level of play in the West Coast conference will be huge leap from that of the regional and national play of Mesei HS. Hachimura will need to improve his ball-handling ASAP as he was mostly used as a big SF against smaller players. In Japan, Hachimura was able to bully or power his way against smaller players into the rim. Now, his size advantage is negated as there are bigger and stronger players in the competition. What sold him to Gonzaga was his U17 stand against Team USA and the exposure from the Jordan Brand international showcase.

I remember Yuta Watanabe first making his way into St. Thomas More where he was really raw. He worked on his conditioning and overall game refinement until he was able to secure interest from George Washington. Hachimura will benefit from the experience and so will Japan.

It will definitely be a huge change and jump skill level for him! He does have the size and body of D1 player though, that should allow him to use his freshman year to learn the game and adjust. With proper player development he should really be able to make a dent in his sophomore year. Since he isn't considered a one and done this should be a promising path for him. I see some comparisons between him and Bruno Caboclo of the Raptors. A perfect NBA body but lacking in the skills, coaching and development needed to excel at a higher level.

[judasmartel]

Japan is grouped with the Czech Republic and Latvia in the 2016 FIBA OQT in Belgrade, Serbia.

[CKR13]

Story: http://www.trendingpod.com/entertain...y-in-belgrade/

I think the NBL Finals will end in the second week of May, that will give Japan ample time to prepare. I'd like to see Togashi, Hachimura and Watanabe play.

[CKR13]

From the other thread:

Any updates on the Hayabusa's preparation for the Olympic Qualifiers?

NBL Japan Finals will end around 1st or 2nd week of May and that will leave Japan with a month and three weeks to prepare.