The Japanese Basketball Association has named the men’s under 18 eleven player team that will participate in the 28th Albert Schweitzer Tournament in Mannheim Germany as a part of their training in this year’s 2016 FIBA Asia U18 Championship for Men.
Avi Schafer – Saint Mary’s International
Yuki Mikami – Mesei HS
Nakamura Hiromori – Noshira Prefecture HS
Kazuma Tsuya – Rakuminami HS
Yo Nishino – Kinki University HS
Raita Akaho – Ichiritsufunabashi HS
Kai Toews – Bridgeton Academy
Keisuke Mimori – Sapporo Nihon HS
Taiga Kagitomi – Fukuoka University HS
Yudai Nishida – Fukuoka University HS
Rei Ito – Hirakikokorozashi INTL HS
Head coach Torsten Loibl returns to guide the young men’s team after mentoring last year’s Japanese U16 national team and Loibl selected the players that impressed him the most. From the U16 team, Fukuoka’s Yudai Nishida – the leading scorer of last year’s U16 team with an average of 18.8 points per game returns alongside U16 teammates Taiga Kagitomi, Keisuke Mimori and playmaker Rei Ito to join a number of fresh faces – noteable: Avi “Koki” Schafer, the only player standing above 203cm – is the second leading rebounder of the St Mary school based in Tokyo. Kai Toews, the 188cm scoring point guard from Bridgeton Academy provides the much needed scoring and outside shooting that the team will need to compete against able European teams. Raita Akaho of Ichiritsufunabashi is a power forward with a smooth touch from the perimeter and leads his varsity team in rebounding and shots blocked.
Gonzaga bound Rui Hachimura was initially listed in the 28 player pool that was announced late in February but Hachimura will be skipping the Albert Schweitzer Tournament to train with the senior national team in their participation for the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Belgrade, Serbia in July. Hachimura lead the team in scoring and rebounding in the 27th edition of the Albert Schweitzer Tournament in 2014.
The eleven player team is scheduled to leave Japan and fly to Germany in 24th of March to hold training camp and acclimate with the timezone. The 28th Albert Schweitzer Tournament will be played from 26th of March to 2nd of April. Japan is in Group A alongside Australia, Serbia, Argentina, Turkey and the home team Germany. Group B consists of Egypt, Greece, Italy, China, the United States and France.
For the FIBA Asia U18 Championship, Japan is expected to field a twelve man team. The U18 Asian tournament will be held in Iran with the exact venue to be determined later from 15th of July to 24th.
Image courtesy of FIBA
Shonen Hoops 