The “2024 BJ Cup U15 in TOCHIGI” was held at Nikkan Arena Tochigi, with a total of 38 male and female teams competing fiercely over two days. This time, we have selected three notable players who have a strong possibility of being included in the future Japanese national team.
■Saki Ito (NLG INFINITY)
NLG INFINITY, which finished this tournament in 7th place, had two tall players: Sakusho Ito (174cm) and Kanae Itabashi (173cm). Among them, Ito, who wears number 10 on his back, can be called the mainstay of the team. She has shown her presence with her offensive and defensive rebounds and bold inside offense, and in this BJ Cup as well, she produced a lot of offensive rebounds and showed off many times how she powerfully took shots under the goal. She said, “I was able to jump in and grab the rebound properly, and I think I was able to get into position on the inside at the right time.” The player she aims to be is “a player who can play both indoors and outdoors.” Since she entered the second year of junior high school, she has also put a lot of effort into practicing 3-point shots, and now she can shoot 3-point shots without hesitation when she sees an opportunity in a game. Ito, who is confident that she will continue to grow, was also selected as a member of the U15 National Training Center camp held in 2023. However, at a training camp where top athletes of the same generation gathered, she said, “The people around me were all tall but able to move, and I couldn’t move at all.I felt a difference in speed and physical strength.” is keenly aware of its lack of strength. Still, her current challenges have become clear, and at the powerful school in the Kanto region where she plans to attend, she aims to become an all-rounder who can compete on a national level.
■Tsuneoka Cayman (Kyoto Dreamers)
It even felt like there was only one university student participating in a tournament for the U15 generation. Kyoto Dreamers’ Cayman Tsuneoka is not only 195cm tall, but also has a sturdy and thick body. If he cuts in with a drive from the outside, no matter how many opposing defensemen there are, he will screw up the shot, and even if it misses, he will pick up the rebound himself and steal the basket count. “My biggest role is to score points. I also think my job is to provide assists, rebounds, and motivate the team.” As Tsuneoka says, he was unable to lead Kyoto to victory as the captain and absolute ace, and ended the tournament with a runner-up finish. He expressed regret, saying, “I was able to score all-around with 3 points and drives, but I wasn’t able to move the ball well.” However, the scale of his performance makes him worthy of being called one of the top players of his generation. It was something. Japan’s new talent is scheduled to begin activities in the United States starting this spring. Of course, his dream is to play in the NBA, and his target player is LeBron James (Los Angeles Lakers). “I want to become a professional basketball player on a stage that can be called the pinnacle of basketball.” I look forward to the day when Tsuneoka, who is looking straight ahead to the future, becomes the “King of Japan.”
2024-03-17 10:50:41
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