J. R. Sakuragi
JR Sakuragi (Japanese桜木 ジェイ アール, Sakuragi Jeiāru; born October 30, 1976 in Bakersfield, California, United States Milton Henderson junior) is a naturalized Japanese professional basketball player of the Aisin Sea Horses in the Japanese professional league JBL. The 2.03 meter tall American-born plays the positions of the center and power forward and is the current Japanese national team.
Career
Sakuragi, the then Milton " J. R. " Henderson said, spent four years at UCLA and won the Bruins the NCAA championship in 1995. In his fourth year, he scored 19 points and eight rebounds per game. Henderson was hired by the Vancouver Grizzlies ranked 56th in the NBA Draft in 1998, but only played in 30 games ( three points per game) and was then retired.
Shorter exposure to unterklassigen U.S. teams (Los Angeles Stars, Las Vegas Silver Bandits ), Venezuela, Israel, France and Saudi Arabia followed in 2001 the offer to play in Japan at the Aisin Sea Horses. Although Henderson was skeptical at first, he accepted it and played from then on in the Japanese professional league JBL. Right away he scored 21 points and 11 rebounds per game, was so fifth best basketball player in the league. He was elected to the All- Star team (which he continually managed to date) and contributed its part to win the title of Sea Horses 2003.
In subsequent years, Henderson's services remained stable, and he scored 20 points and 10 rebounds per game. 2004 saw his second championship, but even though he made his 2004-5 Karrierebestwert of 23 points per game, the Sea Horses 2005 remained without a title. In the summer break, Henderson had to Venezuela to borrow the Marinos de Anzoategui, where he spent five playoff games played (16 points and seven rebounds in average) and Champion. A year later he repeated his " summer outing " by playing 25 games for the Grises de Humacao, Puerto Rico. After his return, Henderson played with the Sea Horses a very good season 2006-7, achieved new Karrierebestwerte of 27 points and 12 rebounds per game and won the Japanese Cup.
This was the season persuaded him Sea Horses coach Kimikazu Suzuki to apply for Japanese citizenship. Suzuki wanted to see Henderson play for the Japanese national team, and besides, he would not fall as residents under the Immigration salary limit of $ 180,000 per year. Since Henderson's family in Japan felt at home, he followed this suggestion, learned " basic understanding " of spoken and written Japanese and influenced, among others, 1750 Kanji one. In order to increase its chances of naturalization, he changed his name from Milton Henderson " J. R. Sakuragi " ( cherry ( blossoms ) tree ), which is also the last name of Hanamichi Sakuragi, the hero of the popular basketball manga Slam Dunk equivalent. On 2 July 2007 Sakuragi was officially a Japanese citizen, and made his debut soon in the Japanese national team. However, he failed to qualify for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. The seasons 2007-8 and 2008-9, however, were successful. Sakuragi still scored 20 points and 10 rebounds and led Aisin 2008 and 2009 for the championship.
Private life
Sakuragi is married to his wife Jennifer and has a daughter. He calls Japan now his second home.
Achievements
- JBL Champion 2003, 2004, 2008 and 2009 with the Aisin Sea Horses
- JBL Challenge Cup 2007 with the Aisin Sea Horses
- JBL All- Star team from 2003 to 2009
- Venezuelan champion in 2005 with the Marinos de Anzoategui
- NCAA championship in 1995 with the UCLA Bruins