When the bj-league was introduced in Japan's hoop scene six years ago, Makoto Sawaguchi was only 13 years old and not aware of the brand-new circuit.
As a matter of fact, the Akita Northern Happinets rookie guard found out about the league only a few years ago, while attending Morioka Minami High School in Iwate Prefecture.
His high school coach, Tasuku Saito, was the messenger. The former Osaka Evessa player, who now serves as a physical education teacher at Morioka Minami, told Sawaguchi about the league.