Kai Toews' pro career will begin with the Utsunomiya Brex, it was announced on Friday.
The talented point guard was second among NCAA Division I players in assists per game (7.7) as a freshman last season.
Now, he joins a powerhouse B. League club with a deep, veteran roster.
In December, Toews, a Tokyo native, left the University of North Carolina Wilmington in the middle of his sophomore season. He averaged 5.5 points and 4.3 assists in 13 games in the 2019-20 campaign.
In his freshman season, he contributed 8.8 points and made a big splash as one of the top passers in the country. The 188-cm Toews was named to the Colonial Athletic Association All-Rookie Team.
"I decided to play with the B. League's Utsunomiya Brex because I wanted to fight a lot with great fans and learn a lot from my teammates who (can) train my mind and body," Toews said in a statement.
The 21-year-old Toews added that he has a lot of family in Utsunomiya, calling it a "favorite place I've always been familiar with."
Addressing the team's rabid fans, Toews continued: "I can't wait for the day we can fight together at the match venue."