When a series of training camps kicked off for the Japan men’s national basketball team weeks ago, Gavin Edwards was believed to be on the outside looking in when it came to the only spot permitted for a naturalized Japanese citizen.
But head coach Julio Lamas surprised many and wound up selecting Edwards over Ryan Rossiter for his final 12-man roster for the Tokyo Olympics.
“I’m just very excited. It’s definitely a huge honor because to be part of the final 12-man roster is a huge accomplishment, because there are some great players that were in the camp,” Edwards told reporters in a recent online interview. “And I think everybody played really hard and I think that we can put it together. We have put together a really good team and we’re working towards just making everybody proud and just really happy.”