1. Yuta Watanabe played college basketball in the United States for the George Washington Colonials, becoming the first Japanese-born student athlete to secure an NCAA Division I basketball scholarship.
32 Facts About Yuta Watanabe
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Yuta Watanabe was named Atlantic 10 Defensive Player of the Year in 2018.
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Yuta Watanabe has represented the Japan national team, helping them win the bronze medal at the 2013 East Asia Basketball Championship.
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Yuta Watanabe later transferred to St Thomas More Preparatory School in Oakdale, Connecticut in 2013.
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Yuta Watanabe rose to fame in his high school program, and was one of their most valuable players in the National Prep School Invitational as a senior in 2014.
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Yuta Watanabe led the basketball team to the runner-up spot of the All-Japan High School Basketball Tournament in his final two years with the program.
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In late 2013, Yuta Watanabe traveled to the United States and attended St Thomas More Preparatory School in Oakdale, Connecticut.
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On January 31,2014, in his first appearance in the annual National Prep School Invitational, Yuta Watanabe scored 12 points versus Suffield Academy.
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Yuta Watanabe was labeled "the Chosen One" by The Japan Times.
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Yuta Watanabe was rated a 77 by ESPN Recruiting Nation.
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Yuta Watanabe became the first Japanese-born male player to get an NCAA Division I basketball scholarship and just the fourth to play college basketball at that level.
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On December 12, Yuta Watanabe was named Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Week after averaging 9.0 points and 4.7 rebounds in three games as he helped the team win the 2014 Diamond Head Classic crown.
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Yuta Watanabe was often awarded playing time in late-game situations.
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Yuta Watanabe was named to the Atlantic 10 All-Defensive Team.
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On November 20,2017, Yuta Watanabe grabbed a career-high 13 rebounds versus Rider.
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Yuta Watanabe was named the Atlantic 10 Defensive Player of the Year, becoming the first Colonial to win the award.
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Yuta Watanabe made the Atlantic 10 All-Conference's Third Team and Atlantic 10 All-Defensive Team.
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Yuta Watanabe received George Washington's Patricio Garino Defensive Award and Mike Brown MVP Award, both awards named after the former basketball alumni.
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Yuta Watanabe became the second Japanese player to play in the NBA after Yuta Tabuse, who debuted with the Phoenix Suns in 2004.
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Yuta Watanabe shared his time playing back and forth for the Grizzlies and the Hustle for the season.
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Yuta Watanabe was named Midseason All-NBA G League for the Western Conference.
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On November 27,2020, Yuta Watanabe signed an Exhibit 10 deal with the Toronto Raptors to join their pre-season roster.
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Yuta Watanabe returned on November 24,2021, posting three points and two blocks in 14 minutes of play against the Memphis Grizzlies.
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On July 4,2023, Yuta Watanabe signed with the Phoenix Suns.
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On February 8,2024, Yuta Watanabe was traded back to the Memphis Grizzlies in a three-team trade involving the Brooklyn Nets.
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Yuta Watanabe was named to the 12-man roster for the 2016 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament, where he averaged 7.0 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.0 assists.
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Yuta Watanabe played in all five games, averaging 15.6 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game.
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Yuta Watanabe led the Japanese squad in points and efficiency per game.
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Yuta Watanabe has been criticized because of his lack of weight and muscle from his college career even until he turned professional.
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Yuta Watanabe was, like, jumping in the air making a weird face.
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Yuta Watanabe was born on October 13,1994, in Yokohama, Kanagawa, in Japan, and grew up in Miki, Kagawa.
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Yuta Watanabe's father played for the Kumagai Gumi Bruins at the professional level.