Former coaches revel in Hachimura’s success

TOKYO >> Rui Hachimura’s junior high school coach said he was delighted to hear that Hachimura had become the first Japanese basketball player ever selected in the first round of the National Basketball Association draft.

“My dream has always been the growth of Hachimura. He achieved the goal, and made my dream come true,” said Joji Sakamoto, 59, a basketball coach at Okuda Junior High School in Toyama.

In June, the Washington Wizards selected Hachimura, 21, of Gonzaga University with the ninth pick in the first round of the NBA draft.

Sakamoto said he received a call from Hachimura shortly after he watched him get picked on a live webcast.

Hachimura reportedly told his childhood coach: “Everything started with you, coach. I couldn’t have done it without you.”

“I’m delighted beyond words. I’m so grateful that I could meet a player who would become a history maker,” Sakamoto said. “I want him to play a pivotal role in the team, and make a spectacular showing in the Tokyo Olympics as well.”

Hachimura also conveyed his appreciation to Hisao Sato, 69, his basketball coach at Sendai’s Meisei High School.

Sato said that while Hachimura was an ace on the high school team, what impressed him most was his caring nature.

The coach recalled that when Hachimura’s teammate cried over failing to shoot a basket, Hachimura held the teammate’s head and said, “I’ll score a point on your behalf.”

“I have told him, ‘The bough that bears the most hangs lowest,’” said Sato. “I want him to remember to always thank people around him.”