Tominaga Keisei: Top facts you did not know about Japan's rising hoops star
Having made a name for himself in U.S. college basketball with one of the sweetest strokes in the game, the 'Japanese Stephen Curry' is on the cusp of a breakout FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 campaign in his home country this summer.
Tominaga Keisei is already a household name in his native country Japan and of all places, in the state of Nebraska in the United States.
But this summer, when the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 rolls around in Japan, Philippines and Indonesia, a lot more people might start recognising Tominaga's name - and game.
Nicknamed the 'Japanese Stephen Curry' by those who already know him, here's what you need to know about the 22-year-old University of Nebraska senior guard who's ready to make a splash on the global stage:
Tominaga Keisei: 'The Japanese Stephen Curry'
You know you're on to something when the greatest shooter in the history of basketball gives you a shout out, as Curry did back in February when the Big Ten published a special piece dedicated to Tominaga.
And yes, Tominaga wears No. 30 in honour of Curry, whose game Tominaga models after.
Tominaga Keisei, a Nebraska hero
When Tominaga announced his decision to pull out of the NBA Draft and play out his senior season on 31 May, Husker Nation went wild. He is that popular in Nebraska, and rightfully so.
The 1.88-metre lefty averaged a team-high 14.2 points per game in the Big Ten conference while ranking seventh in field goal percentage (.510) and fifth in 3-pointers per game (2.4).
After going on a tear from 1 February, Tominaga was third in league scoring, behind only national player of the year Zach Edey and Trayce Jackson-Davis.
No one was happier to see Tominaga, an honourable All-Big Ten mention, return than Nebraska and former Chicago Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg.
“We are excited to have Keisei return for the 2023-24 season,” said Hoiberg, who played for the Bulls, Indiana Pacers and Minnesota Timberwolves.
“He showed the ability to be one of the best players in the Big Ten and was a catalyst for our success in the second half of the conference season. Keisei has really worked hard since the season ended and has the opportunity to have a special senior season.”
Tominaga Keisei can shoot
It goes without saying that Tominaga can hit the occasional jumpshot - and from logo range.
The Japanese was one of only six NCAA Division I players to average double figures in scoring while shooting 50 percent from the field, 40 percent from behind the arc and 85 percent from the free-throw line.
Here is EVERY 3-pointer Tominaga made last season, compiled by Nebraka:
Tominaga Keisei is an Olympian
Tominaga is already an Olympian actually, having appeared in 3x3 at Tokyo 2020 where Japan reached the quarter-finals.
He is expected to form Japan's core alongside Rui Hachimura and Watanabe Yuta at the World Cup, where tickets to Paris 2024 will be on the line.
Japan were drawn into a World Cup group including Australia, Germany and Finland.
Tominaga Keisei has NBA ambitions
Before deciding to come back to Nebraska, Tominaga took part in a pre-draft workout with the Pacers - under the gaze of NBA legend Larry Bird.
The Nagoya native - whose father Hiroyuki was a former national-team player, a giant at 2.11m - will spend the upcoming campaign working on his strength to groom himself for next year's draft - and perhaps join his idol Curry in the NBA.
"I was able to get a feel for a lot of things by going to the workout," Tominaga said. "After a lot of thinking about what path to choose and where to play next season, this is the decision I've made to get the most out of myself."
