Former Brigham Young University Hawaii basketball player Yuta Tabuse signed a multi-year NBA contract with the Phoenix Suns this week.
Tabuse, who played for the Seasiders during the 2001-02 season, became the first Japanese player to sign with an NBA franchise and the first BYU-Hawaii basketball player to sign an NBA contract when he signed a "make-good" contract with the Denver Nuggets last year.
However, he failed to make the Nuggets roster and his signing with Phoenix is contingent on his making the team this year. He hopes to become the first Japanese player ever to play in the NBA.
Tabuse, a huge crowd favorite during his year with the Seasiders, averaged 7.6 points per game and led the Pacific West Conference in assists 6.5 per contest. He finished fourth in the conference in steals at 1.8 per game and sixth in free throw percentage at .782. He helped lead the Seasiders to the championship of the PacWest and to the NCAA II Regional Tournament.
With Tabuse dazzling the crowds with his passing and ball handling skills, the Seasiders also advanced to the championship game of the Yahoo! Sports Invitational Tournament against Division I competition. Tabuse was named to the All-Tournament team after setting the tournament record for assists, including 13 during the semifinal win over New Mexico State.
Suns President and General Manager Bryan Colangelo said, "Yuta earned the opportunity to sign this contract because he has now proven in two consecutive summers that he can play at the NBA level. Yuta will get every opportunity to make our team and perhaps this shot at the league will work out for him."
Tabuse, 5-9 and 165 pounds, appeared in nine games for two Suns summer league teams this summer, averaging 5.0 points and 2.0 assists in one and 3.8 points and 2.5 assists in the other. He will be competing with three other point guards currently on the Suns roster.
BYU-Hawaii Head Coach Ken Wagner was pleased with the news. "He's a great young man and it's nice to see him do well," said Wagner. "It's always been a dream of Yuta's to play in the NBA and I hope he's successful."
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