J. R. Sakuragi

J. R. Sakuragi

J.R. Sakuragi (Japanese: 桜木ジェイアール), born Milton "J.R." Henderson (October 30 1976 in Bakersfield, California, USA), is a naturalized Japanese professional basketball player.

Raised in Bakersfield, Sakuragi played college basketball at University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), and was a member of their 1995 National Championship team. He was named to the All-Pac-10 First Team during his sophomore and senior seasons, and averaged 14.2 points per game in his four-year career at the school. He was selected by the Vancouver Grizzlies in the 2nd round (56th pick) of the 1998 NBA Draft where he played one season.

In 2001, Sakuragi moved to Japan to play for the Aisin Seahorses of the JBL Super League, averaging 21.5 points and 11.6 rebounds per game in 2006.

Sakuragi application to become a Japanese citizen cleared on July 2, 2007, and he changed his name from J.R. Henderson to J.R. Sakuragi. He chose his new name for three reasons: firstly, he thought a Japanese name would speed up the naturalisation, secondly for the Japanese sakura cherry blossoms, and thirdly because it corresponded to the name of Sakuragi Hanamichi, the protagonist of the popular basketball manga Slam Dunk.

Sakuragi will play for the Japan national basketball team as they compete in the FIBA Asia Championship, a qualifier for the 2008 Summer Olympics.

Sakuragi is married to Jennifer, and both have a daughter. To comply with Japanese naturalisation requirements, he taught himself to read, speak and write Japanese at "rudimentary level". The Sakuragis plan to stay in Japan and have no intention of returning to the U.S. soon.

See also

• 1994-95 UCLA Bruins men's basketball team

References

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