Akita Northern Happinets Sign Wataru Kumagai for Two-Year Contract

Thank you for your always hot and warm support.

We are pleased to announce that the Akita Northern Happinets have reached an agreement with Wataru Kumagai on a player contract for the 2023-24 season.
In addition, we would like to inform you that the contract with Kumagai this time will be a two-year contract from the B.LEAGUE 2023-24 season to the 2024-25 season.

#11 Kou Kumagai

■ Uniform number 11
■ Position Point Guard (PG)
■ Height/Weight 173cm/70kg
Date of birth May 7, 1996
Birthplace Oita Prefecture
■ Career Daito Bunka University
→ Seahorse Mikawa (2018-21) * Joined as a special designated player in December 2018
→ Shinshu Brave Warriors (2021-23)

《Award History》
・The 69th All Japan University Basketball Championship Outstanding Player Award (Best 5) (2017/3rd year university)
・The 93rd Kanto University Basketball League Outstanding Player Award (Best 5) (2017/3rd year university student)
・B.LEAGUE 2019-20 Season Rookie Award Best 5

《Representative career》
・2014 U18 Japan national team candidate
・2018 U22 Japan National Team (2018 Asia Pacific University Challenge)
・Candidates for the 2021 Japan Men’s National Team
・2023 Japan Men’s National Team Training Camp Members

[2022-23 season individual stats]

person’s comment

Nice to meet you Akita Northern Happinets fans.
I am Wataru Kumagai, who has transferred from the Shinshu Brave Warriors.
This will be my first time in Tohoku, and I’ve never played in Akita in my professional career, so I’m really looking forward to it.
I would like to do my best so that I can demonstrate my own characteristics and contribute to the team as soon as possible.
I’m looking forward to the day when I can meet all the wonderful fans, so please support me.
Please fight together.

club comment

Kumagai has grown into a powerful point guard in the league over the past few years, and is a speedster who has led Shinshu.
He has been a member of the Japan national team since he was a student, and has been selected as a candidate to represent the top team since 2021, and has also been selected as a candidate for the 2023 national team.
Over the past two seasons, he has recorded an average of 10 points or more, and as a point guard who can score, he is characterized by his aggressive style of play in both offense and defense. Also, when I was a student, I was good at offense that made use of my speed, but in the past few seasons, I have been polishing my half-court basket. Kumagai’s tough heart and unparalleled speed are a perfect match for Akita’s fast-developing style, and will greatly enhance the team’s strength as they aim to advance to the championship again next season.

Akita Northern Happinets player contract status *As of June 2, 2023

・ Kumagai Wataru

・Kerem Kanter
・Shun Ito
・Takeshi Tada