Can Kokone Kurokawa develop to be among Japan's great point guards like Rui Machida?

AMMAN (Jordan) - Japan are known for being a factory for producing some of Asia’s best point guards. From Asami Yoshida to Rui Machida and many others in between, the list of Japanese standout point guards is a long one.

Here at the FIBA U16 Women’s Asian Championship 2022, there could be another one in the making in Kokone Kurokawa.

"I think it is my job to make sure that the play after the pass is in good shape and to create opportunities for people to shoot easily."

Japan currently lead all teams in assists with 27.0 per game. They’re easily one of the contenders to win the tournament this year with their only loss coming at the hands of the defending champions. Even then, Japan were defeated by only 8 points.

One of the main reasons has been the play of the team’s point guard Kurokawa, who has been leading all players with 8.5 assists per game this year. She started the competition in style, dishing out 16 assists - the most in a single game so far.

The point guard mentality is clear to see as she is quick to deflect the credit of her achievements to her teammates.

"An assist is not complete until the person you pass it to scores, so I am grateful to my fellow player for scoring," Kurokawa said. "I think it is my job to make sure that the play after the pass is in good shape and to create opportunities for people to shoot easily."

Considering her production as point guard, Kurokawa has done a solid job. While the first task of qualifying for the U17 Women’s World Cup is accomplished, there’s also the ultimate goal of helping Japan win their first U16 Women’s Asian Championship title since 2011.

Being a part of the Japan national team comes with expectations and that’s what Kurokawa has experienced here in this youth national team stint.

"I was very happy to be selected as a member of the U16 Asian Championship team. At the same time, I also feel the responsibility of representing Japan against other countries in the world," she said.

Aside from being an opportunity to represent the country at the international level, playing for the youth national team is an opportunity for Kurokawa to continue growing as a player. Basketball runs in the family for the young point guard, as her father is a former mini-basketball coach and her brother also a player, so she knows how important it is to learn from those around her.

"I was called to my first U16 selection camp last year. At that camp, I had the opportunity to play with other high level players of my generation, which was a great opportunity to gauge my own abilities," Kurokawa said. "I saw and felt the great play that the participating players had and tried to accept and absorb the good things they had to offer."

Of course, one of her biggest inspirations is none other than the Olympian, Rui Machida.

"Rui Machida is a point guard like me and I respect her very much because she has everything I lack. I have a lot to learn from her game control skills. She is also great at keeping her cool and controlling the game even if the game is not going well."

There’s still a large gap between Machida and Kurokawa, but the younger Kurokawa seems to be on the right path. If she can keep on improving, whether it’s from the on-court experience here in Jordan or absorbing from or observing other players, Kokone Kurokawa should be on the right path to be among the great point guards of Japan.

FIBA