Men's basketball representative from Japan, Avi Schafer Thoughts on the representative of a man who started basketball at the age of 16 with Basketball

2022.02.22sponsored by JBA

Avi Schafer (Seahorses Mikawa), who started playing basketball at the age of 16 and was selected as a candidate for generational representatives in less than a year, and achieved an exceptional "speed advancement" by becoming a representative four years later. The 24-year-old, who has experienced the World Cup, the Olympics and big games, looks to the world and challenges the "FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 He is the Asian Regional Qualifying" Window 2 from February 25th to 28th.

Fascinated by Schaefer's aggressive play

He runs, jumps, and stretches, taking advantage of his 206 cm 106 kg physique and abundant amount of exercise. He is always doing his best on the court, and it is refreshing to see him bravely confronting anyone.

He started playing basketball in the fall of 16 years old. The appearance of playing with a club team in Tokyo caught the eyes of the people concerned, and when they were convened at the JBA-sponsored elite camp "U18 Top Endeavor" in the winter of the following year, they took the position of U18 Japan representative as it was, and the following year, Hachimura. He also experienced the U19 World Cup with Rui Hachimura (Washington Wizards) and others. This month, Seahorses Mikawa has three teams, including a candidate for Window 2 of the "FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Asian Qualifying" and a candidate for the "19th Asian Games (2022 / Hangzhou)" held in September. "It's hard because there's no off," laughs Schaefer.

There is no doubt that his original talents, such as his physique and motor skills. But the reason Schaefer has grown so rapidly is that he isn't running away from the big walls and is trying his best to stand up.

At Top Endeavor, who realized the "representative level" for the first time, he was thinking "let's do what he can do" while being disappointed by the players who are active in the national competition. While desperately honing his skills in practice, he throws all his energy into simple play such as running haste in actual battles, jumping rebounds many times, and stretching his body. From there he gradually increased what he could do in combat.

"I started playing basketball late, so I'm addicted to doing it with all my strength. If it doesn't work even if I do it normally or in parentheses, I have to do what I can. Now I have a lot of skills. Has caught up, but even so, when fighting a superior player, I'm thinking, "I'll do my best to do what I can."

Recalling Schaefer's play at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Schaefer played aggressively against the world's top players, despite his short appearance time, with a strong will to "defend the bottom of the goal with all his might."

"My most important thing is the challenge. I wanted to continue playing basketball at a high level in U18's activities, so I went to the United States and won the US championship at the Brewster Academy, NCAA Division 1. I went to Georgia Institute of Technology, and after returning to Japan, I belonged to Alvark Tokyo. I couldn't play any games, but I could see something that would work if I was driving myself, no matter how high the level. Every day I was desperately crawling so that I wouldn't be shaken off, but in the process I was able to gradually acquire skills and confidence. "

Schaefer recalls that when he was a teenager, the complex to short careers was hard to wipe out, but now it's not. "I've received very dense and high-level coaching, and I wonder if my career isn't relevant anymore." Schaefer realizes in his own performance the magnitude of what he has gained from challenging in harsh environments, even if there are no visible results.

The experience of the representative will make you grow more

Currently, the Japan Men's National Team is competing in the Asian qualifying round for the "FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023" to be held in Okinawa next year. With Tom Hovasse, who led the women's Japan national team to the silver medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, as the head coach (HC), Schaefer is said to have become clearer about the role he should play.

"The last match against China (Window1) was terrible personally, but my teammates and Tom encouraged me with words like" I only have you, "and said," I need myself. " I felt it, and I became more aware that I would be the representative. "

Hovasse HC has adopted an offense system called "Five Out" where all five players on the court can hit a 3P shot. Schaefer, who has been the main battlefield under the goal as a center, has also increased to play outside.

"I find it difficult to jump under the goal after putting a screen on the ballman, and the number of different plays is increasing, but it's interesting. Sometimes I can learn tips for playing that doesn't go well in Mikawa on behalf of me. I think if you learn to play and be smart on the outside, you can go even further. "

Being a representative of Japan is my motivation

Since the selection race of FIBA ​​World Cup 2019, the foothold as a representative member has been steadily established. From now on, Schaefer's goal is to play longer and become an indispensable player for the national team. And, as this role model, Schaefer is paying attention to Maki Takada (Denso Iris), the former captain of the women's representative from Japan.

"I want Tom to be a player who is positioned like Takada. He is wise and always makes the best choice, and he trusts him very much. If that happens, the playtime will naturally increase, and I would like to imitate it. "

Schaefer also thinks about his future as a national player.

"It's not that clear yet, but I want to be like a lubricant. I think it's about creating a ground that is easy for core players like bases and Yuta (Yuta Watanabe / Toronto Raptors) to play. , They move to make it easier to shoot. In that, I also want to aggressively shoot and make a presence. "

"I am able to continue playing basketball at the top level right now because of the representatives who have felt the potential and raised me because I am not good at it. The representative is at the center of my motivation." Schaefer has a strong desire for representative activities. I'm looking forward to seeing how the world-focused Big Man will play in this week's FIBA ​​Basketball World Cup 2023 His Asian Qualifiers.

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