Chikara Tanaka

Chikara Tanaka (田中力, たなか ちから, Tanaka Chikara, born 4 May 2002) is a Japanese high school basketball player who attends Veritas National Prep School in Santa Fe Springs, California. He previously attended IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida.

Chikara Tanaka
田中力
No. 0 – Bethel University (Indiana)
PositionPoint guard
Personal information
Born (2002-05-04) 4 May 2002
Aomori, Japan
NationalityJapanese
Listed height1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Career information
High school
CollegeBethel University (Indiana) (2022-2026)

Early life and career

Tanaka was born in Aomori Prefecture to an American father and a Japanese mother. He briefly lived in Hawaiʻi as a child and was raised in Yokohama, Japan.[1] Tanaka grew up skateboarding but was encouraged by his friends to play basketball due to his height.[2]

High school career

Tanaka attended Sakamoto Junior High School in Yokosuka and played for the youth team of the Yokohama B-Corsairs. In 2017, he led his team to second place at the B.League Under-15 Championship.[3]

In 2018, Tanaka began attending IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, joining one of the best high school teams in the United States.[1][4]

In February 2019, he participated in the Basketball Without Borders Global Camp during 2019 NBA All-Star Weekend in Charlotte, North Carolina.[5]

In 2020, Tanaka left IMG due to mental health issues off court and transferred to Kahuku High School in Kahuku, Hawaiʻi. After the season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he traveled to Utah where he attended the All-Academic Basketball camp and received an offer from the University of Utah. However, Tanaka lost his roster spot due to the extension given by the NCAA Division I Council to all players for the pandemic-altered season.[6]

In 2021, he transferred to Veritas National Prep School in Santa Fe Springs, California,[6][7] where he continued his post-graduate.[8]

National team career

In January 2018, Tanaka led the Japanese under-16 team to the title of the Crystal Bohemia Cup in the Czech Republic, earning tournament most valuable player honors.[1] Later that year, he averaged 15.2 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game for Japan at the FIBA Under-16 Asian Championship.[2] Tanaka was invited to training camp with the Japanese senior national team for the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup qualification stage.[9]

References
  1. Nagatsuka, Kaz (8 June 2018). "Teenage star Chikara Tanaka to attend IMG Academy in bid to gain college hoop scholarship". The Japan Times. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
  2. "Chikara Tanaka has best friend to thank for path from skateboarder to hopeful Olympic debut". FIBA. 21 May 2020. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
  3. Nagatsuka, Kaz (8 February 2018). "Teen phenom Chikara Tanaka looking to make mark with national team". The Japan Times. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
  4. Arruda, Joe (19 January 2020). "An international superstar: IMG's Chikara Tanaka". The Springfield Student. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
  5. Givony, Jonathan (12 February 2019). "International prospects to show skills during All-Star Weekend". ESPN. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
  6. "FEATURE: Teen hooper taking the hard road from Japan to the top". Kyodo News+. Retrieved 2021-11-21.
  7. Veritas Titans [@veritasbasketball] (January 29, 2021). "Welcome 2021 6'2 190 Chikara Tanaka to the Veritas Family! LETS GOOOOO..." Retrieved September 30, 2021 – via Instagram.
  8. Tanaka, Chikara [@chikaratanaka_] (October 12, 2021). "Focus on yo process ❤️". Retrieved October 16, 2021 – via Instagram.
  9. "Tanaka takes humbling senior team experience to be U16 leader". FIBA. 14 March 2018. Retrieved 25 June 2020.


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