NCAA Basketball: Rui Hachimura, Kouat Noi lead All-Continent teams

6) Team Asia

Starters

Kai Toews (Japan) – UNC-Wilmington
G | 6-2 | Fr | 8.7 PPG | 7.9 APG

UNC-Wilmington has something special in Kai Toews. The freshman is already making waves as he’s tied for 2nd in the nation in assists this season and displays the kind of vision any head coach loves in a point guard. Towes also has good quickness and is a surprisingly gifted finisher at the rim. If he can develop a more consistent shot, Kai Toews will be a name a lot more people know next season. For Team Asia, he serves as a young but very capable point guard.

Rui Hachimura (Japan) – Gonzaga
F | 6-8 | Jr | 20.3 PPG | 60.1 FG% | 6.5 RPG

It seems like a rarity we get to see a player who slowly develops his game the way Rui has at Gonzaga. Most knew Hachimura had the chance to be good, but did everyone know this is what he’d turn into? Rui is one of the best players in the nation and also made noise staring on the Japanese National Team. So obviously he would be relied on heavily by Team Asia. Give it to Rui and get out of the way!

Michael Wang (China) – Penn
F | 6-10 | Fr | 9.7 PPG | 46.7 FG%

Wang has played his best basketball at the best of times. He scored 23 points in a win vs. Miami and 14 in huge victory over Villanova. In addition, Wang is only averaging about 20 minutes a game so his numbers look better under this light as well. He may not be a great athlete, but Wang has shown he has a nice touch and has the potential to catch fire.

Giorgi Bezhanishvili (Georgia) – Illinois
F | 6-9 | Fr | 12.1 PPG | 5.0 RPG

There seems to be at least a little debate over whether the country of Georgia is in Europe or Asia. The evidence may be in favor of Europe, but we’re settling on Asia due to there being a plethora of European college players. For his part, Bezhanishvili has shown impressive offensive flashes as a freshman. Most notably was a 35 point outing in an overtime win vs. Rutgers early in February. Giorgi is still a work in progress on the defensive side of the ball, but the big man has the talent to be great.

Sandro Mamamukelashvili (Georgia) – Seton Hall
F | 6-10 | So | 8.9 PPG | 7.3 RPG | 1.3 BPG

Sandro has some definite similarities to his aforementioned countryman. However, Mamamukelashvili has more of an ability to step out and knock down the three (25 of 73). Seldom used in 2017-18, Sandro has become a starter this season for the Pirates and is the teams leading rebounder. He is the kind of big that plays a nice complimentary role and can provide a nice scoring boost on occasion.

Subs

Kevin Zhang (China) – Tulane
G | 6-9 | Fr | 6.8 PPG
Johnny Wang (China) – Cal State Fullerton
F | 6-9 | So | 3.3 PPG
Michael Ou (China) – Cal State Northridge
C | 6-9 | Fr | 4.2 PPG
Oscar Kao (Taiwan) – Southeast Missouri State
G | 6-0 | Fr | 2.7 PPG

Despite some solid talent surrounding Rui Hachimura, there is not much depth beyond the starting five. In fact, I could only find four players who have made appearances in half of their team’s games this season. Kevin Zhang is probably the best bet to come off the bench first as the freshman has started some games for Tulane. With that said, there’s no denying Team Asia doesn’t have much depth, even with help from the Euro-Asian country of Georgia.