Makoto Hiejima

Makoto Hiejima
Hiejima in September 2018
No. 6 – Utsunomiya Brex
PositionShooting guard
LeagueB.League
Personal information
Born (1990-08-11) August 11, 1990 (age 34)
Fukuoka, Japan
Listed height191 cm (6 ft 3 in)
Listed weight88 kg (194 lb)
Career information
High schoolRakunan (Kyoto, Japan)
CollegeAoyama Gakuin University
NBA draft2012: undrafted
Playing career2013–present
Career history
2013–2018Aisin SeaHorses Mikawa
2018–2019Brisbane Bullets
2019–presentUtsunomiya Brex
Career highlights and awards
Medals
Men's basketball
Representing  Japan
Asian Games
Bronze medal – third place 2014 South Korea Team competition
EABA Championship
Bronze medal – third place 2017 Nagano Team

Makoto Hiejima (Japanese: 比江島慎; born August 11, 1990) is a Japanese professional basketball player for Utsunomiya Brex of the Japanese B.League.

Professional career

A Fukuoka Prefecture native and Rakunan High School alum,[1] Hiejima attended Aoyama Gakuin University before making his pro debut with the Aisin SeaHorses Mikawa in 2013.[2] He played a pivotal role in helping the rebranded SeaHorses Mikawa win the B.League West Division (46–14) in 2016–17 in the circuit's inaugural campaign and finish first in the Central Division (48–12) in 2017–18, when he was named league MVP behind averages of 12.9 points, 4.1 assists and 2.9 rebounds in 55 games.[2]

In July 2018, Hiejima signed a five-year deal with Link Tochigi Brex.[2] As part of his deal with the Brex, he was free to pursue higher-level opportunities elsewhere and return to Tochigi at any time.[2] The following month, he signed with the Brisbane Bullets of the Australian NBL under the league's Asian Player rule.[3][4] On January 5, 2019, he was released by the Bullets.[5] Four days later, he joined Link Tochigi Brex for the rest of the season.[6]

National team career

In 2013, Hiejima made his international debut for Japan at the FIBA Asia Championship. In 2014, he helped Japan win bronze at the Asian Games.

Career statistics

Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage  3P%  3-point field goal percentage  FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high
† Denotes seasons in which Hiejima won a championship
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2013–14 Aisin 53 5 30.4 .501 .462 .762 3.1 2.9 1.1 .3 11.8
2014–15† Aisin 42 36 29.3 .466 .294 .738 2.9 3.0 1.3 .3 10.2
2015–16 Aisin 51 51 32.6 .493 .369 .771 3.2 2.9 1.3 .4 14.3
2016–17 Mikawa 59 55 29.1 .474 .420 .769 3.1 3.4 1.2 .4 12.9
2017–18 Mikawa 55 44 25.9 .505 .395 .760 2.9 4.1 1.2 .5 12.9
2018–19 Brisbane 3 0 .6 .000 .000 .000 .0 .0 .0 .0 .0
2018–19 Utsunomiya 29 7 23.3 .502 .429 .653 2.2 3.5 1.1 .5 9.9
2019–20 Utsunomiya 40 39 24.3 .457 .352 .793 2.1 3.5 1.0 .4 10.0
2020–21 Utsunomiya 42 20 18.9 .479 .342 .744 1.5 2.3 0.7 .2 8.4
2021–22† Utsunomiya 51 51 22.0 .494 .420 .710 2.2 3.7 1.1 .4 11.5


References

  1. ^ Marantz, Ken (29 May 2018). "Shooting From The Heart". insidesportjapan.com. Retrieved 8 August 2018.
  2. ^ a b c d "Reigning B. League MVP Makoto Hiejima joins Tochigi Brex". japantimes.co.jp. 20 July 2018. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
  3. ^ "Brisbane Bullets Sign Makoto Hiejima". NBL.com.au. 2 August 2018. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
  4. ^ Davis, Greg (2 August 2018). "Brisbane Bullets sign Japanese star Makoto Hiejima for the upcoming NBL season". couriermail.com.au. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
  5. ^ Ward, Roy (5 January 2019). "Melbourne United look to reload against Bullets". smh.com.au. Retrieved 6 January 2019. The Bullets announced on Saturday they had signed new import power forward AJ Davis for the rest of the season and released Japanese guard Makoto Hiejima.
  6. ^ "#6 比江島 慎 選手、入団のお知らせ". tochigibrex.jp (in Japanese). 9 January 2019. Retrieved 9 January 2019.