History
Akita Isuzu Motors 1955-1987
| Akita Isuzu Motors | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Leagues | JBL2, JBL |
| Founded | 1955 |
| Arena | Akita Prefectural Gymnasium |
| Location | Akita, Akita |
| President | Shozaburo Makinae |
| Head coach | Mototaka Kohama |
| Championships | 1983 (2nd Division) |
Akita Isuzu Motors basketball team was founded by Shozaburo Makinae in 1955. [2] Makinae currently serves as a director and corporate adviser for the Akita Northern Happinets of B.League. They practiced at Sannoh Junior High School gymnasium in 1960's and 1970's. [3]
Head coaches
- Mototaka Kohama
- Shiro Yoshii
- Shigeyoshi Kasahara
- Hyokichi Tsuji V
Notable players
- Vince Brookins -Louisville vs Iowa
- Jack Givens [4] (JBL2 MVP, Best5, Scoring Leader)
- Derrick Hord - Drafted in the third round of the NBA draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers - Louisville vs Kentucky 1983
- Mitsuhiko Kato
- Hirohide Matsuoka
- Kazuo Nakamura
- Taku Umetsu
- Lavon Williams (JBL2 Best5) -Denver, Colorado, Drafted in the fifth round of the NBA draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers - 1980 UK @ LSU 2/24, Wood Carvings
Lavon Williams in 2013 - Ted Young [5] (JBL MVP, Best5, 1988)
Honors and titles
JBL2
- Champions (1): 1983
- Runners-up (1): 1982
Emperor's Cup
- Champions (1): 1984 Archived 2017-10-26 at the Wayback Machine
- Runners-up (1): 1986
- 3rd place (1): 1987
Japan Industrial and Commercial Basketball Federation Championships
- Runners-up (1): 1981
National Sports Festival of Japan
- Champions (2):
Isuzu Motors Lynx/Giga Cats 1987-2002
| Isuzu Motors Lynx/Giga Cats | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Conference | JBL |
| Founded | 1987 |
| Location | Yokohama, Kanagawa |
| Head coach | Mototaka Kohama Dwane Casey |
| Championships | 1988, 1995,1996, 1997, 1998, 2000 |
The team moved to Yokohama, Kanagawa in 1987. [6] The club enjoyed its golden age winning JBL championships 6 times. Isuzu shut down its basketball and baseball clubs in 2002.
Head coach
- Mototaka Kohama
- Dwane Casey (1992-94) [7] [8]
Due to the Emery scandal in 1989, Kohama and Casey were reunited.
Notable players
- Dan Bingenheimer - Highlights
- Dave Butler
- Casey Calvary
- Richard Coffey
- Anthony Cook (basketball)
- Lucius Davis (JBL MVP, 1998)
- Terry Dozier
- Toshihiro Goto
- Reggie Hanson
- Makoto Hasegawa (JBL Rookie of the year, 1994)
- Brian Hendrick - Cal vs Duke
- Mike Higgins
- Cedric Jenkins
- Makoto Minamiyama
- Hiroshi Nagano
- Ernest Nzigmasabo
- Julius Nwosu
- Tadaharu Ogawa
- Dale Roberts
- A.J. Rollins
- Yukihiro Sakka (JBL Rookie of the year, 1988)
- Kenichi Sako
- Satoshi Sakumoto
- Toru Shioya
- Anthony Smith
- Michael Takahashi - Highlights
- Kenny Walker (JBL Best5, 1996)
- Joe Wallace
- Wang Libin
Honors and titles
JBL
- Champions (6): 1988, 1995,1996, 1997, 1998, 2000
- Runners-up (2): 1999. 2001
Emperor's Cup
- Champions (5): 1994, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2001
- 3rd place (2): 1990, 2002
- Runners-up (1): 2001
Yokohama Giga Cats 2002-2005
Kohama led the revamped Giga Cats, after Isuzu dropped sponsorship, as a club team until 2005.