Abdul-Rauf is big in Japan!

Kyoto Hannaryz boosted their roster with addition of former NBA star. They landed Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf (186-G-69, college: LSU). The 40-year-old pure shooter will lead the expansion team in their inaugural season in the BJ League. Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf is inarguably the brightest star to appear in the Japanese league.

The guard was last seen in Al Ittihad Jeddah in Saudi Arabia. Earlier Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf played for Aris in Greece, Roseto in Italy, Ural Great in Russia and Fenerbahce in Turkey. Abdul-Rauf had eight solid seasons in the NBA, where he donned the Nuggets, the Kings and the Grizzlies jerseys. Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf averaged unbelievable 30.2 points per game in his junior year at LSU. The guard was named the All-America First Team that season. Later he earned the NBAs Most Improved Player award in 1992-93 season.

source : asia-basket.com

Tabuse wants another shot at the NBA

Former Phoenix Suns guard Yuta Tabuse is leaving the Japan national men's basketball team for another shot at the NBA. Tabuse had been training with Japan's national team but decided to leave the squad and head to the United States after receiving an invitation to attend the Dallas Mavericks' summer camp next month.

"I got the news all of a sudden and am happy I was able to get another opportunity," Tabuse said at a news conference Saturday. Tabuse, 28, played briefly for the Suns in the 2004-05 season and is the only Japanese player to make it to the NBA.

The 5-foot-9 point guard joined the Suns' training camp in 2004 and made the opening-night roster. He scored seven points in his first NBA game against the Atlanta Hawks but was waived by the Suns on Dec. 16, 2004.

source : espn.com

Le Havre signs Uka Agbai

STB Le Havre keeps getting ready for the Eurocup second qualifying round by inking big man Uka Agbai to a one-year contract. Agbai(2.03-PF) arrives from Cariduros de Fajardo.

He has also played for Toyama Grouses in Japan, Pyrinto Tampere in Finland, TBB Trier in Germany and the Brooklyn Kings in the USBL. He helped the Kings to reach the USBL final in 2004. "Uka is a physical player that can help us at the power forward and center spots," Le Havre head coach Jean Manuel Sousa said. "He will be the perfect complement of our frontcourt, that already featured Bingo Merriex, Kentrell Gransberry and Romain Duport."

He averaged 16 points and 6 rebounds in the Puerto Rican league last season.