RJ Sunahara

RJ Sunahara
Nova Southeastern Sharks
Position	Assistant coach
League	Sunshine State Conference
Personal information
Born	May 23, 2000 (age 24)
Nationality	American
Listed height	6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
Listed weight	210 lb (95 kg)
Career information
High school	Bay (Bay Village, Ohio)
College	Nova Southeastern (2019–2023); Georgia (2023–2024);
NBA draft	2024: undrafted
Position	Guard
Coaching career	2024–present
Career history
As coach:
2024–present	Nova Southeastern (assistant)
Career highlights and awards
	NCAA Division II champion (2023); NCAA Division II Final Four co-MOP (2023); NABC Division II Player of the Year (2023); Bevo Francis Award (2023); First-team Division II All-American (2023); SSC Player of the Year (2023); 2× First-team All-SSC (2022, 2023); SSC Freshman of the Year (2020); SSC tournament MVP (2022);

Reed "RJ" Sunahara Jr. (born May 23, 2000) is an American college basketball coach for Nova Southeastern Sharks of the Sunshine State Conference. He played for the Georgia Bulldogs and Nova Southeastern.

High school career

Sunahara played for Bay High School in Bay Village, Ohio and was recruited to play for coach Joe Mazzulla at Fairmont State University. He redshirted the 2018–19 season and then decided to transfer after Mazzulla left to join the staff of the NBA's Boston Celtics, ultimately landing at Nova Southeastern (NSU).^[1]

College career

Nova Southeastern

At NSU, Sunahara became a key part of teams that complied a two-year record of 67–1. As a redshirt sophomore in 2021–22, Sunahara averaged 19.3 points and 6.7 rebounds per game. The Sharks carried an undefeated record and number 1 ranking into the NCAA Division II Elite Eight, but were upset by Black Hills State, foiling their championship bid.^[2] The following season, Sunahara and the Sharks used the loss to motivate them throughout the year.^[3]^[1] Sunahara averaged 18.9 points and 5.4 rebounds per game and led the Sharks to an undefeated championship season, scoring 28 points, grabbing 9 rebounds in the championship game and earning tournament co-Most Outstanding Player honors with his teammate Will Yoakum. At the close of the season, Sunahara earned top individual honors for Division II players, including NABC Division II Player of the Year, first-team All-American and the Bevo Francis Award for the top player in all divisions below Division I.^[4]^[5]

Georgia

On May 11, 2023, Sunahara announced his decision to transfer to play for the Georgia Bulldogs.^[6]

Coaching career

Following the end of his playing career, Sunahara returned to NSU as an assistant coach on Jim Crutchfield's staff.^[7]

Personal life

Coming from an athletic family, Sunahara is the son of West Virginia head volleyball coach Reed Sunahara.^[8] His older brother Rex is a professional football player, while his uncle Chet Moeller played football at Navy and is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame.^[9]

References

^ ^a ^b Perez-Krywany, Mark (March 29, 2023). "Bay grad R.J. Sunahara reflects on Nova Southeastern's perfect season". The Morning Journal. Retrieved April 8, 2023.
^ "Black Hills State continues dream season at Division II Elite Eight, upsetting No. 1 Nova Southeastern". Mitchell Daily Republic. March 22, 2022. Retrieved April 8, 2023.
^ "Player-coach duo has no. 1 NSU reaching for basketball glory". The Miami Herald. March 3, 2023. p. A19. Retrieved April 8, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
^ Goul, Matt (March 27, 2023). "Bay's R.J. Sunahara named NABC Player of the Year after NCAA Division II national championship". Cleveland.com. Retrieved April 8, 2023.
^ "RJ Sunahara Recognized as Bevo Francis Award Winner". nsusharks.com. April 3, 2023. Retrieved April 8, 2023.
^ Kelley, Kevin (May 11, 2023). "RJ Sunahara, Division II Player of the Year, commits to UGA". SicEmDawgs.com. Retrieved August 26, 2023.
^ Villa, Walter (October 29, 2024). "Men's basketball preview: Surprise return of point guard could fuel more NSU success". Miamiherald.com. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
^ Woods, Daniel (March 24, 2023). "Clarksburg's Crutchfield meets West Liberty in NCAA final". wboy.com. Retrieved April 8, 2023.
^ "RJ Sunahara Georgia Bulldogs bio". georgiadogs.com. Georgia Bulldogs. Retrieved October 27, 2023.

External links

[Reflect-1] Perez-Krywany, Mark (March 29, 2023). "Bay grad R.J. Sunahara reflects on Nova Southeastern's perfect season". The Morning Journal. Retrieved April 8, 2023.

[2] "Black Hills State continues dream season at Division II Elite Eight, upsetting No. 1 Nova Southeastern". Mitchell Daily Republic. March 22, 2022. Retrieved April 8, 2023.

[3] "Player-coach duo has no. 1 NSU reaching for basketball glory". The Miami Herald. March 3, 2023. p. A19. Retrieved April 8, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.

[4] Goul, Matt (March 27, 2023). "Bay's R.J. Sunahara named NABC Player of the Year after NCAA Division II national championship". Cleveland.com. Retrieved April 8, 2023.

[5] "RJ Sunahara Recognized as Bevo Francis Award Winner". nsusharks.com. April 3, 2023. Retrieved April 8, 2023.

[6] Kelley, Kevin (May 11, 2023). "RJ Sunahara, Division II Player of the Year, commits to UGA". SicEmDawgs.com. Retrieved August 26, 2023.

[7] Villa, Walter (October 29, 2024). "Men's basketball preview: Surprise return of point guard could fuel more NSU success". Miamiherald.com. Retrieved November 22, 2024.

[8] Woods, Daniel (March 24, 2023). "Clarksburg's Crutchfield meets West Liberty in NCAA final". wboy.com. Retrieved April 8, 2023.

[9] "RJ Sunahara Georgia Bulldogs bio". georgiadogs.com. Georgia Bulldogs. Retrieved October 27, 2023.

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