This is a sign of the emerging significance of the bj-league: More than 350 players participated in the tryout process this season. And then the 2008 bj-league draft was held on Monday.
Two new league teams — the Shiga Lakestars and Hamamatsu Higashimikawa Phoenix — used the event to add pieces to the puzzle for their respective rosters. The Lakestars made former Toshiba Brave Thunders (JBL) forward Yosuke Machida the No. 1 selection in the draft.
Machida played for the Toshiba Brave Thunders from 2006-08.