Ryukyu Golden Kings guard Masashi Obuchi has left the team to pursue professional basketball opportunities in the United States, according to published reports.
Obuchi averaged 10.5 points in 22 games for the Golden Kings this season. He joined the team in February and made a strong impact, giving Ryukyu an immediate spark and proving to be one of the bj-league's top all-around Japanese scorers.
He will attend the NBA Development League national tryout (limited to 200 players) in Chantilly, Va., on June 11-13, which could help him land a spot on one of the NBA's Summer League teams.
Obuchi averaged 25 minutes per game and shot 81.4 percent from the free-throw line (35-for-43) and made 54 of 110 shots from 2-point range.
A native of Gunma Prefecture, Obuchi turns 27 in September. He played college ball at Senshu University (2003-06) before a three-year stint with the Mitsubishi Electric Diamond Dolphins.
This summer, Daisuke Tamura, another bj-league product, is playing for the BC Titans of the IBL, a short-season league.