Center Julius Ashby will suit up for his fourth bj-league team, the Shiga Lakestars, this season, The Japan Times has learned.
Ashby, who helped the Niigata Albirex BB reached the Final Four last season, is a three-time All-Star. He previously played for the Tokyo Apache (2008-10) and the Takamatsu Five Arrows (2006-07). With Ashby as the team's anchor in the middle, the Five Arrows earned a trip to the bj-league championship game in their inaugural season.
Ashby, a University of Colorado product, also played a major role in helping the Apache nab their second championship runnerup finish during his first season with the Tokyo franchise.
The Lakestars' current roster features three imports: forwards Ray Nixon, Dionisio Gomez and Josh Peppers. New coach Alan Westover's team, coming off its second straight playoff appearance, also includes established guards Yu Okada and Takamichi Fujiwara.