Makoto Hiejima

Makoto Hiejima (Japanese: 比江島慎; born August 11, 1990) is a Japanese professional basketball player for Utsunomiya Brex of the Japanese B.League.

Makoto Hiejima

Hiejima in September 2018
No. 6 – Utsunomiya Brex
Position	Shooting guard
League	B.League
Personal information
Born	(1990-08-11) August 11, 1990 (age 34) Fukuoka, Japan
Listed height	191 cm (6 ft 3 in)
Listed weight	88 kg (194 lb)
Career information
High school	Rakunan (Kyoto, Japan)
College	Aoyama Gakuin University
NBA draft	2012: undrafted
Playing career	2013–present
Career history
2013–2018	Aisin SeaHorses Mikawa
2018–2019	Brisbane Bullets
2019–present	Utsunomiya Brex
Career highlights and awards
Japanese B.League MVP (2018) Japanese NBL champion (2015) Japanese B.League Champion (2022) Japanese NBL Rookie of the Year (2014)
Medals Men's basketball Representing  Japan Asian Games 2014 South Korea Team competition EABA Championship 2017 Nagano Team

Professional career

A Fukuoka Prefecture native and Rakunan High School alum,^[1] Hiejima attended Aoyama Gakuin University before making his pro debut with the Aisin SeaHorses Mikawa in 2013.^[2] He played a pivotal role in helping the rebranded SeaHorses Mikawa win the B.League West Division (46–14) in 2016–17 in the circuit's inaugural campaign and finish first in the Central Division (48–12) in 2017–18, when he was named league MVP behind averages of 12.9 points, 4.1 assists and 2.9 rebounds in 55 games.^[2]

In July 2018, Hiejima signed a five-year deal with Link Tochigi Brex.^[2] As part of his deal with the Brex, he was free to pursue higher-level opportunities elsewhere and return to Tochigi at any time.^[2] The following month, he signed with the Brisbane Bullets of the Australian NBL under the league's Asian Player rule.^[3][4] On January 5, 2019, he was released by the Bullets.^[5] Four days later, he joined Link Tochigi Brex for the rest of the season.^[6]

National team career

In 2013, Hiejima made his international debut for Japan at the FIBA Asia Championship. In 2014, he helped Japan win bronze at the Asian Games.

Career statistics

Legend

GP	Games played	GS	Games started	MPG	Minutes per game
FG%	Field goal percentage	3P%	3-point field goal percentage	FT%	Free throw percentage
RPG	Rebounds per game	APG	Assists per game	SPG	Steals per game
BPG	Blocks per game	PPG	Points per game	Bold	Career high

†	Denotes seasons in which Hiejima won a championship

Year	Team	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
2013–14	Aisin	53	5	30.4	.501	.462	.762	3.1	2.9	1.1	.3	11.8
2014–15†	Aisin	42	36	29.3	.466	.294	.738	2.9	3.0	1.3	.3	10.2
2015–16	Aisin	51	51	32.6	.493	.369	.771	3.2	2.9	1.3	.4	14.3
2016–17	Mikawa	59	55	29.1	.474	.420	.769	3.1	3.4	1.2	.4	12.9
2017–18	Mikawa	55	44	25.9	.505	.395	.760	2.9	4.1	1.2	.5	12.9
2018–19	Brisbane	3	0	.6	.000	.000	.000	.0	.0	.0	.0	.0
2018–19	Utsunomiya	29	7	23.3	.502	.429	.653	2.2	3.5	1.1	.5	9.9
2019–20	Utsunomiya	40	39	24.3	.457	.352	.793	2.1	3.5	1.0	.4	10.0
2020–21	Utsunomiya	42	20	18.9	.479	.342	.744	1.5	2.3	0.7	.2	8.4
2021–22†	Utsunomiya	51	51	22.0	.494	.420	.710	2.2	3.7	1.1	.4	11.5

References

1. Marantz, Ken (29 May 2018). "Shooting From The Heart". insidesportjapan.com. Retrieved 8 August 2018.
2. "Reigning B. League MVP Makoto Hiejima joins Tochigi Brex". japantimes.co.jp. 20 July 2018. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
3. "Brisbane Bullets Sign Makoto Hiejima". NBL.com.au. 2 August 2018. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
4. Davis, Greg (2 August 2018). "Brisbane Bullets sign Japanese star Makoto Hiejima for the upcoming NBL season". couriermail.com.au. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
5. Ward, Roy (5 January 2019). "Melbourne United look to reload against Bullets". smh.com.au. Retrieved 6 January 2019. The Bullets announced on Saturday they had signed new import power forward AJ Davis for the rest of the season and released Japanese guard Makoto Hiejima.
6. "#6 比江島 慎 選手、入団のお知らせ". tochigibrex.jp (in Japanese). 9 January 2019. Retrieved 9 January 2019.

External links

• Makoto Hiejima at fiba.basketball
• Stats in Japan