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Gonzaga Basketball

Former Zags Josh Heytvelt, Ira Brown reunite in Japan

Ira Brown has played basketball professionally in Mexico, Argentina, the Philippines and on the USA 3-on-3 team.

Josh Heytvelt has had stints in Turkey sandwiched around stops in Italy and Croatia.

Their global adventures have arrived at the same location. The former Zags, Class of 2009, are teammates again with the Hitachi Sunrockers in Tokyo. They’re the top two scorers for the Eastern Division leaders in Japan’s National Basketball League.

Heytvelt had 25 points and 12 rebounds in the Sunrockers’ latest win. Brown had six points, six assists and 12 boards as Hitachi (16-4) thumped Toshiba 71-57.

Gonzaga has recruited internationally with great success for years, but it’s not a one-way street. When domestic- and foreign-born Zags complete their eligibility, many travel overseas to continue their careers.

Brown arrived in Japan four years ago at the invitation of a friend and classmate from Gonzaga who was managing a Japanese team. Brown signed on this season with Hitachi, coached by Mike Olson, a friend of ex-Gonzaga walk-on and current assistant coach Brian Michaelson. The two played against each other in high school in Portland.

“I’d spoken to Coach Olson and as I was about to sign he wanted to know if I knew of any other big men,” Brown said. “I said, ‘Yeah, I have a guy.’ I had spoken to Josh and he was considering a change from playing (in Turkey). We actually got on the same flight over here.”

Brown is in fourth season in Japan and he enjoys it without hesitation – the food, the culture, the lifestyle, the paycheck and the basketball. It’s where he met and married his wife, Ayaka. He’s attended sumo matches and Kendo (similar to fencing with bamboo swords) and visited temples.

Heytvelt is enjoying his first season in Japan.

“All the countries are very different from one another and they all have pros and cons,” said Heytvelt, who is averaging 18.3 points and 11.3 rebounds. “Japan is the first country I have played that is a very comfortable life without many worries.”

Rules limit the number of Americans that can play in each quarter, but Heytvelt and Brown are mainstays on the court. Heytvelt is the team’s best big. Brown, who is averaging 13.2 points and 8.1 rebounds, is considered a Japanese player under the rules following his March marriage to Ayaka.

The Sunrockers’ season runs until the end of May. Brown said his salary is in the six figures and he considers the caliber of play better than college basketball. He said his Japanese teammates tend to be shorter, but “they’re very good players, very smart, quick and they can shoot the lights out.”

Heytvelt and Brown have an on-court chemistry that carries over from their GU days.

“Ira is a great person and we help push each other and make each other better every day,” Heytvelt said. “He isn’t just the high-flying act we all remember from the Gonzaga days. His greatest asset is still his athleticism but his offensive skill set and pure size and strength makes him a threat at all times from everywhere on the floor.”

“We know each other’s games and we can hold each other accountable,” Brown said. “Josh has aspirations of trying to make the NBA. I always try to hold him accountable and have him work harder.”

The list of former Zags playing in Japan includes Drew Barham, Abdullahi Kuso and Will Foster. Brown has become friends with Barham and plans on seeing him next week. Brown played against Kuso a few years when they were in the same league. Brown has traveled about 90 minutes to watch Foster play.

The Sunrockers pay for the players’ apartments. Heytvelt and Brown live in the same apartment complex. Heytvelt’s wife, Claire (Raap), who played on Gonzaga’s women’s team, left Japan about six weeks ago to return to her position as an assistant coach with the Gonzaga Prep girls team.

“My wife cooks for Josh now that Claire isn’t around,” Brown said.