Japanese point guard Shuto Sakihama commits to Merrimack

Japanese point guard Shuto Sakihama committed to Merrimack on Tuesday.

Sakihama played for the Japanese national team at the U16 Asian Championships in 2022 and the U17 FIBA World Cup. In 11 international games he’s averaged 3.7 points, 1.7 rebounds, and 3.2 assists.

Sakihama has been praised for his on-ball defenensive skills. He was second in assists and third in steals at the U17 World Cup.

The 2025 grad is currently enrolled at St. Thomas More Prep in Connecticut.

“Shuto Sakihama is RIDICULOUS,” New England basketball scout Robbie Hodin tweeted in June. “Special passer with absurd vision and the best on-ball defender I've seen at the showcase. I don't care that he's 5-foot-9, he's a D1 prospect.”