2023-24 Men's Basketball Roster
Sunahara, RJ
Jersey Number 10
RJ Sunahara
- Position:
- Guard
- Height:
- 6-8
- Class:
- Graduate Student
- Hometown:
- Bay Village, Ohio
- High School:
- Bay High School
- Prev Team:
- Nova Southeastern
- Shop:
- Buy My Merchandise
- Exchange Profile:
- Pitch an NIL Deal
Bio
Final bio (PDF)
• Recipient of the Tom & Jeannette Greeson Scholarship for 2023-24.
2023-24 Season Highlights:
• Started 11 of 16 games played in a campaign hindered by a series of injuries.
• Averaged 2.0 points and 1.6 rebounds in 10.4 minutes of PT per game.
• Started the exhibition victory over Eastern Kentucky but suffered a left knee injury early in the contest and did not return.
• Made his regular-season debut against High Point, the 10th game of the season.
• Notched his first career start at Georgia – and first points – against Mount St. Mary’s.
• Played in the 100th game of his collegiate career at South Carolina.
• Missed seven late-season games with an injury before returning to action in the regular-season finale at Auburn.
• Led Georgia with a pair of blocks against Missouri in the first round of the SEC Tournament, including an impressive recovery on what appeared to be an easy bucket for the Tigers.
Nova Career Highlights:
• Coached by Jim Crutchfield at Nova Southeastern.
• Helped the Sharks post a combined record of 90-7 over during his three campaigns in Fort Lauderdale, culminating in a perfect 36-0 mark en route to capturing the 2023 NCAA Division II national title.
• Started all 92 games played at Nova Southeastern, posting 1,579 points (17.2 ppg), 585 rebounds (6.4 rpg), 232 assists (2.5 apg), 172 blocks (1.9 bpg) and 132 steals (1.4 spg) in 2,575 minutes of playing time (28.0 mpg).
• Despite playing only three years at NSU, finished his career ranked among the Sharks’ career leaders in points (No. 2 with 1,579), rebounds (No. 6 with 585), blocked shots (No. 1 with 172), steals (No. 8 with 132), field goals made (No. 2 with 594) and free throws made (No. 1 with 342).
• Among Nova Southeastern’s single-season scoring leaders, owns the No. 5 (642 in 2022-23) and No. 12 (580 in 2021-22) marks in program history.
• Among the Sharks’ top-10 single-season field goal percentage efforts, posted the No. 6 (.608 in 2019-20), No. 8 (.600 in 2021-22) and No. 9 (.599 in 2022-23) efforts.
2022-23 Season Highlights:
• Led Nova Southeastern to its first-ever national title and a perfect 36-0 record, just the sixth undefeated national champion in 67 seasons of DII hoops history.
• Helped the Sharks average 102.5 points per game, which not only led DII but was the top mark among all 1070 NCAA men’s basketball teams in 2022-23.
• Named Division II National Player of the Year by National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) and first-team All-America by the NABC and the DII Conference Commissioner’s Association (D2CCA).
• Recipient of the 2023 Bevo Francis Award as the top small college player in the country.
• Honored as the Sunshine State Conference’s Male Athlete of the Year for all sports.
• Tabbed Sunshine State Conference Player of the Year and first-team All-SSC.
• Selected as the co-Most Outstanding Player of the 2023 NCAA DII Tournament along with teammate Will Yoakum.
• Started all 34 games played and averaged 18.9 points, 5.4 boards, 2.5 assists and 1.6 blocks per game.
• Ranked among SSC statistical leaders in four categories – No. 6 in scoring, No. 1 in blocks, No. 2 in FG percentage and No. 8 in steals.
• Reached double figures in the scoring column in 30 games, with 16 20-point performances, three 30-point outings and a career-high 41 points against Bluefield State on Dec. 19.
• Notched two double-digit rebounding tallies, resulting in a pair of double-doubles.
• Wrapped up his NSU career with a stellar performance in a 111-101 win over West Liberty in the national title tilt, scoring 28 points on 12-of-17 shooting from the floor and grabbing nine rebounds in 33 minutes of action.
2021-22 Season Highlights:
• Returned to action after the 2020-21 season was canceled by the Sunshine State Conference due to COVID-19 protocols.
• Honored as the Sunshine State Conference’s Defensive Player of the Year and also named first-team All-SSC.
• Named third-team All-America by the D2CCA.
• Selected as the SSC Tournament MVP after averaging 25.7 points in a trio of victories, including a 28-point outburst against Barry in the championship contest.
• Helped Nova Southeastern to a 36-1 finish and a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournaments. The Sharks were upset by Black Hills State in the “Elite Eight.”
• Started all 30 games played and contributed 19.3 points, 6.7 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 2.5 blocks per game.
• Posted double-digit scoring totals in all 30 games played and topped the 20-point plateau in 13 contests.
• Finished the season ranked among the SSC’s top-10 leaders in scoring (No. 6), blocks (No. 1) and FG percentage (No. 2).
• After averaging 19.5 points during the regular season, upped his contributions to 22.8 ppg in the Sharks’ six postseason outings.
2019-20 Season Highlights:
• Selected as the Sunshine State Conference’s Freshman of the Year.
• Named Nova Southeastern’s Male Rookie of the Year for all sports.
• Helped lead Nova to a 23-6 record and a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament before the event was canceled due to COVID-19.
• Started all 24 games played and averaged 12.8 points, a team-high 7.2 boards, 2.3 assists and 1.5 blocks per game.
• Recorded 18 double-digit scoring outputs, headlined by a quintet of 20-point games.
• Posted seven double-figure rebounding tallies and seven double-doubles – both career-high counts during his NSU career.
• Among SSC statistical leaders, finished the season ranked No. 4 in FG percentage (.608), No. 4 in blocks (1.5 bpg) and No. 10 in rebounding (7.2 rpg).
2018-19 Season Highlights:
• Coached by Joe Mazzulla during a redshirt year at Fairmont State in Fairmont, W.Va.
• Opted to transfer when Mazzulla accepted a position as an assistant coach with Celtics.
• Mazzulla was subsequently promoted to head coach prior to the 2022-23 season.
High School Highlights:
• Coached by Jared Shetzer at Bay High.
• A three-time all-state honoree, tabbed second-team by the Ohio Prep Sportswriters Association in 2018, first-team by the Associated Press in 2017 and honorable mention by the AP in 2016.
• As a senior, averaged 22.3 points, 11.5 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 2.6 blocks for Bay, which finished 21-7 and reached the quarterfinals of the Division II state tourney.
• As a junior, averaged 23.3 points and helped lead the Rockets to a 17-9 finish.
• As a sophomore, averaged 12.8 points, 7.9 rebounds and 2.6 blocks for the Rockets, who finished 24-4, won the first regional title in school history and advanced to the semifinals of the DII state tourney.
• Played wide receiver for Ron Rust as the Rockets went 29-7 from 2015-17.
• Helped Bay reach the state playoffs three state times, including 12-1 campaign as a senior in 2017 when the Rockets advanced to the Division III state quarterfinals.
Personal:
• Born May 23, 2000, RJ is the son of Reed and Laura Sunahara.
• Received his bachelor’s degree in Business Management from Nova Southeastern.
• Pursuing a graduate certificate in Nonprofit Management & Leadership from UGA.
• His older brother Rex played basketball at Rhode Island before transferring to West Virginia to become a football snapper.
• RJ’s dad (Reed), who was the head women’s volleyball coach at West Virginia, was a two-time All-American and three-time NCAA Champion at UCLA and his mom (Laura Rekstis) played volleyball at Cincinnati.
• Has a long football lineage in his family...his grandfather (Peter Rekstis) played at Cincinnati, his uncle (Chet Moeller) played at Navy and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2010 and his uncle (Pete Rekstis) played at Youngstown State.
• Recipient of the Tom & Jeannette Greeson Scholarship for 2023-24.
2023-24 Season Highlights:
• Started 11 of 16 games played in a campaign hindered by a series of injuries.
• Averaged 2.0 points and 1.6 rebounds in 10.4 minutes of PT per game.
• Started the exhibition victory over Eastern Kentucky but suffered a left knee injury early in the contest and did not return.
• Made his regular-season debut against High Point, the 10th game of the season.
• Notched his first career start at Georgia – and first points – against Mount St. Mary’s.
• Played in the 100th game of his collegiate career at South Carolina.
• Missed seven late-season games with an injury before returning to action in the regular-season finale at Auburn.
• Led Georgia with a pair of blocks against Missouri in the first round of the SEC Tournament, including an impressive recovery on what appeared to be an easy bucket for the Tigers.
Nova Career Highlights:
• Coached by Jim Crutchfield at Nova Southeastern.
• Helped the Sharks post a combined record of 90-7 over during his three campaigns in Fort Lauderdale, culminating in a perfect 36-0 mark en route to capturing the 2023 NCAA Division II national title.
• Started all 92 games played at Nova Southeastern, posting 1,579 points (17.2 ppg), 585 rebounds (6.4 rpg), 232 assists (2.5 apg), 172 blocks (1.9 bpg) and 132 steals (1.4 spg) in 2,575 minutes of playing time (28.0 mpg).
• Despite playing only three years at NSU, finished his career ranked among the Sharks’ career leaders in points (No. 2 with 1,579), rebounds (No. 6 with 585), blocked shots (No. 1 with 172), steals (No. 8 with 132), field goals made (No. 2 with 594) and free throws made (No. 1 with 342).
• Among Nova Southeastern’s single-season scoring leaders, owns the No. 5 (642 in 2022-23) and No. 12 (580 in 2021-22) marks in program history.
• Among the Sharks’ top-10 single-season field goal percentage efforts, posted the No. 6 (.608 in 2019-20), No. 8 (.600 in 2021-22) and No. 9 (.599 in 2022-23) efforts.
2022-23 Season Highlights:
• Led Nova Southeastern to its first-ever national title and a perfect 36-0 record, just the sixth undefeated national champion in 67 seasons of DII hoops history.
• Helped the Sharks average 102.5 points per game, which not only led DII but was the top mark among all 1070 NCAA men’s basketball teams in 2022-23.
• Named Division II National Player of the Year by National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) and first-team All-America by the NABC and the DII Conference Commissioner’s Association (D2CCA).
• Recipient of the 2023 Bevo Francis Award as the top small college player in the country.
• Honored as the Sunshine State Conference’s Male Athlete of the Year for all sports.
• Tabbed Sunshine State Conference Player of the Year and first-team All-SSC.
• Selected as the co-Most Outstanding Player of the 2023 NCAA DII Tournament along with teammate Will Yoakum.
• Started all 34 games played and averaged 18.9 points, 5.4 boards, 2.5 assists and 1.6 blocks per game.
• Ranked among SSC statistical leaders in four categories – No. 6 in scoring, No. 1 in blocks, No. 2 in FG percentage and No. 8 in steals.
• Reached double figures in the scoring column in 30 games, with 16 20-point performances, three 30-point outings and a career-high 41 points against Bluefield State on Dec. 19.
• Notched two double-digit rebounding tallies, resulting in a pair of double-doubles.
• Wrapped up his NSU career with a stellar performance in a 111-101 win over West Liberty in the national title tilt, scoring 28 points on 12-of-17 shooting from the floor and grabbing nine rebounds in 33 minutes of action.
2021-22 Season Highlights:
• Returned to action after the 2020-21 season was canceled by the Sunshine State Conference due to COVID-19 protocols.
• Honored as the Sunshine State Conference’s Defensive Player of the Year and also named first-team All-SSC.
• Named third-team All-America by the D2CCA.
• Selected as the SSC Tournament MVP after averaging 25.7 points in a trio of victories, including a 28-point outburst against Barry in the championship contest.
• Helped Nova Southeastern to a 36-1 finish and a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournaments. The Sharks were upset by Black Hills State in the “Elite Eight.”
• Started all 30 games played and contributed 19.3 points, 6.7 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 2.5 blocks per game.
• Posted double-digit scoring totals in all 30 games played and topped the 20-point plateau in 13 contests.
• Finished the season ranked among the SSC’s top-10 leaders in scoring (No. 6), blocks (No. 1) and FG percentage (No. 2).
• After averaging 19.5 points during the regular season, upped his contributions to 22.8 ppg in the Sharks’ six postseason outings.
2019-20 Season Highlights:
• Selected as the Sunshine State Conference’s Freshman of the Year.
• Named Nova Southeastern’s Male Rookie of the Year for all sports.
• Helped lead Nova to a 23-6 record and a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament before the event was canceled due to COVID-19.
• Started all 24 games played and averaged 12.8 points, a team-high 7.2 boards, 2.3 assists and 1.5 blocks per game.
• Recorded 18 double-digit scoring outputs, headlined by a quintet of 20-point games.
• Posted seven double-figure rebounding tallies and seven double-doubles – both career-high counts during his NSU career.
• Among SSC statistical leaders, finished the season ranked No. 4 in FG percentage (.608), No. 4 in blocks (1.5 bpg) and No. 10 in rebounding (7.2 rpg).
2018-19 Season Highlights:
• Coached by Joe Mazzulla during a redshirt year at Fairmont State in Fairmont, W.Va.
• Opted to transfer when Mazzulla accepted a position as an assistant coach with Celtics.
• Mazzulla was subsequently promoted to head coach prior to the 2022-23 season.
High School Highlights:
• Coached by Jared Shetzer at Bay High.
• A three-time all-state honoree, tabbed second-team by the Ohio Prep Sportswriters Association in 2018, first-team by the Associated Press in 2017 and honorable mention by the AP in 2016.
• As a senior, averaged 22.3 points, 11.5 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 2.6 blocks for Bay, which finished 21-7 and reached the quarterfinals of the Division II state tourney.
• As a junior, averaged 23.3 points and helped lead the Rockets to a 17-9 finish.
• As a sophomore, averaged 12.8 points, 7.9 rebounds and 2.6 blocks for the Rockets, who finished 24-4, won the first regional title in school history and advanced to the semifinals of the DII state tourney.
• Played wide receiver for Ron Rust as the Rockets went 29-7 from 2015-17.
• Helped Bay reach the state playoffs three state times, including 12-1 campaign as a senior in 2017 when the Rockets advanced to the Division III state quarterfinals.
Personal:
• Born May 23, 2000, RJ is the son of Reed and Laura Sunahara.
• Received his bachelor’s degree in Business Management from Nova Southeastern.
• Pursuing a graduate certificate in Nonprofit Management & Leadership from UGA.
• His older brother Rex played basketball at Rhode Island before transferring to West Virginia to become a football snapper.
• RJ’s dad (Reed), who was the head women’s volleyball coach at West Virginia, was a two-time All-American and three-time NCAA Champion at UCLA and his mom (Laura Rekstis) played volleyball at Cincinnati.
• Has a long football lineage in his family...his grandfather (Peter Rekstis) played at Cincinnati, his uncle (Chet Moeller) played at Navy and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2010 and his uncle (Pete Rekstis) played at Youngstown State.
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