Morgan Hikaru Aiken Explained

Morgan Hikaru Aiken
League:B.League
Height Ft:5
Height In:8
Weight Lb:165
Birth Date:15 July 1994
Birth Place:Honolulu, Hawaii
Nationality:American/Japanese
High School:Saint Paul Christian School, Guam
College:Eastern University
Draft Year:2015
Career Start:2015
Career End:2022
Medal Templates:Official Morgan Aiken Homepage
Years1:2015–2016
Team1:Akita Northern Happinets
Years2:2016
Team2:Tokyo Cinq Rêves
Years3:2017
Team3:Five Arrows
Years4:2019–2021
Team4:Saitama Broncos
Years5:2021–2022
Team5:Yamaguchi Patriots

Morgan Hikaru Aiken 加藤 ひかる (born July 15, 1994) is a former Japanese-American professional basketball player from Guam in the B.League.[1] Aiken is the first Guam high school graduate to sign a professional contract to play basketball overseas. [2]

Aiken is the first player from Guam to play in the professional Japan Basketball League.[3] Born in Hawaii, he attended high school in Guam, and played NCAA college basketball for Eastern University.[4] Transferred to the University of Texas at El Paso the following year for an opportunity to walk on. However, was ineligible due to lack of credits. Aiken is a part of the Guam national basketball team winning the gold medal at the 2014 Micronesian Games.[5] Also was sponsored by BoingVert and Adidas Japan after gaining popularity on Instagram[6] and YouTube[7] from posting dunking videos at 5'7.

High school

Aiken was the only sophomore in 2010 to make the All-Island team (second team) in the Guam IIAAG High School League. In 2011 as a Junior, Aiken won the State Championship, was honored First Team All-Island, and also came in 2nd in the Slam Dunk Contest held at the Far East Tournament in Japan. Although projected to be the MVP of the league after his outstanding junior year, Aiken fractured his left foot 2 weeks prior to the start of his senior season. Playing only half the season, he still managed to be named to the Second Team All-Island. In 2012, Aiken graduated from Saint Paul Christian School.[8] [9] [10] Following his graduation, he committed to Eastern University[4] in Pennsylvania.

Professional career

In 2015, Aiken signed a contract with the Akita Northern Happinets thru an early entry process and had begun practicing with the team. However, with complications with the process, he signed with the Tokyo Cinq Rêves for the remainder of the season. The following season, Aiken signed with the Kagawa Five Arrows. Now, Aiken is currently taking time off to focus more on his younger brother, Reo Aiken, back in Guam. Morgan hopes that Reo can be the next face of basketball on Guam.

In 2021, Aiken signed with the Yamaguchi Patriots and was voted team captain by the organization, staff, and players. Aiken finished the season with almost a 4 to 1 assist-to-turnover ratio. Although offered a contract for the 2022-23 season, he chose to retired to move back to Guam.

Notes

External links

Notes and References

  1. https://www.bleague.jp B.League Official Page
  2. https://www.postguam.com/sports/local/aiken-gains-experience-in-second-pro-season/article_a5a6bc8c-b80b-11e6-8cd8-7fe3a3da2210.html Sign Pro Deal Year 2
  3. https://www.bleague.jp Japan Basketball League
  4. http://www.goeasterneagles.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=1288 Eastern University Official Roster 2013
  5. http://gspn.crankindonline.com/2014/micro-memories-capturing-six/ Micronesian Games Gold Captured
  6. https://www.instagram.com/thehumanplane/ Official Instagram Page
  7. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUUn31mvZEy23IdoRtM1qMg Official Morgan Aiken Youtube Channel
  8. http://www.spcsguam.com Saint Paul Official Home Page
  9. https://www.stripes.com/blogs-archive/pacificsports-blog/pacific-sportsblog-1.8947/final-pacific-high-school-basketball-ratings-1.136083#.WaQEzrFh32I St. Paul, Aiken Ranks in Far East
  10. http://www.kuam.com/story/17125526/2012/03/Friday/okkodo-highs-kewpe-is-hoops-mvp IIAAG Senior Season