TOKYO (FIBA) - A year ago, fans packed the arena in Saitama, Japan, to watch the best basketball players in the world.

The FIBA World Championship was an amazing event, one that was ultimately won by Spain.

The game is still working hard to climb up the ladder of popularity in the land of Sumo, though, although the country is making strides.

Japan, for example, joined the list of countries to have a player appear in an NBA game when Yuta Tabuse, a short but very quick point guard, turned out briefly for the Phoenix Suns in 2004 before moving to the NBA's Development league.

Narito NAMIZATO is a Japanese youth trying to follow in Tabuse's footsteps, and his path to success is going to be tough.

But Namizato is ready to work extremely hard.

"You have to love to play basketball and be committed," he said to FIBA.

"You need to be on court before and after everybody else, study the game on and off court.

"If you're just another guy going out there, your chances of making it aren't very high. You have to work hard for it."

Standing at 1.78m, Namizato was the shortest of the 64 kids invited to the 2007 Adidas Basketball Experience camp in New Orleans, Louisiana during the first week of August.

Coaches at the camp coaches saw a great work ethic as he focused on every aspect of the game.

He showed this shooting jump shots, but also in the less glamorous world of push-ups.

In a push-up competition, he outscored all the other kids around, while on the court he didn't rest for a single second.

Namizato grew up in Okinawa and the presence of the US Army has ensured that basketball is taught in a more creative way than in the rest of the country.

That was nothing compared to being coached by NBA coaches during the New Orleans camp.

"In Japan I watch the NBA on TV, and now that I get to see their coaches, I understand why it's so different from the basketball we know," Namizato said.

"With the coaches here, everything you do and every drill you practice has a meaning.

"They teach you how to use your body, how to get better and how to approach the game mentally. This helps you develop your game. It's really different from Japan."

The new revelations didn't stop there. For the first time in his life, Namizato had a chance to play against players who are much bigger.

"People are so strong and so big here," he said.

"Being the smallest guy in the camp, coaches taught me to be confident in my skills and to attack the rim by learning how to play with big guys without changing my game."

It's not surprising that Namizato's role model is a point guard.

"Forever, I've focused on small players, and that's why Allen Iverson is a role model for me," he said.

"With him, I saw it can be done if you play with a big heart and motivation. His game gave me a lot of inspiration."

"It's a unique experience to play with players from so many different countries," Namizato said, "but it's even more than just that.

"I got to play with top players from around the world for this age. Kids in Japan dream about it, but I got to do it."

Dreaming doesn't stop there for Namizato. If he'd be calling his own shots in his future, this won't be his last trip to the USA.

"I hope to play well in the NCAA and be in one of the top teams," he said.

"Hopefully, that would be just the first step, and after being successful there I could have a chance to play in the NBA. That's every basketball player's dream."

Yarone Arbel
FIBA