Columbia's Matsui knew one language - basketball

K.J. Matsui was only 14 years old, but he was already on his own.

The only English he knew was from textbooks, but he was expected to take junior high classes just like the American kids.

He had just left his family, friends and home 7,000 miles away in Japan, but there was one thing that was familiar - the very reason he had come to the states - and that was the game of basketball.

The 6-foot-2 guard has become an integral component of Columbia's offense in his second year, making contributions on both ends of the court with his perimeter shooting and persistence on defense.

"He's one of the greatest shooters I've ever been around," Columbia coach Joe Jones said. "He also has a very good understanding of the game of basketball."

Although Japan has never been competitive in the sport, Matsui accredits many of his fundamental basketball skills to lessons learned in his youth.

Matsui's interest in basketball had been sparked at an early age by his father, who was inspired by the play of the 1992 Dream Team.

The elder Matsui encouraged his son to pursue basketball as a top priority, signing him up for multiple training camps and programs early on.

When an American scout noticed his ability and suggested that the youngster attend a Nike training camp in the United States, Matsui and his family decided that the opportunity for education and a chance to play in America was too good to pass up.

Although for Matsui appreciated the opportunity, the challenges of being on his own were relentless.

"I was really young and had to take care of myself," he said. "I had to do laundry and make my own lunch every day, that was tough and the language problems were huge."

Matsui initially lived with his high school coach, then with teammates' families before his coach arranged for the international players to have a house near campus.

And although it took a few tough months, Matsui adjusted and focused on the reason he had come to America.

Following a breakout junior year in high school, Matsui had offers ranging from Michigan, to North Carolina as a walk-on, to Columbia and other Ivy League schools.

Columbia was a natural choice for the Tokyo native, given its location in the bustling New York metropolitan area.

Matsui had also quickly developed a trusting relationship with Jones during his recruitment.

His natural ability and the fortitude Matsui showed in coming to America to play basketball were just some of the traits that led Lions' coach Joe Jones to notice the guard as a recruit.

"I really liked the fact that he came from Japan to play and left his family to come over," Jones said. "That shows a big commitment to the game of basketball. It's not an easy thing to do, and it says a lot about him."

His decision to play for a Division I program landed Matsui a spot in the history books - he's the first Japanese basketball player to compete at this level.

Matsui has shared the fifth starter's spot with freshman teammate Niko Scott this season, starting six games so far.

He ultimately would love to play professionally, perhaps in Europe, and would like to return to Japan, although he is not sure about his ultimate plans.

But given his ability to adapt to different circumstances, Matsui has every reason to suspect that success will follow him no matter where he ends up.

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