Progress is not linear.

Former University of Hawai’i forward Roy Igwe learned that over the course of his American basketball journey, spending the past year rehabbing a right knee injury he suffered last June. The first major injury in his career, the 6-foot-7 bruising Japanese forward didn’t allow his year without game action result in a setback on his rapid rise.

Igwe signed a professional contract with the Kawasaki Brave Thunders of Japan’s B.League at the start of June, departing the Rainbow Warrior men’s basketball program after one season to begin his pro hoops career in his home country.

“It means everything,” Igwe said of being able to begin his professional career back at home.

The early jump to Japan’s top professional level was not originally in Igwe’s plans when he embarked on his American hoops dream. An excellent student, his focus resided in the classroom as he hoped to go to elite academic institutions.

“[Ivy League] was on my mind the whole time, but … sophomore to junior year (of high school), I made a really big jump and started getting attention from schools,” Igwe recalled. “That’s when I started to think [basketball] may be a possibility.”

Even with a future on the court sneaking into his mind, Igwe’s original plan was to stay all four years in college and complete his degree while playing. Igwe would dominate competition during his senior season at St. Mary’s International School, averaging 27 points and 14 rebounds per game and leading his team to a 27-2 record before winning the Slam Dunk scholarship and taking a prep year in the United States with more college options arising.

Igwe, who played five seasons with the Tokyo Samurai, made an impression that summer on the University of Hawai’i coaching staff as he stood out in a scrimmage during the program’s 2023 Japan Tour. With a tab in the recruiting notebook set with his name, UH kept an eye from afar as the raw athletic forward developed at St. Thomas More School (CT).

The relationship between Igwe and UH continued to grow, eventually leading to his commitment to the Rainbow Warriors in May 2024. By June, he was ready to be in the islands and working out as the intriguing late-blooming prospect continued his rise.

“Not all sunshine and rainbows”

Poised to roll forward in his positive development, Igwe went to work as the Rainbow Warriors pieced together the 2024-25 roster. Despite coming into the program as a walk-on, he saw himself as versatile piece that could eventually work his way into the rotation.

Unfortunately for the bouncy big, his freshman season ended before it ever got a chance to get off the ground. Igwe suffered a year-ending right knee injury during the summer months, forcing him to undergo surgery for the first time in his life and begin a rollercoaster recovery process.

“I’d be lying if I said it’s been a smooth ride,” Igwe said of rehabbing the injury. “It’s not sunshine and rainbows – you’re going to have bad days; you’re going to have good days – it’s just staying consistent through it.”

Igwe credited University of Hawai’i strength & conditioning coordinator Tanner Hull for helping him re-develop and gain strength in his right leg and in general while he watched games from the sidelines. While he navigated the recovery and rehab, Igwe made sure to celebrate the little achievements on the journey back to the court.

“Getting your first dunk back, being able to play 2-on-2, 3-on-3 … stuff like that just kept me pushing,” Igwe shared.

Still, the process tested the young forward’s mental resolve as he sat on the bench during an up-and-down season for the Rainbow Warriors. Igwe wanted to help the team and thought he could bring a different look on the floor but still wasn’t near returning to play at full speed despite his hard work rehabbing.

Ultimately, the 2024-25 season became a medical redshirt year for Igwe as he missed the entirety of the Rainbow Warriors’ slate of games. It was not a lost year of life for him though, leading to a set of lifelong friendships and connections to go along with a key realization.

“I realized I have to go get paid,” Igwe said after his year in college. “I never know when my basketball career is going to end. Like I said, my major injury made me realize that I could be done playing tomorrow … For me to work this hard in this game, I want to get something out of it, build something for my future [and] my future family.”

Igwe watched as nine of his teammates hit the transfer portal, leaving few familiar faces returning for the next season. Still, the forward wasn’t actively trying to leave UH – until a pro basketball opportunity he couldn’t refuse came across his radar.

Roy Igwe walks towards teammate Tom Beattie during ’24-25 media day. Beattie transferred to UC San Diego in the offseason as Hawai’i remodeled the roster. | Photo Credit: Michael Lasquero, HSRN

“Couldn’t say no”

The Kawasaki Brave Thunders were looking to make a jump, so they went to their backyard.

Todoroki Arena, the home of the Brave Thunders, is located 40 minutes from where Igwe grew up. Offering a chance to play in front of his friends and family while competing at Japan’s highest level of pro basketball, a tremendous opportunity suddenly resided in front of the sturdy forward.

“It’s honestly just crazy to me that I was able to have this kind of opportunity, even with my injury,” he reflected.

Two years after leaving his home country on a basketball scholarship and less than 12 months after getting surgery on his knee, Igwe is returning to Japan as the same competitor but a changed, improved player. Hurting his knee forced Igwe to focus on other skills that he hadn’t needed to refine due to his athletic gifts, such as his shooting and ball-handling.

The Brave Thunders will be looking for Igwe to piece together that skill work with his athleticism and strength right away. The B.League on-court rules restrict teams to two foreign players and one Asia special quota player at a time, but Igwe fits onto the roster as a Japanese player, something he sees as an advantage as he heads into his rookie season.

“I get to match up against other Japanese players, which I think I can use as an advantage because of my size and athleticism and just stuff like that,” Igwe explained. “The expectations are definitely high for my rookie year.”

Igwe went on to state his goal to win the league’s Rookie of the Year award, expecting to help the Brave Thunders bounce back this season in a big way. Despite just 11 months passing since his knee operation, the young forward is back on the floor and scrimmaging against professionals back in Japan as he works to get back to full strength.

“It’s going well, there’s no complaints,” Igwe said of the workouts. “And I can feel myself getting better and it’s only just scratching the surface.”

“Thanks for sticking through”

Igwe expressed his appreciation for Hawai’i fans despite only getting to share one year with them, applauding the continued support and kind conversations he shared with them following games in a disappointing year.

“The people really care and that’s not something you find, especially in other Division I programs in the mid-major level as well,” the forward said of the UH fanbase. “I feel like, [it’s] just family there.”

He also shared excitement about the incoming class of transfers for the Rainbow Warriors, calling the group “stacked” and sending his best wishes to the program as he moves on to pro ball.

“Hopefully they have a really big year, win the Big West … and go dancing in March. That’s obviously the goal,” Igwe remarked.

Fans from Hawai’i can keep up with Igwe’s career as he progresses, too. Thanks to the growing popularity of Japan’s B.League, many games have highlights posted to the league’s YouTube channel with some contests even being livestreamed.

As Igwe says aloha to the islands, he’s thankful for his time and growth as a person and player – even if it wasn’t quite the ride he thought it would be when he arrived.

Now, it’s time for Igwe to be the next successful ‘Bow to jump to the pros.