Recruiting Report: R.J. Sunhara (2018)
One of the more intriguing prospects in Northeast Ohio has to be R.J. Sunahara (2018). A versatile athletic 6’6’’ forward from Bay Village High, he’s already collected two Division-II offers but would appear to have a higher ceiling.
He shows flashes of athleticism, some ballhandling chops, and can defend, often recording deflections on defense to get his team running. As a junior, he averaged an eye-popping 23 points and 12 boards a contest and added 70 steals.
He’s also a total gym rat, working out before school and getting up shots whenever he can, according to his high school coach.
He would also appear to be a winner. He played on a team that went to the state finals his sophomore year and the squad was competitive again his junior year. Bay plays in the same conference as Holy Name, which is the home of one of the nation’s top guards in the class of 2018, none other than Dwayne Cohill (2018), a 6’2″ guard, who just picked up an offer from Pittsburgh, according to his Twitter account. I can confirm that I spoke with Cohill on June 27 and on that day he indicated to me he was on his way to Pittsburgh for a visit.
Sunahara was impressive in a recent summer league game against Westlake. He was a force inside and had one spectacular finish on a fast break when he dunked on a pass off the backboard from Bay PG Erik Painter (2019), who also has potential to play at a higher level.
Sunahara sees himself filling a role of stretch 4 who can bring the ball up if need be when in college. To that end, this summer he’s been working on his ball handling with a personal trainer.
“I’m a stretch 4. I like to rebound, get offensive rebounds. Once I get a defensive rebound I like to bring the ball up and find my teammates,” Sunahara said during a recent interview.
He appears athletic and said at an elite camp he touched 11’ 5”.
Sunahara is looking forward to the live July period in which he’ll be able to display his talents for prospective college coaches.
“That should be fun,” he said.
Sunahara became an internet sensation after recording a vicious baseline dunk. Google his name and you’ll eventually come across it.
“The guy gave me a little boost. He jumped with me and his body kind of hit me up,” Sunahara said.
For fun, Sunahara likes to play video games with his friends and wants to major in business or math.
“He loves to be in the gym and workout,” said Sunahara’s high school coach, Jared Shetzer.
Shetzer said Sunahara’s ball handling has improved. He’s also been a leader off the court.
“He’s getting guys in the gym, he’s doing everything we are asking,” Shetzer said.
“He’s very coachable. He’s just like a sponge and wants to learn more about the game,” Shetzer said.
He’s playing AAU this summer with TNBA.
Sunahara’s team ended up losing the game to Westlake by two in sudden death OT. Seth Wilson (2021), 6’2″ guard, one of the best freshmen in the state, canned the game-winner on a pull-up 15 footer and finished the night with 24 points. Wilson is still deciding where to go to high school and has his choice of any program in Northeast Ohio, including Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary and St. Edward.