Utah Athletics to Honor Wat Misaka with Jersey Retirement

SALT LAKE CITY – In conjunction with the Utah State Legislature's resolution today honoring the late Wataru "Wat" Misaka, Utah Director of Athletics Mark Harlan announced that Misaka will have his jersey retired and immortalized next season in the rafters of the Jon M. Huntsman Center.

Harlan made the announcement today on the floor of the Utah State Senate after Misaka's resolution was introduced by Senator Jani Iwamoto. The resolution made note of Misaka's significant contributions as a citizen of Utah and his considerable historical achievements.

"Wat Misaka's legacy is that of a champion," Harlan said. "He won championships as a student at Utah and was a champion in this country, whose dignity shined through as a trailblazer and pioneer. Those who perform at a championship level at Utah are greatly valued, but also for what they accomplish in their lives beyond graduation. Wat's achievements are extraordinary, and the profound impact he made leaves a legacy of great pride for his family, for the state of Utah and all who benefited from the opportunities he created."

Misaka, who helped lead the Utah basketball program to national championships in 1944 and '47, broke barriers when he became the first non-Caucasian player in the Basketball Association of America (predecessor to the NBA) in 1947.

Known as the Jackie Robinson of basketball, Misaka was inducted into the Utah Sports Hall of Fame in 1999 and the University of Utah's Crimson Club Hall of Fame in 2011. Misaka was the point guard for Utah's 1944 NCAA tournament championship team and the 1947 NIT championship team. In between his two seasons playing for Utah he was drafted into the military and rose to the rank of Staff Sergeant.

In his first season with the Utes, the tenacious defender helped guide Utah to the 1944 National Championship and a 22-4 overall record. After losing in the more prestigious National Invitational Tournament to Kentucky, the Utes were asked to take the place of Arkansas in the eight-team NCAA Tournament. After taking down Missouri 45-35 and Iowa State 40-31, where Misaka scored five points and nine points, respectively, Utah returned to New York City. The 5-7 guard had won over New Yorkers in the previous week during the NIT with his style of play, and in the NCAA Championship game he scored four points as Utah defeated Dartmouth 42-40 in overtime at Madison Square Garden.

After returning from his service during WWII, Misaka helped lead the Utes to the 1947 NIT title with a 49-45 victory over Adolph Rupp's Kentucky Wildcats. That team wound up 19-5 overall at season's end and finished second in the Skyline Conference with a 10-2 mark.

Following his playing career at Utah, Misaka was drafted by the New York Knicks in 1947. The first player of Japanese descent to play in the NBA, known then as the Basketball Association of America, Misaka took part in three games during the 1947-48 season and scored seven points.

Misaka returned to Utah and used his bachelor's degree from the U to begin a career as an electrical engineer. He and his wife Kate had two children, daughter Nancy Umemura and son Hank Misaka, and grandchildren Kennah Misaka, Erin Misaka, and Joel Umemura.

In August of 2018, his hometown of Ogden, Utah, honored Misaka with the "Kilowatt Court" at Liberty Park. He also was the Terasaki Budokan's guest of honor in Los Angeles' Little Tokyo two months earlier. In 2009, U.S. President Barack Obama mentioned Misaka when he spoke at the opening ceremony to mark the formation of the President's Advisory Commission and White House Initiative on Asian American and Pacific Islanders. In 2008, Bruce Johnson and Christine Johnson directed, "Transcending: The Wat Misaka Story."

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Utah Athletics to Honor Wat Misaka with Jersey Retirement

Completed Event: General versus Arizona on January 18, 2002

Completed Event: General versus Utah St on November 30, 2001 , Win , 3, to, 1

Completed Event: General versus San Diego St on November 17, 2001 , Win , 166, to, 120

Completed Event: General versus UNLV on November 10, 2001 , Loss , 114, to, 117

Completed Event: General versus UNLV on November 10, 2001 , Loss , 89, to, 189.5

Completed Event: General at Oregon St on October 26, 2001 , Loss , 89, to, 116

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Completed Event: General versus UNLV on November 10, 2000

Completed Event: General versus UNLV on November 10, 2000 , Loss , 82, to, 120

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Utah Athletics to Honor Wat Misaka with Jersey Retirement

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