Wataru Misaka, born December 21, 1923 in Ogden, Utah, grew up poor and in a bad area of the city, but graduated from Ogden High School. He led the basketball team to a state championship title in 1940, and a regional title in 1941.
This was at a time when Japanese Americans were being forced into internment camps. He attended Weber College and helped lead its basketball team to two championships and was named Most Valuable Player of 1942.
He enrolled at the University of Utah and played during their 1943-1944 season. He was drafted to serve in WWII and rose to the rank of staff sergeant. He returned after two years and rejoined the team at the University of Utah.
He was selected by the New York Knicks in the 1947 Basketball Association of American and played in three games and scored seven points in the 1947-1948 season. He was cut from the team mid-season.
He completed a degree in engineering from Utah.
He passed away in November 2019 in Salt Lake City.
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