Earth Friends Tokyo Z announced July 10 that the club has reached a basic agreement to sign forward Brandton Chatfield for the upcoming 2026-27 season. His jersey number will be No. 25, according to a press release on July 17.
Chatfield joins the organization following a productive 2025-26 campaign with Nürnberg Falcons BC in the German Pro A league. During his year in Germany, he averaged 13.3 points and 5.9 rebounds per game while shooting 59.8% from the field and 39.1% from 3-point range.
Prior
to his professional career tipping off in German, Chatfield played his final season (2024-25) of college basketball at Iowa State.
Appearing in all 35 games for the Cyclones, he averaged 3.8 points and 3.1 rebounds in 14.4 minutes per contest. He led the team with a 61.8% field goal percentage and proved to be a defensive catalyst; Iowa State went 10-3 in games where Chatfield recorded a blocked shot.
His collegiate highlights included a season-high 10 points and eight rebounds in an 84-67 win against No. 22 Arizona.
“I am very appreciative of Coach Kent and the Tokyo Z staff for this opportunity!” Chatfield said in a press release. “I can’t wait to get to Tokyo to meet the team and fans, as well as to compete and represent the team this season!”
General Manager Tatsuhiko “Tad” Iida emphasized that Chatfield’s signing is a cornerstone of the organization’s efforts to establish a “winning culture.”
Iida noted that while Chatfield’s game is not defined by highlights alone, his impact is felt through his physicality in rebounding, toughness in the paint, and a “selfless dedication” to his teammates.
“He is not necessarily a player who makes his presence felt only through flashy plays,” Iida said in a press release. “He is a player who consistently does the work needed to pull back the momentum during tough stretches and lead the team to victory. That attitude is his greatest appeal, and I am confident he will bring great stability and energy to the team.”
As the club prepares for the new league, the B.League One (second-tier), Iida highlighted the importance of Chatfield’s mindset, stating that the identity of “fighting hard until the very end” is non-negotiable for the roster.
