Recaps

Ryota Kudo dominated Tsukubu High School in the first half, then sat out to meet his friend Eiji Sawakita and Sannoh’s players. As Shohoku continued the game without him, Mikio Kawata belittled Ryota’s teammates, prompting Ryota to doubt Mikio’s own strength.

• Kazunari Fukatsu asked Eiji Sawakita whether Ryota Kudo was truly good enough to have surpassed him as the best middle school player.
• Ryota Kudo stole the ball from Hiroshi Natsume and scored, then overwhelmed Tsukubu High School with 64 points in just over ten minutes as Shohoku took an 84-21 halftime lead.
• Ryota Kudo asked Coach Anzai to let him sit out the second half, then joined Eiji Sawakita and Sannoh’s players in the stands.
• Ryota Kudo greeted Eiji Sawakita, chatted with Sannoh’s players, and ate some of Mikio Kawata’s potato chips while watching Shohoku play.
• Mikio Kawata said he could easily overpower Shohoku’s inside players, and Ryota Kudo privately judged that Mikio was not yet as strong as Hanamichi Sakuragi or Takenori Akagi.

Shohoku crushed Tsukubu 142-52 without Ryota Kudo playing in the second half, while Kudo prepared to face Shoyo at full strength. At the arena, Nobunaga Kiyota challenged Sannoh and was overwhelmed by Satoshi Ichinokura’s defense in their one-on-one match.

• Kazunari Fukatsu apologized after Mikio Kawata insulted Ryota Kudo’s teammates, and Kudo said Shohoku would meet Sannoh at the National Tournament.
• Shohoku beat Tsukubu 142-52, prompting Shoyo’s players to take their upcoming game seriously.
• Kazunari Fukatsu declined Ryota Kudo’s offer of a meal because Sannoh had to return to Akita for intensive training and its prefectural tournament.
• Nobunaga Kiyota declared that Kainan would beat Sannoh, then accepted Satoshi Ichinokura’s challenge to score once in ten possessions.
• Satoshi Ichinokura repeatedly stole the ball or stopped Kiyota before he could shoot, leaving Kiyota exhausted after five possessions.

Satoshi Ichinokura shut out Nobunaga Kiyota in a grueling one-on-one, while Ryota Kudo later encountered Koichiro Nango apologizing to Haruko Akagi. Shohoku High School traveled by bus to face Shoyo High School in the quarterfinal, where Hisashi Mitsui declared he would score thirty points on Kazushi Hasegawa.

• Satoshi Ichinokura defended Nobunaga Kiyota for ten minutes and stopped him from scoring, leaving Kiyota exhausted on the ground.
• Shinichi Maki thanked Satoshi Ichinokura for helping his junior, then brought Nobunaga Kiyota to practice after the spectators left.
• Ryota Kudo saw Koichiro Nango speaking to Haruko Akagi, learned Nango had come to apologize, and quickly left after Haruko thanked him.
• Shohoku High School traveled to the quarterfinal against Shoyo High School on school-arranged buses with a large cheerleading squad.
• Hisashi Mitsui told Ryota Kudo that Shohoku would not lose and that he intended to score thirty points on Kazushi Hasegawa.

Shohoku faced Shoyo in a hostile arena, where the opposing cheering squad rattled the team and Hanamichi Sakuragi nearly started a fight. Shoyo scored first through Toru Hanagata, and Ryota Kudo led Shohoku's response by racing up the court.

• Shoyo's cheering squad overwhelmed Shohoku with chants and noise, while Hanamichi Sakuragi shouted back until Takenori Akagi dragged him away.
• Takenori Akagi reassured Sakuragi in the locker room, and Coach Anzai stayed quiet as Shohoku prepared for the game.
• Shohoku kept its usual starting lineup, while Kenji Fujima watched from Shoyo's bench instead of starting.
• Takenori Akagi jumped too early at tip-off, giving Shoyo possession, and Taku Ito brought the ball across half-court.
• Toru Hanagata scored over Akagi with a fadeaway jumper, putting Shoyo ahead and drawing a roar from its supporters.
• Ryota Kudo encouraged Shohoku and then burst forward with the ball to begin their first attack.

Ryota Kudo scored a double-clutch layup through three Shoyo defenders, then inspired Shohoku’s cheering section and Hanamichi Sakuragi. Sakuragi disrupted Shoyo’s offense and claimed a spectacular rebound, leaving Ryota amazed by his jumping ability.

• Ryota Kudo evaded Shoyo’s defenders, scored a double-clutch layup while being fouled, and made the extra free throw.
• Haruko Akagi and Shohoku’s fans began cheering, while Hanamichi Sakuragi questioned Ryota about his feelings for Haruko.
• Ryota told Sakuragi to focus on becoming Japan’s best power forward, and Sakuragi’s fighting spirit rose.
• Hanamichi Sakuragi disrupted Toru Hanagata’s offense and leaped at Shoichi Takano’s midrange shot.
• Sakuragi jumped above Toru Hanagata to seize the missed shot’s rebound, astonishing Ryota with his athletic ability.

Shohoku struggled against Shoyo’s slow half-court offense until Ryota Kudo called for the team to speed up and disrupt Toru Hanagata’s touches. Shohoku regained control and widened the lead, and Kenji Fujima finally prepared to enter the game.

• Hanamichi Sakuragi fouled Toru Hanagata while fighting for the ball, and Ryota Kudo drew the crowd’s boos onto himself.
• Toru Hanagata scored efficiently as Shoyo slowed the game, keeping Shohoku ahead by only 22-20 after ten minutes.
• Ayako Inoue asked Coach Anzai for a timeout, but Coach Anzai trusted Ryota Kudo and the players to solve the problem.
• Ryota Kudo urged Shohoku to pick up the pace, and Kaede Rukawa scored a one-handed dunk on the fast break.
• Ryota Kudo had Kaede Rukawa double-team Toru Hanagata, helping Shohoku regain control and extend its lead.
• Kenji Fujima rose from the bench and prepared to enter as Shoyo requested a substitution.

Kenji Fujima’s return transformed Shoyo’s play, while Ryota Kudo helped Shohoku hold a four-point halftime lead. Hisashi Mitsui, exhausted and determined to answer Kazushi Hasegawa’s taunts, protested when Coach Anzai decided to bench him for the second half.

• Kenji Fujima entered the game, steadied Shoyo, and set up Mitsuru Nagano for a three-pointer.
• Ryota Kudo outran and overpowered Kenji Fujima to grab Hisashi Mitsui’s off-target pass and score a layup.
• Kenji Fujima organized Shoyo’s offense and defense as Ryota Kudo repeatedly attacked him, and Shohoku finished the half ahead 46-42.
• Kazushi Hasegawa taunted Hisashi Mitsui about limiting him to two points, but Mitsui left without responding.
• Coach Anzai named Ryota Miyagi as point guard and Ryota Kudo as shooting guard for the second half, telling Hisashi Mitsui to rest.
• Hisashi Mitsui insisted that he could keep playing and asked Coach Anzai to believe in him.

Hisashi Mitsui accepted Coach Anzai’s decision to rest him as Ryota Miyagi entered the game against Shoyo. Shohoku maintained its advantage, but Hanamichi Sakuragi picked up his fourth foul and worried that he would foul out again.

• Coach Anzai sent Hisashi Mitsui to the bench, and Ryota Miyagi took his place for the second half.
• Takenori Akagi won the jump ball, Ryota Miyagi passed ahead, and Ryota Kudo dunked to score for Shohoku.
• Kenji Fujima scored a midrange jumper and a three-pointer as Shoyo traded baskets with Shohoku.
• Hanamichi Sakuragi grabbed twelve rebounds but received his fourth foul after biting on Shoichi Takano’s pump fake.
• Ryota Kudo helped Hanamichi Sakuragi to his feet and told him to stay calm and play normally.

Hanamichi Sakuragi’s fear of fouling out hurt Shohoku, so Coach Anzai replaced him with Hisashi Mitsui, who returned to the court and overwhelmed Shoyo with a barrage of three-pointers. Shoyo trailed by nearly twenty points, but Kenji Fujima urged his teammates not to give up.

• Hanamichi Sakuragi hesitated to contest Toru Hanagata’s rebound and later passed up a drive, allowing Shoyo to score and prompting Coach Anzai to call a timeout.
• Coach Anzai took Hanamichi Sakuragi out, and Ryota Kudo filled in at power forward as Hisashi Mitsui returned to the game.
• Hisashi Mitsui confronted Kazushi Hasegawa, while Ryota Kudo blocked Toru Hanagata’s fadeaway and helped Shohoku launch a fast break.
• Hisashi Mitsui sprinted past Kazushi Hasegawa and made a three-pointer, then sank ten consecutive threes in five minutes.
• With Shoyo trailing by nearly twenty points, Kenji Fujima urged his teammates to keep fighting.

Shohoku defeated Shoyo to reach Kanagawa’s final four, while the team faced academic hurdles and prepared for the round-robin. Ryota Kudo reunited with his former junior Yoshiki Anzai and learned he was Coach Anzai’s grandson, but Yoshiki said he would not join Shohoku.

• Shohoku beat Shoyo 93–68, and Kenji Fujima broke down in tears as Toru Hanagata and Shinichi Maki watched.
• Takenori Akagi congratulated Kenji Fujima, while Shinichi Maki urged Kainan to work toward winning Kanagawa undefeated.
• Ryota Kudo worried that Hanamichi Sakuragi, Ryota Miyagi, and Hisashi Mitsui might fail their exams and miss the National Tournament.
• Shohoku intensified training for the final four against Kainan, Ryonan, and Takezato.
• Yoshiki Anzai met Ryota Kudo after practice and revealed that Coach Anzai was his grandfather.
• Yoshiki Anzai rejected the idea of joining Shohoku next year and said he might choose Kainan or Ryonan instead.

Ryota Kudo met his old friend Yoshiki Anzai, learned that Yoshiki wanted to defeat Shohoku to prove himself to Coach Anzai, and brought him to a pickup game to demonstrate the value of teamwork. Yoshiki dominated his first game, then challenged Ryota, whose pass to an open teammate put Shohoku’s teamwork lesson into action.

• Ryota Kudo listened as Yoshiki Anzai complained that his junior high teammates excluded him, and Yoshiki agreed to try communicating more with future teammates.
• Ryota learned Yoshiki had refused to join Shohoku because he wanted to defeat the team and prove he was the greatest basketball prodigy to Coach Anzai.
• Ryota brought Yoshiki to a floodlit pickup court to show him how strangers could succeed by playing together.
• Yoshiki scored all five points in a one-sided pickup game, treating his teammates as tools to pass him the ball.
• Yoshiki defended Ryota closely and challenged him to show his true ability, so Ryota passed to a wide-open middle-aged teammate, who made the layup.

Ryota Kudo led his three-on-three team to beat Yoshiki Anzai's side, but Yoshiki remained convinced that he could win alone. On June 20, Shohoku faced Kainan High School in the final-four round, and the chapter ended as Takenori Akagi prepared for the opening tip against Kazuma Takasago.

• Ryota Kudo passed to teammates and defended Yoshiki Anzai, helping his team score the winning basket while Yoshiki blamed others and insisted he would prove himself later.
• Shohoku began the final-four round against Kainan High School, and Takenori Akagi warned Ryota Kudo about facing Shinichi Maki.
• Shinichi Maki rallied Kainan with its “Ever victorious!” slogan before the teams took the court.
• Hanamichi Sakuragi called Shinichi Maki a middle-aged man, prompting Maki to joke that Akagi looked even older; Akagi punched Sakuragi and apologized to the referee.
• Takenori Akagi and Kazuma Takasago took their places for the opening tip, with Akagi visibly nervous.

Shohoku and Kainan traded baskets early as Ryota Kudo tried to contain Shinichi Maki, whose strength and playmaking kept Kainan’s offense moving. Maki eventually powered past Kudo and Kaede Rukawa to score through contact, leaving him with a free throw and Kainan’s Coach Takato confident.

• Takenori Akagi won the opening tip, and Ryota Kudo passed ahead to Kaede Rukawa, but Shinichi Maki blocked Rukawa’s fast-break dunk attempt.
• Ryota Kudo recovered the loose ball from Nobunaga Kiyota and passed to Kaede Rukawa, who scored Shohoku’s first basket with an open midrange jumper.
• Shinichi Maki drove into the paint and passed to Kazuma Takasago, whose shot Takenori Akagi blocked; Soichiro Jin collected the rebound and made a midrange jumper to tie the score at 2-2.
• Ryota Kudo fed Takenori Akagi inside, and Akagi scored with deft footwork as the teams continued trading baskets.
• Shinichi Maki repeatedly used his strength against Ryota Kudo, then drove past him and Kaede Rukawa to score a floater through contact and earn a free throw.
• Coach Takato confidently fanned himself, assured that Shinichi Maki and Kainan’s strength would carry the team.

Shohoku extended its lead over Kainan as Ryota Kudo’s three-pointer and a Hisashi Mitsui shot fueled their offense, but Takenori Akagi injured his ankle while battling for a rebound. Akagi left for the locker room, and Ryota assured him Shohoku could win without him and would play together again after he recovered.

• Yayoi Aida told Nakamura that Ryota Kudo was challenging Shinichi Maki for Kanagawa’s best-player title as Shohoku led Kainan 22-18.
• Ryota Kudo faked a pass and hit a three-pointer, while Shinichi Maki began wearing him down through physical play.
• Takenori Akagi scored inside to push Shohoku’s lead to ten, then grabbed a rebound and passed to Ryota Kudo, who set up Hisashi Mitsui for a three-pointer.
• Takenori Akagi injured his ankle during the rebound battle and could not return to the game.
• Shinichi Maki and Kazuma Takasago apologized, and Takenori Akagi forgave Kazuma before leaving with Kiminobu Kogure and Ayako Inoue.
• Ryota Kudo reassured Takenori Akagi that Shohoku could beat Kainan and that they would play together again after his recovery.

After Takenori Akagi injured his ankle and left the court, Shohoku rearranged its lineup, with Hanamichi Sakuragi taking over at center and Ryota Kudo helping contain Shinichi Maki. Shohoku and Kainan traded baskets, while Kainan’s Coach Takato recognized Kudo’s uncanny ability to imitate other players and began searching for a way to stop him.

• Takenori Akagi asked Ayako Inoue to tape his injured ankle so he could return if Shohoku needed him, but agreed to rest if Kudo and the others built a lead.
• Coach Anzai sent Ryota Miyagi to point guard, moved Ryota Kudo to power forward, and assigned Hanamichi Sakuragi to center.
• Ryota Kudo helped Ryota Miyagi trap Shinichi Maki, while Hanamichi Sakuragi held his ground against Kazuma Takasago and blocked Tadashi Muto’s shot.
• Hanamichi Sakuragi vowed to protect Shohoku’s paint in Takenori Akagi’s place and received cheers from Haruko Akagi and the Sakuragi Gang.
• Kainan’s Soichiro Jin sank three-pointers as Ryota Kudo and Kaede Rukawa scored for Shohoku, and Kudo matched Jin’s shooting threat with a fadeaway jumper resembling Toru Hanagata’s.
• Coach Takato concluded that Ryota Kudo could imitate players’ techniques and began considering how to contain Kudo and Shohoku.

Shohoku finished the first half leading Kainan 58–46, while Takenori Akagi remained sidelined with an ankle injury. Kainan changed its defensive assignments and unleashed an exhausting off-ball tactic for Soichiro Jin, leaving Ryota Kudo puzzled as the second half began.

• Shohoku ended the first half with a twelve-point lead, and Kengo Murasame admitted that Ryota Kudo and Shohoku had become far stronger than when they beat Miuradai.
• Takenori Akagi learned that Shohoku was leading Kainan, while Coach Takato reassured Tadashi Muto and prepared new tactics for the second half.
• Takenori Akagi stayed on the bench, and Kainan assigned Tadashi Muto to guard Hisashi Mitsui while Shinichi Maki marked Ryota Kudo.
• Hanamichi Sakuragi won the opening jump ball, but Shinichi Maki’s physical defense slowed Ryota Kudo and Tadashi Muto closely shadowed Hisashi Mitsui.
• Soichiro Jin ran himself free of Hisashi Mitsui and made an open three-pointer, prompting Ryota Kudo to wonder about Kainan’s exhausting tactic.

Kainan substituted Yoshinori Miyamasu to exploit Hanamichi Sakuragi’s inexperience, but Ryota Kudo took charge and repeatedly scored against him. Kainan remained behind as Soichiro Jin left exhausted, while Shinichi Maki kept answering with his own scoring.

• Soichiro Jin collapsed from exhaustion after cutting Kainan’s deficit to two points, and Yoshinori Miyamasu entered the game in his place.
• Ryota Kudo recognized Yoshinori Miyamasu’s defensive assignment on Hanamichi Sakuragi, called for the ball, and dunked over him for a basket and a foul.
• Ryota Miyagi guarded Yoshinori Miyamasu while Ryota Kudo defended Shinichi Maki, who scored a midrange jumper after driving into Kudo.
• Ryota Kudo used a pick-and-roll with Hanamichi Sakuragi to get past Shinichi Maki, then scored through Yoshinori Miyamasu for another basket and a foul.
• Coach Takato grew angry at Yoshinori Miyamasu’s struggles on defense but stayed him in the game because his role was not defensive.

Shohoku regained momentum as Ryota Kudo encouraged his teammates and helped create scoring chances against Kainan. Ryota Miyagi blocked Yoshinori Miyamasu’s three-point attempt, and Kaede Rukawa finished the fast break with a layup.

• Yoshinori Miyamasu hit a three-pointer after Shinichi Maki drew Ryota Miyagi away from him, and Ryota Kudo reassured Miyagi that Shohoku could still win.
• Ryota Kudo rallied Shohoku, then used a pick-and-roll with Hanamichi Sakuragi to draw help and pass to Hisashi Mitsui for an open three-pointer.
• Ryota Miyagi feinted toward Shinichi Maki, recovered to Yoshinori Miyamasu, and blocked his three-point attempt before starting a fast break.
• Kaede Rukawa outran the defense alongside Nobunaga Kiyota and scored a double-clutch layup, prompting cheers from his fans and jealousy from Hanamichi Sakuragi.

Shohoku defeated Kainan 108-85, bringing the reigning champions’ hopes of winning the Kanagawa tournament into doubt while moving Shohoku closer to the National Tournament. The chapter ended with the teams parting after the game and the next round’s matchups approaching.

• Coach Takato substituted Yoshinori Miyamasu and kept Soichiro Jin out as Kainan struggled to support Shinichi Maki.
• Shohoku widened its lead, and the final whistle confirmed a 108-85 victory over Kainan.
• Takenori Akagi cried with relief, and Kiminobu Kogure comforted him as Shohoku celebrated.
• Shinichi Maki congratulated Ryota Kudo and spoke with Takenori Akagi before both teams exchanged handshakes.
• Shinichi Maki led Kainan from the gym, while Shohoku prepared to face Takezato High School and Kainan prepared to meet Ryonan.

After defeating Kainan, Ryota Kudo went to meet Shizuka Kudo at her hotel, where Eri Fujisawa unexpectedly urged him to transfer to Ryokufu High School. The chapter left Ryota facing the short-haired manager’s proposal.

• Ryota Kudo’s mother called to praise his game and asked him to meet her friend’s daughter, Shizuka Kudo.
• Ryota Kudo contacted Shizuka Kudo, arranged to meet her, and traveled toward her hotel.
• Ryota Kudo congratulated Jun Uozumi and spoke with Hikoichi Aida after Ryonan defeated Takezato High School.
• Ryota Kudo reached the hotel and found Shizuka Kudo waiting with Eri Fujisawa.
• Eri Fujisawa introduced herself as Ryokufu High School’s basketball team manager and asked Ryota Kudo to transfer there.

Ryota Kudo rebuffed Eri Fujisawa’s attempts to recruit him to Ryokufu High School and agreed to consider transferring only if its basketball team beat Shohoku in a friendly. Eri left confident Ryokufu would win, while Jun Uozumi served an elaborate dinner.

• Shizuka Kudo introduced Eri Fujisawa as her friend’s sixteen-year-old daughter, who had insisted on meeting Ryota Kudo.
• Eri criticized the Uozumi family’s restaurant, prompting Ryota to rebuke her and Jun Uozumi to challenge her complaints about the food.
• Eri claimed she was Ryota’s girlfriend and announced he would join Ryokufu, but Ryota denied both claims and reaffirmed that he would stay at Shohoku.
• Ryota proposed a friendly match between Ryokufu and Shohoku, promising to consider transferring if Ryokufu won, and Eri agreed to arrange it.
• Jun Uozumi prepared an especially impressive dinner after Eri’s criticism, while Eri remained certain Ryokufu would beat Shohoku.

After defeating Shinichi Maki, Ryota Kudo dreamed of reaching the gate to ZONE and woke ready for the next game. Shohoku resumed training while Takenori Akagi recovered from his ankle injury, and Coach Anzai arrived with Eri Fujisawa for the friendly match against Ryokufu High School.

• Ryota Kudo walked Shizuka Kudo back to her hotel, then dreamed that he had reached the gate to ZONE but could not open it.
• At Shohoku High School, students crowded around Hanamichi Sakuragi before turning their attention to Ryota Kudo and praising his victory over Shinichi Maki.
• Ryota Kudo accepted Weekly Basketball's description of him as Kanagawa's new king and said he aimed to conquer the nationals.
• Hanamichi Sakuragi argued with the Sakuragi Gang, then knocked them down with his headbutt special move.
• Takenori Akagi's ankle had improved, but a doctor had advised him to avoid strenuous exercise for about a month.
• Coach Anzai arrived at Shohoku's practice with Eri Fujisawa, who had come to watch the friendly match against Ryokufu High School.

Coach Anzai arranged a friendly between Shohoku and Ryokufu, whose manager Eri Fujisawa arrived with star player Michael Okita to boast about their strength. After Michael provoked Shohoku by stealing the ball and attempting a dunk, Ryota Kudo blocked him and accepted his challenge to a one-on-one, while Eri’s underlying goal of provoking Kaede Rukawa remained unfulfilled.

• Coach Anzai introduced Eri Fujisawa and announced Shohoku’s Wednesday friendly against Ryokufu ahead of the final-four games.
• Eri claimed Ryokufu was Kanagawa’s strongest team and called in Michael Okita, who flirted with Matsui after mistaking her for Haruko Akagi.
• Michael stole the ball from Yasuharu Yasuda and drove toward the basket, but Ryota Kudo blocked his dunk and knocked him to the floor.
• Michael challenged Ryota to a first-to-five one-on-one, and Ryota agreed and gave Michael the first possession.
• Eri had brought Michael to provoke Kaede Rukawa, whom she resented for ignoring her invitation to join Ryokufu, but Michael’s confrontation instead began with Ryota.

Ryota Kudo defeated Michael Okita 5-0 using a mix of powerful basketball techniques, while Eri Fujisawa became more determined to recruit him for Ryokufu High School. Shohoku’s team arrived at Ryokufu for their scheduled game and saw how luxurious the school and its basketball facilities were.

• Ryota Kudo used Shinichi Maki’s driving technique and other players’ moves to score five baskets against Michael Okita, who left the gym after being shut out.
• Eri Fujisawa told Michael Okita that Ryota Kudo would join Ryokufu High School and become his teammate, while Michael accepted the idea with relief.
• Ryota Kudo realized Michael Okita had not been strong enough to push him toward opening the door to the ZONE.
• Coach Anzai led Shohoku’s basketball team to Ryokufu High School for their Wednesday game.
• Ryota Miyagi and the other Shohoku players saw Ryokufu’s luxurious campus and gym, where staff handled the court cleaning for the team.

Shohoku faced Ryokufu High School in a friendly, with Akagi sitting out and Sakuragi starting at center. Ryokufu showed off its athleticism, but Kudo exploited Totsuka’s poor stamina and Rukawa answered Okita’s dunk with a powerful one-handed dunk of his own.

• Akagi agreed to sit out the friendly, and Shohoku started Miyagi, Mitsui, Rukawa, Kudo, and Sakuragi.
• Sakuragi won the opening tip, but Totsuka and Okita stopped Shohoku’s fast break.
• Kudo noticed Totsuka tiring quickly, repeatedly ran him around the court, and scored Shohoku’s first three points.
• Okita dunked over Rukawa on Ryokufu’s fast break, then Rukawa demanded the ball from Miyagi.
• Rukawa drove past Okita and dunked over Nadaka as Sakuragi called for a pass.
• Akagi watched from the bench and called Ryokufu’s center a pushover.