Recaps

Ryota Kudo, Eiji Sawakita, and Hiroshi Morishige arrived in Shanghai for the Asian youth training camp, where Kudo’s fluent Chinese helped them reach the base and settle in. At the training hall, they spotted Wang Zhizhi displaying an impressive three-point shot.

• Ryota Kudo used his Chinese to guide Eiji Sawakita and Hiroshi Morishige from the airport to the Asian Basketball Confederation Training Base.
• The staff checked the three boys in early and assigned them a room in the athletes’ residence.
• Ryota Kudo, Eiji Sawakita, and Hiroshi Morishige visited the huge gymnasium and watched young players from across Asia practice.
• Eiji Sawakita pointed out a tall boy making a smooth three-pointer on a distant court.
• Ryota Kudo recognized the boy as Wang Zhizhi, the future Chasing the Wind Boy.

Ryota Kudo, Eiji Sawakita, and Hiroshi Morishige saw Wang Zhizhi’s versatile scoring and Li Nan’s sharp shooting at the training camp, then steadied their nerves and began warming up. Their practice was interrupted when a group of Korean players demanded their court, and Ryota refused in fluent English.

• Wang Zhizhi beat two defenders with a pump fake and spin before finishing with a one-handed dunk, leaving Hiroshi Morishige shaken by the center’s skill.
• Li Nan caught a pass after a smart off-ball cut and sank a quick three-pointer, impressing Eiji Sawakita and Ryota Kudo.
• Eiji Sawakita and Hiroshi Morishige worried that they might not measure up, but Ryota Kudo encouraged them to face the camp’s strong players with confidence.
• The three Japanese players took the remaining half court and warmed up with shooting and layup drills, drawing attention from nearby players.
• Five or six Korean players arrived and demanded that Ryota Kudo, Eiji Sawakita, and Hiroshi Morishige give up their court.
• Ryota Kudo moved Eiji Sawakita behind him and firmly told the Korean group in English that they had arrived first and would keep warming up.

Ryota Kudo and his teammates challenged the South Korea Team to a half-court game for the right to use the court. The game began with both sides scoring, and Kudo set up Hiroshi Morishige for an alley-oop that put their team ahead 4-3.

• Ryota Kudo refused to give up the court and accepted the blond Korean player's challenge to play three-on-three, first to fifteen.
• Wang Zhizhi, Li Nan, and Gong Xiaobin gathered with other onlookers to watch the game begin.
• Kudo assigned Eiji Sawakita to guard the blond and Hiroshi Morishige to protect the paint as the South Korea Team took the opening possession.
• Morishige grabbed a rebound after the Korean power forward missed, and Kudo passed to Sawakita for a finger-roll basket that made it 2-0.
• The South Korea Team used screens to free its buzz-cut shooter, who hit a three-pointer and gave them a 3-2 lead.
• Kudo beat the Korean power forward off a pick-and-roll and tossed a behind-the-head pass to Morishige, who dunked to put their team ahead 4-3.

Ryota Kudo led Eiji Sawakita and Hiroshi Morishige to a 15-10 win over the South Korea Team, impressing the Chinese players and coaches at the training camp. After the Korean players left without responding to Kudo’s demand for an apology, the blond player’s anger and humiliation grew as Kudo turned to celebrate.

• Ryota Kudo anticipated a pass, forced the ball out of bounds, and set up Eiji Sawakita to score and put Japan at game point.
• Kudo shut down the buzz-cut shooter, whose rushed fadeaway missed, and Hiroshi Morishige grabbed the rebound.
• Kudo beat the blond with a behind-the-back dribble and sank the game-winning three, giving Japan a 15-10 victory.
• Kudo told the South Korea Team to leave and reminded them that respect had to be earned, and the players departed amid whispers and mocking laughs.
• Chinese players and coaches praised Kudo, Sawakita, and Morishige, while Coach Gong Xiaobin ordered his assistant to watch the Japanese players during upcoming sessions.
• As Kudo turned to celebrate with his teammates, the humiliated blond clenched his fists and trembled, leaving the confrontation unresolved.

Gong Xiaobin stopped a fight between Ryota Kudo’s group and the South Korea Team, then warned both sides against further confrontations. After the Korean players left, Ryota Kudo approached Wang Zhizhi to ask whether he and his teammates could join a game, surprising Wang with his fluent Mandarin.

• A blond-haired South Korea Team player tried to hit Ryota Kudo from behind, but Hiroshi Morishige caught his fist and pushed him off balance.
• The Korean players rushed toward Ryota Kudo, Eiji Sawakita, and Hiroshi Morishige, who prepared to defend themselves.
• Gong Xiaobin and the Chinese staff intervened, and Gong threatened to disqualify anyone who caused more trouble.
• The blond-haired player apologized, and Gong told both teams to focus on basketball and avoid further confrontations.
• Ryota Kudo led Eiji Sawakita and Hiroshi Morishige to Wang Zhizhi’s court and asked to join a game.
• Wang Zhizhi nearly choked on his water when Ryota Kudo spoke fluent Mandarin and asked if he was Chinese.

Ryota Kudo and his teammates joined Wang Zhizhi and other Chinese prospects for a full-court game before a crowd of players. After Hiroshi Morishige won the opening tip, Ryota drove toward the basket and turned his attempted dunk over Wang Zhizhi into an alley-oop for Morishige, who scored with a two-handed slam.

• Ryota Kudo invited Wang Zhizhi and the other young Chinese players to play a full-court game, and Wang agreed.
• The players formed two teams, with Ryota Kudo, Eiji Sawakita, Hiroshi Morishige, Li Nan, and a Chinese youth-team point guard on one side against Wang Zhizhi's team.
• A referee started the game, and Hiroshi Morishige outjumped Wang Zhizhi to tip the ball to Ryota Kudo.
• Ryota passed to his point guard, moved to the left wing, then beat his defender with a shot fake and explosive first step.
• Ryota challenged Wang Zhizhi with an attempted dunk, but changed course midair and tossed an alley-oop to Morishige, who slammed it in for a 2-0 lead.

Ryota Kudo took over playmaking duties and helped his team build an 8-4 lead with precise passes to Li Nan and an open point guard. Wang Zhizhi answered with a three-pointer to make it 8-7, leaving Hiroshi Morishige with a difficult defensive assignment.

• Wang Zhizhi spun past Hiroshi Morishige and scored a floater to tie the game at 2-2.
• The Chinese point guard handed Ryota Kudo control of the offense, and Kudo passed to Li Nan for a three-pointer that put their team ahead 5-2.
• Wang Zhizhi's team scored a baseline layup, cutting the score to 5-4.
• Ryota Kudo found his open point guard teammate in the corner, and the teammate made a three-pointer to extend the lead to 8-4.
• Wang Zhizhi made a three-pointer over Hiroshi Morishige to cut the score to 8-7, and Ryota Kudo urged Morishige to trust the team's help defense.

Ryota Kudo’s team held a narrow halftime lead as Eiji Sawakita and Li Nan scored off Kudo’s playmaking, while Wang Zhizhi repeatedly challenged Hiroshi Morishige. After Wang Zhizhi’s team tightened its defense in the second half, Kudo answered with a reverse layup, and Wang Zhizhi followed with a powerful and-one in the post.

• Eiji Sawakita hit a midrange jumper after Ryota Kudo passed out of a drive, and Wang Zhizhi’s team answered with a free throw.
• Wang Zhizhi used his skill and strength to disrupt Hiroshi Morishige’s post offense, stripping the ball and starting a fast break.
• Ryota Kudo found Li Nan for a layup with a long pass, and Kudo’s team led 28-25 at halftime.
• Wang Zhizhi’s team disrupted Kudo’s passing options and cut the lead to 28-27 with a midrange jumper.
• Ryota Kudo beat his defender and evaded Wang Zhizhi for a reverse layup, extending the lead to 30-27.
• Wang Zhizhi powered past Hiroshi Morishige in the post, scored through contact, and earned an additional free throw.

Ryota Kudo’s team beat Wang Zhizhi’s team 50-45 in a hard-fought scrimmage, with Kudo directing the offense and Hiroshi Morishige contributing rebounds. After the game, Morishige struggled with doubts about how far his strength alone could take him against elite technique.

• After Wang Zhizhi tied the score at 30-30, Ryota Kudo encouraged Hiroshi Morishige and answered with a three-pointer.
• Ryota Kudo, Eiji Sawakita, Li Nan, and their teammates combined to score while Morishige focused on rebounds and finishing feeds.
• With two minutes left and his team ahead 48-45, Morishige grabbed a defensive rebound, and Kudo assisted Sawakita for a layup that made it 50-45.
• Wang Zhizhi’s team missed a rushed three, Morishige secured the rebound, and Kudo held possession until his team won.
• After the game, Morishige watched his friends receive praise and wondered whether his strength could measure up to elite technique and basketball IQ.

Ryota Kudo encouraged Hiroshi Morishige after his difficult matchup with Wang Zhizhi, and Morishige regained his determination to improve. At the training camp’s ability tests, the Japanese players impressed the coaches with their physical gifts, while Kudo’s ballhandling and passing stood out.

• Ryota Kudo reassured Hiroshi Morishige that losing to Wang Zhizhi was a chance to recognize his weaknesses and work on his skills.
• Morishige took Kudo’s advice to heart and vowed to train harder.
• At the training camp’s opening tests, Morishige, Eiji Sawakita, and Ryota Kudo recorded striking physical measurements and athletic results.
• Sawakita excelled in speed and jumping, Morishige showed exceptional size and strength, and Kudo demonstrated a notably balanced set of abilities.
• During the skills tests, Kudo handled the ball with ease and delivered precise passes, impressing the staff, Wang Zhizhi, and Li Nan.

Ryota Kudo, Eiji Sawakita, Hiroshi Morishige, and the other players completed a day of ability tests, impressing the coaches with their distinct strengths. After the exhausted players finished, Wang Zhizhi pointed out that Hiroshi Morishige was still practicing alone.

• Ryota Kudo excelled across shooting, post play, defense, and scrimmages, while Eiji Sawakita stood out as a scorer, Wang Zhizhi demonstrated polished post skills, and Hiroshi Morishige showed exceptional physical strength.
• Gong Xiaobin and the coaches praised Kudo's all-around skills, Sawakita's scoring, and Morishige's potential as a dominant center if he improved his technique.
• The coaches recognized the three Japanese players as major prospects and discussed how strong China's young players would need to be in future Asian competitions.
• After the tests left Ryota Kudo and Wang Zhizhi exhausted, Wang noticed Hiroshi Morishige continuing to practice on the empty court.

Ryota Kudo and Wang Zhizhi discussed Hiroshi Morishige’s extra practice and Wang warned that the powerful Bateer would join the camp the next day. Bateer arrived during morning training, declared himself the camp’s strongest center, and drew challenging looks from Wang and Morishige.

• Ryota Kudo watched Hiroshi Morishige practice and said Wang Zhizhi’s skills had shown Morishige his shortcomings.
• Wang Zhizhi told Kudo about Bateer, a powerful center from Inner Mongolia who was scheduled to arrive the next day.
• Bateer entered the gym during morning training and introduced himself to the players.
• Bateer declared that he was the strongest center in the training camp.
• Wang Zhizhi met Bateer’s claim with a cold, competitive smile, while Hiroshi Morishige eagerly focused on the new challenger.

Bateer’s arrival sparked a rivalry among the camp’s top post players, and Ryota Kudo observed his strength and solid fundamentals. In a three-on-three scrimmage, Bateer blocked Hiroshi Morishige’s post move and overpowered him on offense, but Morishige’s athleticism produced a defensive rebound that led to Ryota Kudo’s fast-break dunk for a 2-0 lead.

• Bateer’s arrival intensified competition with Wang Zhizhi and Hiroshi Morishige during training.
• Ryota Kudo studied Bateer and recognized his strong fundamentals, rebounding instincts, and overwhelming strength.
• Ryota Kudo, Eiji Sawakita, and Hiroshi Morishige faced Bateer’s team in a three-on-three scrimmage.
• Hiroshi Morishige failed to move Bateer in the post, and Bateer blocked his hook shot out of bounds.
• Bateer backed Morishige down and attempted a floater, but Morishige tipped the ball off course and grabbed the offensive rebound.
• Morishige passed to Ryota Kudo, who raced downcourt and dunked to give his team a 2-0 lead.

Ryota Kudo led his team to defeat Bateer’s team and established himself as the Asian U18 training camp’s standout player. The camp ended without its planned final tournament, and Kudo and Wang Zhizhi parted with a promise to meet in the NBA.

• Ryota Kudo and Eiji Sawakita used their speed, shooting, and passing to help defeat Bateer’s team 15-9, while Hiroshi Morishige and Bateer each revealed strengths and weaknesses.
• As the training camp progressed, Ryota Kudo’s skill, adaptability, and leadership impressed the players and coaches, and Eiji Sawakita admitted Kudo was better at influencing a team’s play.
• Gong Xiaobin and the other coaches canceled the final five-on-five round-robin tournament, deciding to evaluate players based on the camp instead.
• Ryota Kudo, Eiji Sawakita, and Hiroshi Morishige prepared to leave for Japan, disappointed that they would not play another game before departing.
• Wang Zhizhi saw Ryota Kudo off and said he hoped to develop in China’s CBA before pursuing the NBA.
• Ryota Kudo told Wang Zhizhi that the NBA was his own ultimate goal, and the two promised to meet there.