This kid's value isn't based on MVP awards or his reputation as a dominant center; it's the kind of player every team wants to sign. Like Hisashi Mitsui, he's a jack-of-all-trades—he can't turn a weak team into a strong one, but he can elevate a strong team to even greater heights.
This kind of player is a hot commodity that every team is scrambling to acquire! Fukazawa can't sit still now, because compared to other universities, they need Akagi the most.
Fukazawa's tactical system is largely built around the center, all because of Sugiyama. If they don't have a reliable center, the team will likely have to rebuild once Sugiyama leaves, and they'll have to give up their top position, which would be a huge loss.
So, during this period, Sugiyama and Karasawa had to talk to Akagi every day, for fear that the child would be kidnapped by someone else.
But then, by sheer coincidence, a mishap occurred—the highly anticipated Four Nations Invitational. Needless to say, Akagi was bound to showcase something new again, and the more impressive he was, the more Fukazawa became.
Of course, this invitational tournament is of great significance to the development of basketball in China, and Fukazawa wouldn't be so selfish as to ask Akagi to keep it a secret. If he really wanted to do that, Akagi would absolutely not agree.
Fukazawa is currently stuck in the middle: he wants Shohoku to win and wants Akagi to get more exposure, but he's also afraid that other teams will poach him. His mentality is like having a hopping rabbit in his hand.
As expected, after Shohoku defeated Changwon in the first round, Akagi received an invitation from a strong team. This couldn't be kept secret, and Fukazawa soon found out.
So for the second round of the competition, Sugiyama and Karasawa arrived at the venue early, wanting to talk to Akagi as soon as possible after the match, to clear things up, and to put everyone at ease.
Therefore, they also prepared a new plan—to dig up Kiminobu Kogure along with him!
Actually, player recruitment is a war without bloodshed in any country. The purpose of every team is to win, to compete for the championship.
Shohoku is the best example. In just one year, they went from being a bottom-feeder that almost disbanded to becoming the national champion. The school underwent a complete transformation, becoming a highly sought-after basketball powerhouse with excellent financial support and promising future prospects.
The same applies to high schools, universities, and clubs; only through development can everyone get what they need, and only then can the team realize its maximum value.
Therefore, the team goes to great lengths to recruit players, because only with a strong core can they talk about what comes next.
Just like how Moichi Taoka poached Sendoh back then, Taoka- sensei, who was far away in Kanagawa, managed to get Sendoh and led Ryonan to become one of the top four teams in the country in just two years.
The story of Moichi Taoka poaching Sendoh is still a legendary case that everyone in the basketball world talks about. But it also served as a wake-up call for many people—it's not enough to just make empty promises and offer some incentives to poach players; you have to figure out what the players really want.
Who would have thought that Sendoh went to Ryonan partly because it was by the sea and convenient for fishing, and partly to escape his family's control? Apart from the shrewd Taoka, even Sendoh's own teammates might not have known this.
Fukazawa Sports University's recruitment strategy this time is exactly the same as Taoka's back then. They've been keeping an eye on Takenori Akagi for a while, and finally figured out a key figure—that seemingly gentle guy from Shohoku who actually has a basketball dream in his head: Kiminobu Kogure!
Several months had passed since Fukazawa Sports University first approached Takenori Akagi. At that time, Shohoku had just defeated Kainan University Affiliated High School but had not yet won the Kanagawa championship.
When Takenori Akagi first met Shota Sugiyama and Kazuo Karasawa, he was as nervous as a freshman. The usually fierce Black Gorilla instantly became a little fanboy.
Even so, Akagi didn't pat his chest and say anything about going through fire and water for Fukazawa.
Later, Shota Sugiyama, still putting on airs, assigned Akagi a task, saying that if he failed, Fukazawa would shut his door on him. Fortunately, Akagi lived up to expectations and completed the task. He was excited and looking forward to it, but still didn't say he wanted to join Fukazawa.
Back then, Shota Sugiyama and the others thought that Akagi was a bit insecure, which was a good thing for them. When Shota Sugiyama first joined Fukazawa, he was so high-profile that the entire Fukazawa team had to disrupt their plans and completely rebuild because of him.
Fortunately, he performed admirably and lived up to the team's expectations. But now they don't want to bring in another player who would cause further turmoil. Most importantly, Shota Sugiyama only has one year left on the team, Fukazawa can't afford any more reckless changes.
Moreover, they felt that Akagi lacked the ability to change the team, and his current somewhat humble state was just right. Who knew that in the blink of an eye, Akagi would suddenly become incredibly sought after. Fukazawa had no choice but to change his strategy and find a way to get Akagi.
After much deliberation, the most reliable solution is to poach Kiminobu Kogure. Kogure is like bait, specifically designed to catch Akagi, the big black fish. For this, Fukazawa is willing to give up a valuable player spot.
University league teams have a more professional structure, with strict limits on the number of players each team can field. Even one more or one less player is unacceptable; if a team cannot gather the required number of players, it will be disqualified from the season.
Therefore, teams must be extremely careful in selecting players, and roster compatibility is the core of university leagues. Players like Kuwata from Shohoku and Hikoichi Aida from Ryonan would have a hard time getting into the basketball team.
Everyone on the team has their own position. If it's just about physical fitness, then you might as well switch clubs. As a powerhouse in the league, Fukazawa has even stricter standards for selecting players. Even with Shota Sugiyama, they've never won a championship, and that's one of the reasons.
Shota Sugiyama is a legitimate starting center for the national team, the best center in the country, and no one dares to challenge him. Yet, he still couldn't carry Fukazawa to the championship, which shows how terrifying the lineups of other strong teams are.
So, it must have taken a lot of determination for Fukazawa to give up a spot for Kogure! After all, Kogure's qualifications make it difficult for him to even gain a foothold in the university league, which is the core reason why he hasn't received any invitations from university basketball teams yet.
You were a member of the national high school league champion team, the vice-captain of the championship team, and even played in Shohoku's "death lineup"—all of that is true. But your own hard skills aren't enough; that's all you're good for. In Shohoku, you could pick the best from the worst, but in college teams, nobody buys into that.
Kogure himself was aware of this. He had even considered giving up basketball before, so he was particularly determined to win the national championship in his senior year of high school, wanting to bring his basketball career to a perfect close.
But then he realized that he couldn't let go of basketball. It didn't matter if he didn't become a player; he could be a manager, an assistant coach, or even a sparring partner. He could use his university years to slowly improve himself and then do a basketball-related job after graduation. Maybe in ten years, the basketball world would have a Coach Kogure.
This was Kogure's plan for himself, and he thought it wouldn't change. He certainly couldn't have imagined that Fukazawa had already quietly reached out to him, preparing an opportunity for him to play alongside his good brother Akagi for a few more years!
Aside from Fukazawa's core team, no one knew about this. Kogure was shouting at the top of his lungs off the court. He was always sentimental and knew that these might be the last two games of his playing career, so he cherished them all the more. Even if he didn't play, he wanted to shout as loud as he could!
" Akagi!! Well done!!"
Kogure shouted at the top of his lungs.
"Keep it up! You have to win this game!!"
This daydreamer is about to wake up from his dream. With a whoosh, Hoffmann, under pressure and facing Sakuragi's sudden defense, sank a crucial three-pointer!
Hoffmann's three-pointer just now narrowed the gap to 11 points.
With 3 minutes left in the game, these 11 points may seem like a lot, but they are Shohoku's lifeline. If they can defend this possession, the point difference can be reduced to within 10 points, and the game will still be played.
This three-pointer is a lifesaver for the Chariot, but will Shohoku's defense give them a chance? The outcome of this round might depend on whether Shohoku's offense will give Shirasawa an opportunity.
Possession changed hands, Hoffmann, positioned across midfield, roared, "Defense!!"
But at this moment, they couldn't care less about being reserved. The entire Chariot pressed forward, launching a full-court man-to-man press, trying to nip Shohoku's offensive in the bud.
Takenori Akagi stood on the baseline with the ball, just like when he played against Sannoh. He held the ball tightly in his hands, unable to find an opening to pass it. Back then, Sakuragi broke through the press with his speed and aerial dominance, allowing Akagi to pass the ball. But now, things weren't so easy. If he passed the ball high, it would most likely be intercepted by the Chariot.
Just then, a red shadow darted past Akagi's eyes. Akagi's pupils contracted, and he decisively passed the ball out.
To prepare for his role as the new captain, Ryota Miyagi grew stubble during the off-season, probably after reading some book, hoping to appear more composed. However, he naturally has a roguish and handsome face, and with the stubble, he looks even more like a reckless rascal. Composure? It doesn't suit his appearance at all. But on the court, it's a different story.
Ever since Bai Ze joined Shohoku, Miyagi Ryota had to change his position from point guard to shooting guard. But after the team got used to each other, he became a combo guard again, and sometimes he even played as a dual point guard with Bai Ze. After all, he had been playing point guard since elementary school, and almost ten years have passed in the blink of an eye.
As one of the nation's top point guards, Ryota Miyagi relies on more than just speed and the support of his teammates. The word "composure" is most fitting to describe his performance on the court. No matter what pace or intensity the team or the opponent is playing, he can remain calm.
His ability to assess the situation and act accordingly is why he's called " The Ghost." While everyone else gets carried away, he remains clear-headed, like a lion, maintaining his aggressive stance and waiting for the perfect moment to deliver a fatal blow to his opponent.
Throughout Shohoku's rise, Ryota Miyagi was the least famous and had the fewest honors. It wasn't until after the National Tournament that his reputation soared, and his national individual ranking also rose. The match against Sannoh finally allowed everyone to witness his strength.
There are already voices saying that Miyagi's strength is being suppressed by Shirasawa. If Shohoku were to go to another Miyagi, his strength would definitely be better, at least guaranteeing a place in the top four of the prefecture. In other words, he has the ability to be the cornerstone of a team.
Some of those voices were released by other teams, trying to disrupt Shohoku and make Miyagi consider transferring. Although he only has one year left in high school, he can definitely be put to good use immediately and instantly elevate the team's level.
Of course, these voices only enhanced Miyagi's personal value and didn't have any negative impact on Shohoku. Miyagi was long past the age where he needed external recognition to prove himself. Besides, for his brothers at Shohoku, this experience was his most precious memory after his brother's disappearance. Moreover, he was still the captain!