Chapter 1: New face (Author - RR of UPLB)

The end of the Summer Inter-High marks the end of the first appearance of the Shohoku Basketball Team in the National league. Also this is the time where Akagi and Kogure had to left the team in preparation for the coming National College Examination. Ryota succeeded Akagi for being the captain of the Shohoku Basketball Team. Ayako has her newistant, Haruko.Mitsui is gaining time for his subjects so that he can fully repay the time of his delinquency. Meanwhile Rukawa is doing training in the All-Japan Youth Training Camp. Sakuragi is still in the hospital and has to stay for a month for his therapy. This is the injury resulted from their game against the last year’s National Champion Sannoh High.

Due respect from the organizer of the Inter-high tournament, they formally announced a month after the said summer event a new tournament that rose in preparation for the next summer IH. The tournament will be the same way as the summer IH. But due to the purpose of preparation for the next year Summer IH, only the Incoming Freshmen, freshmen and sophomore are allowed. This mean that Akagi, Kogure and Mitsui out of the team. Including other teams seniors like the MVP of Kanagawa Maki.

The said competition alerted the incoming freshmen, they are about to pick the school in which they are going. Many students try for the known teams like Ryonan, Sannoh, Kainan, Shoyo, and of course Shohoku. They believed it would be great because this tournament will not only be in Kanagawa district but in whole Japan.

There will only be a month left to prepare a very short time, which will cease a new breed of freshmen that are very rare to find.

Tryout day in Shohoku…

“I’m Mikada Sachi… 183 cm… 69 kg…. Position shooting guard…” all the newcomers are amazed of these statements of this boy and why not? He is the latest MVP of the Junior High School Tournament. Somewhat like Kogure, wears an eyegland very gentle in speaking.

The introduction of the participants continue until suddenly everybody silenced when this tall guy spoke… “Densen Irumi…190 cm…. 77 kg…. Position….umhhh?….any position I can also play….” The guy look like much of Touro Hanagata of Shoyo. And with these words Ryota answered “quite well… we will need a tall guy like you…. Somehow…”.
Then came the other after one another until everyone is finished and after these Ryota had finally spoken…” I’m Ryota Miyagi, captain of the Shohoku High Basketball Team and I’m glad to here all of these 15 participants who wants to try their luck here.”

“I’m Ayako your manager and this is Haruko myistant, wait Ryota there is another participant who wish to join…” As Ayako and Haruko enters the gym a tall young guy is following them, “I think he lost his way coming here in the Shohoku Gym”.

The guy is somewhat tall, a long hair like of that Kiyota Nobunaga of Kainan and wears an earring made of shiny blue material, eyes were blue and has a dimple on his left cheek. “I’m Nokoda Ryo from Tomioka High, 194 cm… 80 kg…. Plays the position of a small forward…”, “pleasing to what ive heard…OK you can join the line…”.

Ryota, Haruko and Ayako talked in the corner to plan what will be the test for the anticipating new comers. After some minutes they have decided.

“OK, as of for the first part the long run will judged the fittest, you will have to encircled the court 100 times” shock struck the participants.

The try out goes on after these and that until the final rights of the try out was announced it was a one game against Ryota and Mitsui, and as these words are said Mitsui just came into the Room in full attire as if he was going again in inter-high. “Hi?!?!? I’m Hisashi Mitsui the greatest 3-point shooter in Japan. I was asked a favor a moment ago by Haruko and told me that these came from Ryota, I’ll challenge all of you!” The students were very glad to see Mitsui face to face but also they feel very nervous on what will be the grouping.

The group was divided and finally 8 teams were formed. The only rule on this two on two was to be the first to score 7 points. Mitsui and Ryota, Mitsui scoring the most, easily won the first three games. The 4th game was against Densen Irumi and other participant that is in the same height as Ryota. Mitsui looked upon Densen and told himself “This isn’t gonna be like the others, he’s a new face for me!”

---To be continued