Slam Dunk:Starting with perfect copy

After receiving Kenichi Uesugi's brilliant pass, Ryoji Ikegami executed a smooth jump shot, scoring the first points for Ryonan in the second half. The basket shattered Shohoku's dream of closing the gap quickly.

"Oh my God! What kind of monster is he?" gasped a Shohoku player. "Rukawa and Sakuragi defended perfectly, yet he still made that pass!"

On Shohoku's bench, Ayako stared at the court in disbelief, struggling to process what had just happened. In contrast, Coach Anzai appeared calm, his eyes reflecting admiration rather than frustration.

He knew Shohoku had little chance of winning. Placing both Rukawa and Sakuragi on Uesugi was a final gamble. Even if it had worked, victory was uncertain. Now, with that strategy thwarted, the outcome of the game seemed inevitable.

What truly intrigued Coach Anzai wasn't the loss but the boundless potential of the young genius on Ryonan's team. He realized he was witnessing a talent destined to shape the future of Japanese basketball.

Under the rallying cries of Akagi and Kogure, Shohoku's players fought desperately. But Ryonan, led by the formidable trio of Uesugi, Sendoh, and Uozumi, maintained relentless pressure.

Their scoring streak crushed Shohoku's dwindling hopes. The scoreboard reflected the widening gap: 77–36.

Disheartened, Shohoku's players began to lose their drive. Sensing the futility, Coach Anzai stood up and substituted the starters with first-year bench players like Sasaoka Tomo. Shohoku had officially conceded the match.

Ryonan's coach, Shigeichi Tanaka, soon followed suit, benching his starters. The game ended with an emphatic

scoreline: Ryonan 89, Shohoku 52.

After the match, Coach Anzai led Shohoku's players to bid farewell to Ryonan. When he approached Kenichi Uesugi, his curiosity got the better of him.

"Kenichi," he asked, "when did you start playing basketball?"

"Probably in my second year of junior high," Uesugi replied earnestly.

The Shohoku players were stunned. Two years of experience had turned him into a prodigy on par with their best players. It was almost unbelievable.

Yayoi Aida, the journalist from Basketball Weekly, overheard the conversation and felt her pulse quicken. A talent of this caliber in Kanagawa? This was headline material!

Amid the buzz, only Coach Anzai remained unsurprised. For him, Uesugi's rapid growth was a testament to his extraordinary talent.

However, Sakuragi's indomitable spirit shone through as he declared, "I've only been playing basketball for less than a month. Give me two years, and I'll be better than you!"

His bold claim shocked Ryonan. It wasn't the boast itself, but the fact that Sakuragi, with just a month of experience, had performed admirably against seasoned players.

Shohoku had two extraordinary freshmen this year.

Coach Tanaka realized why Anzai had dared to schedule this practice match. Shohoku was stronger than he had anticipated. Without Uesugi's brilliance, the game's outcome might have been different.

As the teams parted ways, Coach Anzai quietly pulled Tanaka aside.

"Kenichi is extraordinarily talented," Anzai said. "But he's still a freshman. His body isn't ready to sustain the demands of his talent. Be cautious in how you train him. Don't overextend his potential. In the future, he could be the face of Japanese basketball."

Tanaka was taken aback by Anzai's high praise. It made him reflect on whether he'd underestimated Uesugi's abilities.

Expressing his gratitude, Tanaka promised to guide Uesugi's development carefully.

Later, Tanaka addressed Ryonan's players. He commended Uesugi's performance but criticized the starters for allowing Shohoku to close the gap early in the game. After a stern lecture, he sent the team back to training, with special focus on Uesugi's physical conditioning.

Despite his stellar performance, Uesugi found himself facing increased training demands. He reluctantly accepted it, understanding that his coach had his best interests in mind.

The next day, Basketball Weekly hit the stands with a bold headline:

"A Super Genius Emerges at Ryonan High School – Aiming for Nationals!"

The article detailed Uesugi's dominance over Shohoku's star rookie, Kaede Rukawa, and praised him as a player even more formidable than Sendoh. It called him a "basketball god," leaving even Uesugi himself blushing at the exaggerated praise.

The story spread rapidly across Kanagawa. Fans from rival schools were eager to see the prodigy in action. Uesugi's name was on everyone's lips, and Ryonan was now viewed as a major contender for the national title.

For Kenichi Uesugi, this was just the beginning.