Slam Dunk is not just about basketball (as its title obviously implies). It is also a funny and inspiring look into the development of a character, as he learns and matures through adolescence. This is the story of Hanamichi Sakuragi, a freshman high school student in Shohoku High, who has the dubious honor of having been rejected by fifty (that's 50!) girls he courted in his junior high years. Hanamichi, being a proud one, hated having such a dismal "batting average" with girls. His last rejection was from a girl who chose a basketball player over him. So, any mention (or even hint) of the word "basketball" from his classmates gets them a lump on the head courtesy of a Hanamichi head-butt!

Thus Hanamichi wallows in despair... until he bumps into Haruko, who notices Hanamichi's height and athletic build and innocently asks, "Do you like basketball?" Hanamichi is instantly smitten by Haruko's beauty and confidently answers, "Of course I do!" when the reality of it is he has never even held a basketball in his entire life!

So like any other lovestruck boy, Hanamichi goes about proving his love for basketball in order to impress Haruko. But it is easier said than done, as he encounters many obstacles, primarily another freshman named Rukawa Kaede. Rukawa was a basketball MVP player in his junior high years and a strong contender for Rookie of the Year in their district, and he is the one who Haruko admires! Likewise, things don't go easy in the basketball club when he decides to join and show off after inadvertently butting horns with the club leader and Shohoku High basketball team captain Akagi, who just happens to be Haruko's older brother!

But for Haruko's love Hanamichi will endure anything, and thus begins his trials of learning basketball from the ground up and getting along with his teammates in the basketball club, and eventually the Shohoku High team, which include both Rukawa and Akagi!

MY TOP 5 CHARACTER DESCRIPTION(SHOHOKU)

Name	Sakuragi Hanamichi
Number	10
Height (cm)	188
Weight (kg)	83
Grade	1
Class	7
Birthday	04/01
Junior High	Wakou
Shoe Brand	Nike - Air Jordan
Position	Power Forward
Nickname	tensai, idiot, rebund king, red hair monkey
Most Notable Saying	"I AM A TENSAI!"
Appearance	Red Hair, Tall
Personality	very open
Additional Info	Sakuragi Hanamichi is the star of the show! By calling himself a Tensai (genius), Sakuragi Hanamichi gains great confidence and always manages to perform the impossible moves in a basketball game. While making all these terrific contributions to his team, Hanamichi also messes up on 90% of the simple passes and throws. His unpredicable performance on games and cheerful personality will one day make him the support of the entire Shohoku team (a major Rukawa Kaede competitor as w

Name	Rukawa Kaede
Number	11
Height (cm)	187
Weight (kg)	72
Grade	1
Class	10
Birthday	01/01
Junior High	Tomigaoka
Shoe Brand	Nike - Air Jordan
Position	Small Forward
Nickname	fox, super rookie
Most Notable Saying	"idiot"
Appearance	popular among girls
Personality	cool
Additional Info	Rukawa Kaede plays the official rival character for Sakuragi Hanamichi through out the whole series. Whether from appearance or raw skill, Rukawa's definitely the perfect idol to look up to (extra info: the fan club for Rukawa consists of three females who attend nearly every game Rukawa's in). Although he's very ignorant of his surroundings and seems to stand alone from the rest of the team members on numerous occasions, Rukawa becomes the ideal player many seek to be. Additional info: Rukawa wants to go to America to play basketball. But Anzai coach does not agree on the idea and suggested Rukawa to train harder in Japan and become the #1 basketball player in Japan first !

	Akagi Takenori
Number	4
Height (cm)	197
Weight (kg)	90
Grade	3
Class	6
Birthday	05/10
Junior High	Kitamura
Shoe Brand	Converse
Position	Center
Nickname	gorilla
Most Notable Saying	"We are strong, we will lead the nationals!"
Appearance	gorilla like
Personality	strong
Additional Info	Akagi Takenori is the tallest player in all Shohoku's team members. Although biased by many fans because of his physical resemblance to a monkey, Akagi is a great team captain. As he leads his interesting team members through out the games, he stands out as the leader of this great team and also a good guide for Sakuragi Hanamichi . Additional Info: Akagi's sister, Haruko, is the one who selected Hanamichi out of the freshmen students and introduced Hanamichi to the sports known as Basketball.

Name	Mitsui Hisashi
Number	14
Height (cm)	184
Weight (kg)	70
Grade	3
Class	3
Birthday	05/22
Junior High
Shoe Brand	Asics
Position	Shooting Guard
Nickname	mit-chin
Most Notable Saying	"I want to play basketball" - to Anzai Sensei
Appearance
Personality	cool, mature
Additional Info	Mitsui Hisashi carries a very complicated life. Once a great basket ball player, Mitsui Hisashi abandoned the hobby for two years. While wandering near the edge of life everyday as a famous school gangster, Mitsui lost much of his sharp skills and physical abilities. As a senior in high school, Mitsui once again joins Shohoku's basketball team and reunited with basketball. As time goes on, Mitsui Hisashi will gradually regain his unique talent in the sport and become the star he used to be. Additional info: He was the key player in Shohoku's game against Shoyo. We will feel Mitsui's his struggle and determination to win reflected from his consecutive 3 pointer shoots!

Name	Ryota Miyagi
Number	7
Height (cm)	168
Weight (kg)	59
Grade	2
Class	1
Birthday	07/31
Junior High
Shoe Brand	Converse
Position	Point Guard
Nickname
Most Notable Saying	"Aya-chan!"
Appearance	not tall compared to team member but very speedy
Personality	cool,social
Additional Info	Other than his height, Miyagi Ryota is excellent in nearly all other areas. Well known for his fighting abilities, Miyagi is a terrific baskeball player and is also willing to support his team members. The guy is a close friend of all the other members and is looking forward to his future position as Shohoku's basketball team captain. Additional Info: Aya's chan! Shohoku's team manager is the primary motivation for Miyagi's to become the #1 point guard in the region! Yes, he loves Ayako.

EPISODE SUMMARY

Episode	Title
1	The Birth of a Genius Basketman?
2	The Hell with Basketball! Hanamichi vs Rukawa
3	Gorilla vs Hanamichi! Final Confrontation
4	Basketman Hanamichi Gets in!
5	Unspirited Afternoon
6	Rukawa vs Akagi, Real Confrontation!
7	Hanamichi's Debut! Dunk Explosion
8	Hanamichi's in a Pinch! The Judo Guy's Trick
9	I Will Play Basketball!
10	It's Hard to Shoot around Others
11	Love's Secret Rules Just for Couples
12	Beat Ryonan! Tough Rules the Night before the Game
13	Shohoku vs. Ryonan, Blazing Captains!
14	Super High School Level! Ryonan's Fierce Attack
15	Hanamichi Kincho no Hare Butai!
16	What's With Him!? Taoka's Error
17	Rebound King, Sakuragi Hanamichi's Agony
18	Last 2 Minutes! I Will Beat Sendoh
19	Time's Up! The Game with Ryonan Is Settled
20	Basketball Shoes Part I
21	Super Problems! Hanamichi vs. Miyagi
22	The Fool with the Worst Record, A Combination is Born
23	Shohoku Basketball Team's Last Day
24	The Allies of Justice, Sakuragi's Army Visits
25	The Guy Who Wanted to Conquer the World
26	Mitsui's Peak, Trouble at 15
27	I Want to Play Basketball!
28	The Beginning of Interhigh Preliminaries
29	Hanamichi! Pennant Race Debut
30	The Introspective Army's Big Counterattack
31	Formidable Enemy Miuradai's Secret Weapon
32	Genius Hanamichi! Certain Death Dunk
33	Foul Out King!? Sakuragi's Righteousness
34	Gorilla's Initiation, Kill with Your Eyes!
35	Hot Blooded Guys
36	A Well Seeded School, Enter Shoyo
37	Hanamichi, Hatsu Sutamen!
38	Rukawa's Counterattack!
39	Lightning Flash Ryota!
40	Tensai Hanamichi shows off!
41	Shoyo Coach Enters the Court
42	Shoyo Ace Fujima's Real Ability
43	Has Mitsui Reached His Limit!?
44	Mitsui! Stormy 3 Points
45	Imminent Walkout!? Hanamichi's Pinch
46	Hanamich, Hot Dunk
47	Challenge from a Rival
48	The Guy Who Pledged to Defeat Kainan
49	Takezono, Last Fight
50	Challenge to the King
51	Outside Accounts!? Hanamichi at His Best!
52	Sakuragi's Confinement's Secret Weapon
53	The Gorilla's Injury! Desperate Situation!?
54	King Kong, Younger Brother
55	The Guy Who Dominates the Game
56	Ace Shepherd, Full Throttle
57	Anzai, Bet on Victory!
58	Stubborn Guys!
59	Last 10 Seconds! A Perfect Conclusion
60	To relieve guilt: Shave Head ?!
61	Baldy attacks back!
62	Three-day super training
63	Ryonan's genius plan
64	Kainan rebounds!
65	The strongest rival
66	Sendoh's scheme
67	The final battle!
68	Sakuragi Hanamichi comes to rescue!
69	Gorilla goes astray
70	King Kong number two!
71	Gorilla revives!
72	The greatest shame of one's life
73	Rukawa Kaede, gambling on the 2nd half
74	The most dangerous challenger!
75	Peak performance
76	The feeling of victory
77	You guys are strong!
78	Uozumi Revives
79	Blue waves - Ryonan attacks back!
80	Shohoku's problems
81	Sendoh attacks! Shohoku loses
82	Amateur Sakuragi Hanamichi shows off!
83	Kogure's determination
84	Win or Lose
85	New Challenge: the national championship!
86	Rukawa Kaede's Ambition
87	Japan's number basketball player
88	The basketball kingdom - United States of America
89	Rukawa Kaede's spirit
90	Shohoku's real ace
91	The sudden barrier to the nationals
92	Guys - Sakuragi Gang
93	Going toward 20000 shoots
94	Shohoku vs. Jousei
95	The day when Sakuragi's fired up!
96	Basketball Shoes Part II
97	Mixed Feelings, Uozumi returns
98	Shohoku vs. Shoyo/Ryonan
99	Facing the strongest team, Shohoku in danger!
100	The one who brought forth a miracle - Sakuragi!
101	SLAM DUNK!