Who are Shohoku's starting five?

Shohoku's starting five is as fixed as a real team's. At center, captain Takenori Akagi, the Gorilla, a true big man built on defense and rebounding. At small forward, Kaede Rukawa, the freshman ace and Sakuragi's rival, an isolation scorer modeled on the era's NBA wings. At shooting guard, Hisashi Mitsui, a former junior high MVP who lost two years to injury and delinquency and returned as a three-point specialist. At point guard, Ryota Miyagi, undersized and the fastest player in the series. At power forward, Hanamichi Sakuragi, a total beginner whose rebounding and athleticism hold the lineup together.

The sixth man is Kiminobu Kogure, the vice captain, whose modest game and steady character make him the roster's conscience. Coach Mitsuyoshi Anzai, a former national team player turned gentle strategist, directs them, and manager Ayako runs the practices that structure the early volumes.

The lineup matters to collectors because the 2018 shinsoban grouped its first six volumes as the Team Shohoku block, one cover per core player, turning the roster into the edition's organizing image.