Chapter 11: The New Officials

When Kudo, accompanied by Takamoto, entered the gym, the players of the Shoyo team were already engaged in their usual practice.

Seeing this, Takamoto raised his voice and called out, "Everyone, stop practicing for now and gather over here!"

Hearing the assistant coach's shout, Captain Nobukane Nakamura echoed the command, rallying his teammates to assemble in front of Kudo and Takamoto.

The players quickly noticed the young man standing beside Takamoto. It was clear to everyone that this was the subject of recent rumors—their team's new coach, Shinichi Kudo.

Facing the assembled team, Takamoto introduced Kudo. "I think many of you have already heard the news. That's right! This is your new coach—Coach Shinichi Kudo!" He gestured toward Kudo, who stepped forward.

Kudo greeted the team with a warm smile. "Hello, everyone! I'm Shinichi Kudo, the new coach of the Shoyo Basketball Team. I'm thrilled to be here and look forward to working with all of you to achieve better results and create a new chapter in Shoyo's history!"

After Kudo finished speaking, Takamoto led the applause, and the players followed suit.

"Coach Kudo is a main player of our national team and, this year, served as both captain and coach of the Fukasawa University basketball team, leading them to second place in the university league. His skills and leadership are undeniable, and the school has brought him here to help us reach the national tournament. So, everyone, give him your full support! Understood?" Takamoto concluded with a firm tone.

"Understood!" the team responded in unison.

Satisfied with their response, Takamoto continued, "Alright, since this is Coach Kudo's first day with us, he's not yet familiar with all of you. Let's take this opportunity to introduce yourselves. Nakamura, as the captain, you go first."

Nakamura stepped forward and introduced himself. "Nobukane Nakamura, second year, captain of the basketball team, playing small forward. Height: 188 cm, weight: 77 kg."

Next, Oshima Sakiyama eagerly spoke up. "I'm the team's co-captain and starting center. Also a sophomore. Height: 194 cm, weight: 86 kg."

The introductions continued:

"Gen Kakuta, starting power forward, can also play center. Sophomore. Height: 189 cm, weight: 79 kg."

"Saionji Takibe, starting point guard. First year. Height: 180 cm, weight: 72 kg."

"Hiromoto Ikeda, also a first year, currently one of the team's starting point guards. Height: 182 cm, weight: 68 kg."

"Tomoki Sawamura, point guard, second year. Height: 175 cm, weight: 63 kg."

"Tatsuya Hosokawa, second year, guard. Height: 179 cm, weight: 65 kg."

"Tomohide Sakagami, second year, forward. Height: 184 cm, weight: 75 kg."

"Taiji Aihara, first year, forward. Height: 186 cm, weight: 78 kg."

"Masa Mizuhara, first year, defender. Height: 169 cm, weight: 60 kg."

The remaining players followed suit, introducing themselves one by one.

After the introductions, Takamoto turned to Kudo. "Well, everyone's been introduced. I'll leave you to it, Kudo-kun. If you need anything, don't hesitate to call me."

Kudo nodded. "Thank you, Takamoto-san. I'll be sure to reach out if anything comes up."

With that, Takamoto left the gym, leaving Kudo alone with the team.

Kudo addressed the team. "Today is my first day coaching you, and although I watched your match against Musashi, I still don't know much about your abilities. So, let's start with a warm-up to get your bodies moving. After that, we'll play a practice match. Nakamura, you'll organize the teams to ensure everyone gets enough playing time. I want to see what you're capable of—this is important for your future roles on the team."

The players perked up at Kudo's words, eager to impress their new coach. They began their warm-ups with renewed energy, determined to showcase their skills.

Ten minutes later, Nakamura divided the players into two balanced teams, and the practice match began.

The match revealed the strengths and weaknesses of the Shoyo team. The standout performers were Captain Nakamura and Vice-Captain Oshima. Nakamura demonstrated strong physicality, excellent driving ability, and a reliable three-point shot. Oshima dominated the paint with his height and strength, though his defense and offensive versatility needed improvement. His free-throw shooting was particularly weak, making only two out of four attempts.

The other starters also showed promise:

Gen Kakuta (Power Forward): While not a strong scorer, Kakuta excelled defensively and was the team's best interior defender. He also had a knack for grabbing rebounds.

Saionji Takibe (Point Guard): Fast and agile, Takibe was a decent driver but lacked a three-point shot. His passing was solid, a testament to Coach Otake's emphasis on teamwork.

Hiromoto Ikeda (Point Guard): Ikeda was a sharpshooter from beyond the arc but struggled with physicality and driving. His overall skills were average.

The substitutes, such as Tomoki Sawamura and Tomohide Sakagami, were well-rounded but lacked standout abilities. Tatsuya Hosokawa was a defensive specialist with limited offensive contributions, while Taiji Aihara and Masa Mizuhara showed potential but needed further development. The rest of the players were still raw, requiring more training to become reliable role players.

After the match, the players gathered in front of Kudo, awaiting his feedback. Kudo addressed them calmly. "I've gotten a good sense of your abilities today. You've all worked hard, so take a 15-minute break. After that, we'll continue with your regular training."

The players exchanged puzzled glances. They had expected a detailed analysis or a motivational speech, but Kudo's response was brief and to the point.

Seeing their confusion, Kudo added, "Do you all understand?"

"Understood!" the team replied.

With that, Kudo found a seat and sat down, observing the players as they rested and discussed the day's events.

Fifteen minutes later, the team resumed their training as usual. Kudo remained seated, quietly observing their movements and interactions without intervening.

And so, the Shoyo Basketball Team concluded their first day under the guidance of Shinichi Kudo