The best-selling series from Eisner-nominated Takehiko Inoue, one of Japan's greatest manga creators. Winning isn't everything in the game of basketball, but who wants to come in second? It takes dedication and discipline to be the best, and the Shohoku High hoops team wants to be just that. They have one last year to make their captain's dream of reaching the finals come true--will they do it? The fists continue to fly as Hanamichi and Ryota refuse to back down from their full-court rumble with a group of angry thugs. Luckily, the fight comes to an abrupt halt when Kogure--one of the more sensible members of the Shohoku squad--begins reminiscing about one of the combatants. He may be a punk now, but a little while ago, Hisashi Mitsui was a star player with almost limitless potential. Though a nasty injury cut his ambitions short, is Mitsui truly ready to give up on basketball forever?