Birthday: January 1
Height: 187 cm (6 ft 2 in)
Weight: 75 kg (165 lb)
Hobbies: Sleeping
Shoe Brand: Nike - Air Jordan
Jersey Number: 11
Position: Small Forward (SF)
High School: Shohoku High School (Freshman)
Grade: 10
Class: 1
Junior High School: Tomigaoka Junior High
Kaede Rukawa is Hanamichi Sakuragi's rival and almost his complete opposite. He attracts girls, excels at basketball, and remains cold and unfeeling. The only similarities they share are their lack of academic inclination and prowess in fighting. Rukawa views Sakuragi as foolish, and they frequently clash. However, he recognizes Sakuragi's potential but is frustrated by his immaturity. His hobby is sleeping, often seen asleep when not playing basketball, even managing to ride his bike while asleep, though this usually results in collisions. Waking Rukawa from a nap is considered unforgivable, as he tends to retaliate violently. He has been involved in numerous off-court fights but can hold his own. Rukawa aims to be the best high school player in Japan and considers Sendoh of Ryonan his greatest rival. He is often nicknamed the "super-rookie" and the "ace of Shohoku."
Rukawa is exceptionally skilled at basketball, combining height, athleticism, and a strong desire to win. Despite being just a first-year student, he is the undisputed ace of Shohoku's team. In the Kanagawa Interhigh Tournament, he was named one of the top five players, the only freshman to receive such an honor. He has single-handedly turned the tide in many games, such as scoring 15 consecutive points for Shohoku in just over two minutes against Kainan. However, his style has been criticized as too individualistic, leading to conflicts with teammates. This was part of the reason Coach Anzai refused to bless Rukawa's plan to go to the USA, advising him to become the best in Japan first. After being outplayed by Sawakita during a match against Sannoh Technical, Rukawa realized that to defeat Sendoh, he needed to change his approach and start passing the ball. It was his pass that led to Hanamichi's game-winning shot. Rukawa is subsequently selected for the All-Japan basketball team.
