Haikyuu! is one of the most popular sports anime of all time. It’s full of talented volleyball players, some stronger than others. While some of the moves featured in the anime aren’t as flashy or overpowered as others, certain characters definitely distinguish themselves as the best players in the series.
Every team in the series has its own strengths and weaknesses, but these players stand out from even the most average teams. Certain players in the series have gained reputations for being formidable opponents, so those who play against them in tournaments enter games with extreme anticipation and possible fear.
10 Takanobu Aone
Date Tech is notorious for its strong defense, aptly titled the “Iron Wall.” When Karasuno had to play against Date Tech, most of the members feared the Iron Wall. Takanobu Aone does plenty to keep the wall standing. Though he doesn’t have many other skills, his defensive power is hard to beat.
Takanobu Aone relies on read blocking and uses his height as an advantage against his opponents. Aone stands at approximately 6’4, and his jumping reach is 335 centimeters, giving him the upper hand on defense.
9 Atsumu Miya
Atsumu Miya plays for Inarizaki. He’s recognized as Japan’s best high school setter and server. He’s often called a “Dual Wielder” because of the strength in his jump floaters and spike serves.
Because he’s so skilled with both, his opponents find him a burden because they don’t know which one he’ll perform until the very last second. Additionally, Atsumu’s tosses are easy for the spikers to receive because he tailors them for each of their needs. After the time skip, Atsumu’s performance on MSBY proves his skills will only grow stronger.
8 Kotaro Bokuto
Bokuto acts as Fukurodani Academy’s ace, wing spiker, and captain all at once. He’s skilled at spiking the ball in several trajectories, and he’s an expert at maneuvering the ball.
He’s considered one of Japan’s best five aces, and he would have cracked the top three if it weren’t for Ushijima’s strength. Not only is Bokuto good on offense, but he’s also a monster on defense. Bokuto’s strengths only grew when he began playing for the MSBY Black Jackals following the time skip.
7 Tetsurou Kuroo
Tetsurou plays for Nekoma High. He’s the team’s captain and has proven himself a strong middle blocker. He’s gone head-to-head against some of the best aces in Japan, one of which was Bokuto.
Bokuto’s spikes are notoriously powerful, but Tetsurou can stop them like it’s nothing. He’s also a master of read blocking and taking advantage of personal time differences in jumping, making him a nuisance for his opponents. While he primarily plays as a middle blocker, realistically, Tetsurou could play any position with ease.
6 Korai Hoshiumi
Despite his small stature, Hoshiumi has proven himself an absolute monster on the court. He serves as Kamomedai High’s ace. Hoshiumi is undeniably one of the strongest players in the entire series. Ultimately, he’s the most likely candidate to take the place of The Little Giant.
When he jumps, he literally flies off the ground. Hoshiumi can deliver wicked jump serves with pinpoint accuracy and is often acknowledged as a service ace. Additionally, Hoshiumi proves that he’s a reliable ace with his blocking, spiking, and ability to deliver unexpected feints.
5 Shoyo Hinata
Despite only being 5’4, Shoyo Hinata has won the respect of some of his strongest opponents with his sheer dedication and ability to jump to wicked heights. Shoyo seemingly never runs out of stamina, and he can move faster than most of his opponents can process.
Shoyo can jump about 50 inches in the air, including diagonal jumps when he needs to avoid blockers. He may be small, but Shoyo can certainly jump. Additionally, he’s so flashy and unpredictable that he won the “Ultimate Decoy” title since opponents end up directing all of their attention to Shoyo.
4 Kiyoomi Sakusa
Kiyoomi serves as the Itachiyama Academy’s ace, and he’s recognized as one of Japan’s top three aces. Sakusa’s specialty is spiking, and he’s proven that his ballhandling skills are unlike any other player in the series.
Kiyoomi’s wrists are extraordinarily flexible, so he can maneuver the ball from any angle with precise “snaps” to make the ball spin in ways his opponents could never hope to receive. Kiyoomi’s playstyle is analytical and somewhat isolationist, but since he’s one of Japan’s best aces, it’s probably best not to question his thought process.
3 Tooru Oikawa
As the captain and setter for Aoba Johsai High School, Tooru Oikawa has proven himself a talented player. Nobody can deny Oikawa’s talents despite how much he annoys his teammates — especially Iwaizumi. Earning the title of “Great King” from Shoyo Hinata, Oikawa’s setting precision is only beaten by one other setter in the show.
Additionally, Oikawa has an uncanny knack for bringing out all of his team’s potential. Whether it’s his own team or players he’s otherwise unfamiliar with, Oikawa can sense their potential and find subtle ways to draw it out.
2 Wakatoshi Ushijima
Wakatoshi Ushijima played for Shiratorizawa Academy before graduating high school. He was recognized as one of Japan’s top-three aces and got plenty of recognition in high school as a possible contender for the national team.
Ushijima is an all-rounder, but his spikes draw the most attention. Unlike other spikers, Ushijima is left-handed. This specific element gives the ball a different spin when he hits it than right-handed players. Since most liberos and other defensive players are most used to receiving right-handed spikes, receiving Ushijima’s often throws them off-guard. Combined with his objective power, Ushijima is a menace on the court.
1 Tobio Kageyama
Even in his middle school days, Tobio garnered plenty of attention for his skills as a setter. Unfortunately, he also got a lot of negative attention because of his arrogance and tyrannical behavior towards his teammates, earning him the nickname “The King Of The Court.”
Luckily, Tobio managed to reclaim this derogatory name and redefined it as something positive. Tobio should be applauded for his quick analytical skills and pinpoint accuracy. If it weren’t for these two variables, his Freak-Quick duo with Shoyo wouldn’t exist.
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