How do you evaluate the role of Mitou Youhei in Slam Dunk?

In Slam Dunk, Mitou Youhei's popularity outweighs his strength. Strangely, as a basketball-oriented animation, Mitou Youhei can only be regarded as Sakuragi's "Cheerleading Team" at best, but in only two official popularity polls, both of them firmly occupied the top five. So it is necessary to have a good evaluation of Mitou Youhei:

As Sakuragi's best friend, Mitou Youhei is very different from other members of Sakuragi Corps. I remember once, Mitsui took a bad legion to the basketball court to make trouble. When the Sakuragi Corps came out, when the bad corps introduced them here, there was a classic saying-"Hanamichi Sakuragi, Mitou Youhei, others". It can be seen that Mitou Youhei still has some status in the Jianghu.

What impressed me most about Mitou Youhei was his extreme calmness and loyalty. It's also an incident that Mitsui made a scene in the gymnasium. Finally, Mitsui prodigal son came back, but he was inevitably punished with the basketball team. However, at the critical moment, Mitou Youhei replaced another with one body double, and stopped Denan and himself. This incident directly reflects his calmness and loyalty.

Slam dunk master, as a youth animation, teenagers always have dreams and pursuits, but not everyone can find their dreams in the most beautiful youth like Sakuragi and basketball team members. It should be said that slam dunk is realistic. In reality, many of us are confused and can't find our dreams. Just like Mitou Youhei and Sakuragi Corps. They didn't know what they wanted to do, but when their brother Sakuragi found the target, they fully supported him. Although he sometimes has a joking mentality, it is only a daily joke, and there is no malice. In every game of Sakuragi, they will cheer; Sakuragi was specially trained and they accompanied him; Sakuragi is going to play a national competition. They work to raise money and then go to the stadium to support it. It is a great blessing to have such friends and brothers. Therefore, Mitou Youhei is not only a loyal good partner, but also a true friend worthy of heart-to-heart.