sh**ting Stars (2023)

[bunniefuu]

Let's make somethin' together.

It's the king.

The king, the king,

the king, the king.

Oh, jump sh*t. Go on.

He's heating up.

Watch out, Sian. Move.

He's on fire.

Oh, you're on a game?

I got next.

Too late, Dru.

I already called it.

You couldn't grab us no cereal?

Do I look like your maid?

Nah. One of you farted.

Pause the game, LeBron.

I will, right after I...

Slam dunk.

Yo!

- Yo!

Oh, my bad.

It's not even funny.

That's funny.

Boys...

What...?

- Sup, Coach.

Sup, Coach. -DRU: Hi, Dad.

- Sup, Coach.

Hey, Coach. -Y'all get ready for the game.

I want to get to Salvation Army early.

And clean this mess up.

Yes, sir.

- Yes, sir.

Hurry up.

- Yes, sir. -Yes, sir.

Right there.

Nah, for real.

One of y'all stink.

Y'all gotta get that checked out.

Yo, no.

It was Lil Dru.

I think it was Lil Dru.

Don't point at me now.

- Nah, it was Dru.

Whoo!

That's all right, Sian.

Go get back.

Back in there.

Three-pointer, three-pointer,

take the three-pointer.

Yeah.

Take the open sh*t.

Yeah, boy.

- That's how you do it.

Yeah. Yeah.

I love what I see out there.

I love it, a lot of chemistry

between the team.

I like what I'm seeing.

We were losing this game,

now we're winning this game, right?

Remember, it's not how

you start the game...

It's how you finish the game.

All right,

guys, let's go.

One, two, three.

sh**ting Stars!

Let's go, sh**ting Stars!

Let's go,

sh**ting Stars!

Let's go, sh**ting Stars!

Let's go,

sh**ting Stars!

Hell yeah.

When I make it to the league.

I'ma have a big ass pool in the back...

...and I'ma swim in that bitch every day,

sucker!

Sorry, Mama.

When I make it to the league.

I'ma put an arcade in my joint.

Huge 40-inch big-screen and everything.

That's gonna be tight.

We can all build cribs next to each other,

build tunnels under 'em

so we can hang out,

like, all the time.

- Why will we need tunnels...

...if you live right next door, fool.

You know, like the Batcave.

Oh, snap.

We should put a big ass basketball court...

...down there, too.

What'd we do now?

I don't know what it is...

...but y'all are gonna do something

special together.

Mm, that's right.

You know what? Y'all remind me

of a song I need to play,

something for y'all to think about.

No. No,

no. -This is a beautiful song.

Oh, you know what song we should do?

What's that song? By Biggie?

- Oh, yeah.

We should play Biggie.

There's no Biggie.

Your dad's musical taste is trash.

But when I make it to the league.

I'ma get a bunch of records...

...and I'm also gonna get a tattoo.

That'd be phat.

Don't worry, Sian,

you already fat.

Besides, tattoos are stupid.

We need to hurry before Ma get back.

Can't rush art, brother.

Heard y'all finna start high school.

Yeah. Can't wait. Buchtel.

Yeah. I went there.

Slept through most of my classes though,

but game night?

It was on.

Squad get all the hoes.

For real?

- Oh, yeah.

Sit still, dumbass,

fore this lion end up cross-eyed.

Oh, sh*t. Let's wrap this up

later, big dawg. -All right.

Tat?

I know you ain't puttin'

no prison ink on my son.

I'm sorry, we-we was just...

- I swear to God. Tat!

I told you about this.

Bron, get back here.

Tat!

Boy.

Gotta come home some time

and that belt gonna be waitin'!

Come on, Mama.

What's good, y'all?

- Oh, what's good, bro?

Bro, what are you doing?

That's only gonna make your arms longer.

Yo, I grew a half inch just this month,

so kiss my ass.

Whoo.

Yo, is that a tattoo?

Yeah, check it out.

What is it? -Damn.

- Is that a cow?

It's a lion. He ain't done yet.

Cause it look like a cow.

What the hell would I get a cow for?

Hey, where y'all goin'?

Heading over to Buchtel.

- Yeah, y'all should come.

Ain't nobody tryin' to go

to school in the summer, Dad.

Well, it's about to be all y'all's school,

and if anybody'd benefit from

meeting Coach Sams, it's you.

Boy, what...?

What... what is that?

A cow?

I told you, I told you.

- Yeah. -Come on.

That is definitely a cow.

Yeah, I'd cover that up with something.

Tell me that ain't Sian.

Man, that fool don't look nothin' like me.

Oh, sh*t.

Yo, he got them chubby cheeks

and everything.

Dang.

Relax.

Whoa.

- Whoa.

Dang.

- It's huge.

Hey.

- Yo.

That scoreboard.

Boys like what you see?

Yes, sir.

- Yes, sir.

That's what I want to hear.

1930s,

white folks moved to Akron...

...just so their kids could attend Buchtel.

They called it the Pearl of Ohio.

Everything was white and pristine.

You believe that?

But now we here.

Academic excellence...

...and we still got one helluva

basketball program.

And that's why we value all the talent...

...you boys are gonna bring to this school.

And I'm not just talking about varsity.

We need leaders on JV, too.

Wait, what? JV?

Junior varsity.

- I know what it is.

Don't worry.

We'll put some meat on them bones...

...and in a few years, few inches,

and you gonna be rolling with the big dogs.

All right, bruh.

He goes up for the slam. Bang!

Another one.

Man...

...the hell with Buchtel.

Huh?

I said forget Buchtel.

Place sucks.

Man, why you trippin'?

It was cool.

Yeah, for you. You ain't gotta

worry about your spot.

Plus Coach Sams practically

drooling over Uncle Willie.

Man, that's cause I'm raw.

You over there downloading

raw p*rn on his computer.

If I wanted p*rn

I'd just ask your mama

to mail me some more pictures.

Yo, that's not cool, bro.

She just cooked us dinner last week.

Yo, yo, yo, yeah, whoa.

Y'all hearing me?

Buchtel ain't gonna play me.

He ain't say that.

- Yes, he did.

The man ain't never seen me ball.

That's some bullshit.

Come on, man,

it ain't even that serious.

What's more serious...

...than Buchtel trying

to break up the Fab Four?

We supposed to play together.

Maybe if you stopped

wildin' out on your pops,

he'll talk to Coach Sams for you.

My pops?

Can't you see they was

both conspiring against me?

They shook hands right in front of me.

Look, if we want to play together.

Buchtel's the only school in our district.

What other choice we got?

And we'll still be

on the same team. -Mm-hmm.

Only thing is you'll be JV.

You know, ballin' with the other munchkins.

Keith Debrot?

No.

Dambrot.

Who are you?

Dru Joyce.

I just need a second, Coach.

You're on the team here?

- Nah.

Not yet.

But I could be if you're lucky.

Tryouts aren't until October.

Well, are you gonna give me a chance?

No, like a real chance.

For varsity.

Varsity.

What the hell you think you're doing?

I don't have time for this.

I-I just started this job like 45 minutes ago.

Yeah, I know.

I read all about it.

Is that right?

Yeah.

I know what you're thinking.

You're thinking like everyone else:

too short, too small,

not enough meat on my bones, right?

Maybe you go on home

and eat your Wheaties.

Maybe you'll luck

and, uh, have a growth spurt.

But what if I don't?

What if I get old and stay short,

just like you.

Yeah, well, then maybe

it's just not in the cards.

You know what, kid,

why don't you take a hike, huh?

Kind of like how coaching college...

...wasn't in the cards for you?

I checked you out.

Head coach, Central Michigan,

'91 to'93?

You were fired, right?

Somethin' you said?

No, well, that wasn't...

I mean, I-I never...

Look, look, it's all good.

I understand.

Sucks when people judge you

before knowin' you, huh?

You played against the Fab Five, right?

Greatest college lineup ever:

Howard, Rose, Webber...

I know who the Fab Five are.

Well...

Me and my boys...

...we call ourselves the Fab Four.

Let's go, sh**ting Stars! -

We been ballin' with each other

since we was, like, ten.

We can win you a state championship.

Guaranteed.

You sure are a cocky

little bastard, aren't you?

Yo.

Man, where you been at?

I was at St. V's.

The Catholic school? For what?

Yeah, there's a new coach over there.

NCAA dude.

He legit.

All right, that's good for them,

but we goin' to Buchtel.

They ain't letting me play

varsity so I ain't going.

But we're supposed to play together.

Y'all didn't seem to mind

that I'm the odd man out.

I ain't wasting away on JV.

I'm better than that and y'all know it.

Yeah, we know,

but Catholic school?

They got scholarships.

If we all stick together,

maybe we could get some.

They got a lot of white folks,

too, in case you forgot.

I ain't runnin' for class

president, I'm goin' to ball.

And you serious?

Dead serious.

You really willing to walk away

from Buchtel?

They got championships, my dawg.

And girls.

I mean, what's St. V's got?

A coach who believes in me.

Bro, we believe in you.

Well, you don't set the roster.

I mean...

...what's St. V's mascot anyway?

The Irish.

So...

...we'd be the Black Irish?

Yo, that's trash.

Nah, man.

Them snow bunnies might be

hittin' though.

Man, y'all know if we do this,

our parents are gonna trip out.

Buchtel was the plan. We agreed.

You said Buchtel was the plan.

Yeah, because it'd make the most sense.

Yeah, so you can get a job there

while Bron, Sian, Willie,

they get to play varsity,

while I'm on JV. Right?

Who cares about me?

- No. No.

It's not about that.

You were the one who said...

...we was gonna do something special.

How we supposed to do that

if we ain't even together?

Let's-let's reason this out.

All of you want to go to St. V's?

We just want to play together, Dad.

Willie's talkin' to Illya.

And-and Bron,

he's talking with his moms.

Dad, Coach Dambrot,

he's a real coach.

His squad played the Fab Five.

Plus he said he'd ask them to enroll us...

...with full scholarships

if we all just say yes.

I'll talk to your mom about it.

All right, bet.

Thanks, Dad.

Come on, bro.

What are you gonna tell Coach Sams?

The truth I guess.

Does it matter?

No.

No matter what you say, we're

gonna be labelled sellouts.

This is a Buchtel town.

We just living in it.

Look at you.

Pose for me one more time.

Come on, pose, Denzel.

Mama, this ain't funny.

Shittin' me it ain't.

Oh, don't be all shy now.

You asked for this.

Go ahead.

Knock 'em dead, baby.

All right, looking good.

Stop.

Oh, my goodness, look at y'all.

Okay, now tell me.

Which one of y'all

is supposed to be Carlton?

Ma, stop.

- Is it you? Is it you?

Is it you?

- Stop, stop.

Man, with your cheatin' ass.

She let you copy off her test?

Don't hate the player,

hate the game.

'Ey. I know this is trials but

that's all just a technicality.

Be the Fab Four.

Show 'em how it's done.

Oh, sh*t.

Black people.

Where y'all been at?

Right over left.

So, how come we never see y'all

in church?

Chapel ain't required for varsity seniors.

Jermaine, team captain.

That's Marlon, Malik, Jake.

And back there is Chris.

- Switch.

Well, um, this Sian,

that's Bron.

Lil Dru, and I'm...

Willie McGee.

One of the best players in the city, right?

Well, in this gym,

you're just another freshman.

Dambrot recruited us.

Dambrot's a burnout.

Y'all know why he landed here, right?

I'm surprised you even came.

Heads up.

Okay.

When I was your age, I...

...well, hated being in high school...

...and now that I'm back,

I hate it even more.

So if I gonna be here,

I'm gonna win.

I don't give a sh*t if you started last year,

or you got a scholarship...

...or if your uncle is Michael Jordan.

If you're weak or lazy,

you ain't makin' the team.

If you're slow,

you ain't makin' the team.

If you suck, you're out.

For everyone left,

the next four hours will tell us

who makes it and who breaks it.

Coop, it's all yours.

Everybody on the line. Let's go.

Let's move. Hustle up.

Three-point line, back.

Half-court line, back.

Three-point line, back.

Baseline, back. Go!

Touch the line, touch the line!

So what if that I'm cheatin'? -Let's go!

Touch it with your fingers!

With your fingers!

Yo, is this tryouts or Fight Club?

Dru, what's up with your boy?

Any of you tired?

Worn out?

Fatigued?

Maybe you're hungry.

If that's the case,

get out of my gym!

Suicides. Again.

Burpees!

Again!

Come on, hustle up!

Again.

You're slacking, team!

All right, gentlemen,

bear crawl.

Bear crawl now and you stand tall later.

Yo, if that was tryouts.

I don't even want to think about

actual practice.

I'd rather quit school and join the Marines...

...then do that sh*t again.

Maybe Buchtel will take us back.

Oh, my God,

listen to y'all, man.

We made the team, right?

So stop trippin'.

The only reason why we here

is 'cause you a midget.

Now we all gotta suffer.

No, we came here 'cause we the Fab Four.

You think them hatin'-ass seniors...

...and coach cuckoo bird give

a sh*t about the Fab Four?

Dude threw a basketball at my head.

What's up, man?

I've been waiting in the car...

...for, like, ten minutes.

Oh, oh, s-sorry, man.

I would ask y'all how it went but...

All right, come on,

I can't be late for work, man.

Come on. We gotta go.

And if any of y'all want a ride,

y'all better come on, too.

Hey, listen.

Let it play out, a'ight?

It's day one.

It'll get better when the season starts.

Yo, this is some bullshit.

What'd you say?

- This is some bullshit.

Grab the ball!

How we benchwarmin' while

Romeo Travis, of all people,

gets to start for Central?

I still owe him an ass whoopin'

for stealin' my J's.

He b*at yo ass. I was there.

Ha.

- He did b*at your ass.

What you lookin' at, munchkin?

Yo, Coach! Yo, Coach, put me in!

I don't think coach heard you, dawg.

Jermaine!

- For the 15th time.

You keep yellin' at him,

he ain't never gonna play us.

They're not very good, huh?

- No.

Hey!

- g*dd*mn it!

Marlon. Marlon, come on in.

Get your soft ass down.

Uh, Willie, you're in the game.

Oh, me?

- Let's go.

Yo, yo, go, go! -Go!

Hey, yo, Unc! Hey, Unc!

Let's go, Unc!

Come on, come on, press it up.

Come on, Willie,

get over it. -Come on, Irish.

He right there, he right there!

Let's go, Willie.

- Pass the ball, pass the ball.

Give him the ball!

Hey, pass him the ball. Pass it.

Come on, man.

- Come on, man.

This some bullshit.

They ain't passing Willie the ball.

He ain't gettin' no love.

- Why you holding onto it?

Shut up, Dru.

Just shut up.

Give it to three-four!

- All right now.

Defense, Willie!

Yo, yo.

- Yeah, Willie.

There he is, yeah.

Ain't no way you ain't makin'

the rotation after tonight.

Just sayin', if they would've

put you in earlier,

we would've won.

You was the only one playin' D.

Man, if we all was out there,

we would've been blew they ass out.

So y'all got something to say?

Nobody was talkin' to you.

If you got a problem with the rotation,

go ahead and take it up with coach.

But that's right.

'Cause he don't want

to hear sh*t you gotta say.

We ain't come to not play.

- But y'all ain't special.

You pay your dues just like we had to,

like everybody.

And if you don't like it,

then quit.

Y'all ain't doin' nothin' else

out there other than losin'.

Hold on, hold on, hold on.

What'd you say?

Oh, you heard me.

Yeah, you deaf?

Want me to say it louder,

Mr. seven points,

five rebounds, four turnovers?

The season hasn't even started yet...

...and I'm already sick of these punks.

Man, what?

- What'd you say?

Hold on. All right,

all right, all right, all right.

So y'all think you're better than us, right?

Duh.

- For sure.

So meet here tomorrow at 4:00...

...and then we'll see what's up.

Man, girls volleyball practice is at 4:00.

How do you know that?

How you not?

I mean,

Bettes Park is always open.

If y'all ain't scared.

Y'all versus the Fab Four.

Oh.

I didn't think you guys

were gonna show up.

Why?

Ain't nobody scared.

Those matchin' shirts is cute.

Well, you gotta earn these, playboy.

Hey, James Podeski.

But, uh, you can call me Jimmy.

Cap said I'm your fifth man?

First to 21?

Let's do it.

We up.

Get up. Hey!

Yeah.

- Set me up, set me up.

Swing, swing, swing. Yep.

Nah, it's mine.

Oh!

Push it!

Oh, get... take that.

- Oh, hey, Willie, Willie,

you got it, you got it.

Oh, my goodness.

- Hey!

What up, Cap?

Willie McGee.

You know I'm about to go left

and dunk this, right?

Watch this, my n*gga...

You are my sons!

- Oh-ho.

Little ass freshman.

Go.

- Get up.

Oh, my God!

Wow, that kid's a freshman.

I've never seen anything like that.

Hey, what should I do?

You're doing it, man.

Keep it up.

Pass the rock. Damn, I'm open.

You don't have sh*t.

Man, they got us down 14-10.

Wake up.

Was that g*nf*re?

So what,

they sh**t' over there.

We sh**t' over here.

Game point.

Yeah.

Yeah, Akron style, man!

- That's what I'm talkin' about.

Yeah, yeah.

Good game, Sian.

- Yeah.

Yo, Coach.

You hungry?

Well, they obviously never get

tired of playing basketball.

What else do they do?

Oh, sometimes they play video games.

Thank you.

- Coach,

basketball video games.

Yeah, that is true.

Well, they show a lot of passion.

Especially Dru.

Yeah, my boy can be a bit of a hothead.

The other boys put him

in check though, you know.

They all kind of balance

each other out like that.

Guess I'm lucky.

What do you mean?

I was just trying to find good kids.

I wasn't trying to make the best

AAU team when they were young.

Willie...

I first saw Willie at a YMCA game.

He was amazing.

He was crossing over kids twice his size.

Both his parents...

...addicts in Chicago.

His big brother Illya took him in...

...and became his legal guardian

at the age of 18.

Saved his little brother's life.

Geez.

Sian... I go to church with

Sian's dad, um, Lee Cotton.

You know, we just wanted Sian

to work off a little bit of...

...a little bit of his baby fat.

I hear you.

My boy, Dru? Dru was born

with basketball in his blood.

I used to read John Wooden's

book to him in his crib.

Now it doesn't hurt that he was so tall,

but I picked LeBron because he had skills...

...and was a-a good kid.

His mom, she gotta work.

She can't always be there,

she gotta pull down shifts...

...so she just wants a spot

where he can be safe,

stay busy and not get in any trouble.

If they have the-the opportunity

to keep playing together,

it's gonna be special.

Listen, thank you.

Thanks for coming over

and-and checking on the boys.

Well, I should be thanking you.

I was trying to keep them humble.

Good luck with that.

We play St. V's ball today, right?

All right, all in on three.

One, two, three.

- All in.

Willie McGee voted

Mr. Basketball Youth League

Ohio Valley last year...

...gets his first start tonight.

Willie!

It's hard to believe...

...he was just an eighth grader last season.

He really contributed to St. Vincent's...

...young basketball season so far.

- Time! Ref, time out!

What? -

- Come on, come on.

Hustle in.

- Come on, boys, focus.

Jake, what's your problem?

You're not even in position,

okay? -Huh?

Uh, LeBron. You're in the game.

Let's go.

Come on, come on, play ball.

You go, baby!

There we go, they got Willie

and LeBron in the game,

they gonna k*ll.

This is crap!

Let's see what happens, huh?

This is ridiculous!

Jake, stop the ball!

Yeah, let's go!

Oh, boy. Wow.

Oh, that was special.

Time out!

LeBron James slams!

Ah, let's try this.

Come here.

Take a seat.

It's all right, take a seat.

Sit down, sit down. Here we go.

Lil Dru, you're in the game.

Let's go.

Come on, come on, check in.

Get in this game!

Sian, get on the court.

Let's go.

Play ball.

And Dambrot is doubling down...

...putting two more freshmen in the game.

Sian Cotton and Dru Joyce.

It's not how you start the game...!

Let's finish it!

Dambrot. Dambrot.

Dambrot! What the hell?!

They're freshmen!

- Let's go, let's go.

My son is a senior.

I want him playing.

Playing a freshman.

What is this, Hoop It Up?

We usually give more playing

time to the upperclassmen.

It-it's a policy.

Yeah, well,

policy doesn't win games.

He's a freshman! Take it out!

A steal from Cotton.

Outlet passes to Joyce.

Off the backboard

and James slams it home!

Look, I don't think I'm overstating...

...that we way be seeing the beginnings...

...of something special here in Akron.

That's how these freshman play!

Yeah? -Spencer Keizler from The Chronicle.

Well, thanks, Coach.

Um, what's it like coaching...

...the best high school

player in the country?

Who, LeBron?

Yeah, best player, my ass.

Kid's always loafing on defense.

Max Winter from The Post.

- Hey, Max.

What about you, Coach?

You thinking about returning...

...back to college any time soon?

I'm right in the middle of a

season with this crazy bunch,

so, uh...

Yeah. Hell yeah, I'm thinking

about it all the time.

This the last doughnut.

You want half?

- It's all you.

I'm good.

I'm tryin' to watch my weight.

Mmm.

Watch your weight do what?

What you mean, 'Do what,' man?

You watching your weight. What? Do what?

I'm tryin' to eat better, man.

Hey, guys!

How's it feel to be pimping for St. Vincent?

Gonna be a brick next time,

you get on the coaching staff.

Uh, Mr. Wahl?

- I'm on deadline. What?

60 seconds to run something by you?

I'll be at my office in 30 so talk twice as fast.

'After a forfeit from Buchtel,

'St. Vincent-St. Mary's finished

its undefeated season...

...with a 73-55 win over Greenview

High for the state title.'

This is high school basketball?

My old rival high school, sir.

Feels like filler for the kid's

magazine. Anything else?

The star players were four freshmen.

I think one in particular

could be the next Jordan.

Kobe Bryant's the next Jordan.

So maybe he's the next Kobe?

Kobe's too young to have a next.

Keep me posted on wonder boy.

What's his name anyway?

Hey, yo, Bron.

Check this out, my dawg.

Hmm?

- Looking like that, man.

Um... we ain't order this.

My manager went to St. V's.

Says enjoy.

It's on the house, baby.

Oh...

Yo, by all means,

this year finna be straight fire.

Facts.

- Hey.

I know y'all seen her checkin' me out.

Man, she was checkin' me out.

Y'all ain't got no game though.

Unlike y'all, I get girls.

Since when?

Melody.

Bro, y'all just hugged that one time.

Was it Melody from seventh grade?

Yo, you're still on that?

He's still on that.

- Talkin' about the girl...

...from seventh grade.

Hey, shut up.

Yo...

Oh, yo!

Nah.

- What up?

Illya'd never lets you drive his joint.

You right, but it ain't his whip no more.

You heard he got a new car, right?

Know what that mean.

We in business!

Last year is last year.

Doesn't do sh*t for us anymore

but put a big target on our ass.

If we don't win at all,

they'll say it's a fluke.

And it'll be a fluke.

Maybe you see some new faces here.

This is Mr. Travis,

who did us the favor...

...of getting expelled again so

that he could be here with us.

What you lookin' at, munchkin?

Lucky for him, I value good

defense over bad behavior,

so, listen up, Romeo,

pull any sh*t on my team,

you consider yourself permanently retired.

Oh, this here is Coach Dru.

Some of you all know him,

I think.

We need him on the schedule...

Wait, whoa, ho, ho, ho.

No, he's not gonna save you all.

Right?

We're gonna win it all...

...because you're gonna

work your asses off.

That's how this works.

All right?

Let's go.

Come on, bring it in on three.

One, two, three.

- All in!

Man, why...

Why you slide? Why you slide?

Watch out.

You watch out.

It's not that he really

broke another kid's jaw?

Man, do we even know

he broke the first kid's jaw?

Well, he here now so he had

to break somebody's jaw.

Let's go say somethin'.

Hell no.

We can't keep ignoring him.

What we gonna do on the court,

sign language?

What's wrong with that?

Man, let's just go say wussup.

Yo, stop acting scary.

- Hey, yo.

Food don't got much seasonin' on it, but...

...you gonna get used to it.

What y'all want, man?

Look, bro, we on the same team,

so we might as well talk.

You can save all that fake sh*t.

See? I told y'all this career criminal...

...wasn't worth our time.

You lucky you got them little

dress shoes on...

...or I'd take them, too.

Yo, I'd like to see you try.

- Dru.

Dru. Chill.

Look, dawg,

we got a good thing goin'.

All we want to know is

if you tryin' to mess it up.

I tried.

I guess, but...

You can't be serious.

See he wasn't gonna eat it.

Oh, your fat ass.

Sian Cotton!

Yeah, yeah.

Willie McGee!

Dru Joyce!

Romeo Travis!

LeBron James!

I can't hear you.

And it's a capacity

crowd here tonight in Akron.

This place is bursting at the seams...

Pass the ball.

Pass the ball, Dru.

...as defending state champions St. V's...

...takes on perennial powerhouse Massillon.

Hey, Dru!

Pass the ball next time!

He was wide open!

Yo, listen to your pop, midget.

Kiss my ass.

Can't nobody bend that low.

Ooh, Travis blocks the sh*t.

LeBron James grabs the rebound.

That looks like he's going coast-to-coast!

And that's what

we call a guaranteed bucket.

H-Have you ever

heard the story of King Arthur?

Yes, sir.

The boy that would be king.

Yeah, Bob, I mean,

the score is so lopsided,

the starting five are resting on the bench...

...and some of the reserves

get a go at the Tigers.

Bro, it's gonna be so many

chicks at that party.

I'm telling you.

I got two of their cheerleaders'

numbers before the game.

And their team sucks.

They want us there.

And it's gonna be packed out.

I don't know, man.

Yo, what's the point of bein' popular...

...if we just gonna hang out

all night at Dru's playin' 2K...

...and wait for Girls Gone Wild

commercials to come on?

I like Girls Gone Wild.

- Huh.

E pluribus unum, n*gga.

Seize the day.

I say we go to that bitch.

All right, so,

maybe this was a good idea.

Told you.

Come on.

LeBron James.

Tequila or... vodka.

- How are you?

Vodka.

Excuse me, miss.

You was at the game tonight?

Okay, I gotta be trippin'.

I'm gonna catch you later.

Oh!

Yo, for real?!

- I-I'm so sorry.

Ya think? Agh!

Oh.

I'm-I'm so sorry.

I did not mean to do that.

- Look, it's fine.

Just leave me alone.

Here. Take it.

Please.

St. V's?

Pretty far from home.

N-Nah, it's just my boy drove... -It's cool.

I go to Buchtel.

My cousin invited me out.

Buchtel, huh?

Yeah, why?

They don't like me too much over there.

Why, you throw drinks on them, too?

Nah, just you.

Well, you got some nerve.

I'm Savannah.

I know.

Mm.

Hmm.

This is what you call...

...a hangover!

Why you yellin'?

Play stupid games,

win stupid prizes.

Okay, Don Juan.

Who's the girl?

Your hand.

Her name's Savannah.

Savannah?

Hmm.

She cute?

What you think?

I don't know,

you kinda goofy looking.

I don't know what you might attract.

Ma.

I'm just playin' with you.

You know you handsome.

Drink up.

You're gonna need it.

Can I borrow your car

next weekend to take her out?

Sorry, baby, I picked up some

night shifts next weekend.

It's okay, I'll figure it out.

I don't know why you had

to keep asking for more bread.

They told you the kitchen was closed.

They wasn't gonna do nothin'

but throw it away.

I want my full dining experience

with my leftovers.

Okay, whatever.

Let me see.

You know I got the magic touch.

You know I-I got this.

There you go.

Nice try,

but you don't get points...

...for opening my door after I already tried.

You a hater.

Yeah.

Really?

This is not my car.

It's my boy Willie's.

- Mm.

Mm-hmm.

- It sucks.

I'm sorry.

Let's just give it a minute.

And we're always in the fight!

You can't get us,

we're always in the fight!

Yeah, we are Buchtel

and we're always in the fight!

There they go.

You can't get us,

we're always in the fight!

We are Buchtel...!

LeBron is a sellout!

Who you calling a sellout, Tony?

You still owe me $100! Sit down!

Hey, fellas, let's focus.

Let's pay no mind to all this bullshit.

These the same dudes

who called us sellouts.

Same dudes who tried to put me on JV.

I ain't losin' tonight.

Period.

Come on, now!

Come on, call that foul!

You blind?

Daydreaming!

Ah, no, no, no!

Come on!

Time out! Bring it in.

Yeah, we are Buchtel

and we're always in the fight!

Taking a walk! Get in here!

You got pride.

We gonna let these people

over here disrespect us?

No, we're not.

It's a mismatch out there.

You're too small and-and the refs,

they're swallowing the whistle,

so take a break.

Sit down, Dru.

All in on three.

One, two, three.

All in.

Dru, what are you doing?

Lock in, boy.

Oh, Dru Joyce is checking into the game.

Diminutive would be

a vast understatement.

He's all of five feet,

two inches tall. -Sit down.

Dru, that's not the play!

He's not bashful

either. Those guys are on him.

They're flying at him.

He doesn't care.

No, no!

Long three by Dru Joyce.

And he stuck it again.

You almost couldn't see him

sh**t it, and he stuck it.

Got to be proud of the little guy.

Oh, no, don't sh**t that.

Dru Joyce gets open deep in the corner...

...and he'd done it again.

Dru Joyce has the fans

here today -He's hot, he's hot.

just in disbelief at his

ability to sh**t the basketball.

This looks like the Irish...

...just want to pass it around the outside...

...and look for the...

Is he's sh**ting that or throwing it?

He's catching it, his feet set...

...and he just knocked it down.

That's five of them.

Here we go. Five for five.

- Five for five.

He's gonna try another one.

Check this out.

Six for six, Dru Joyce.

He had 18 points

in six minutes of court time.

Well, but he's...

he's pretty big today.

Six for six from behind...

...the three-point.

- No question about it.

18 points for Dru Joyce

to lead everyone in scoring...

...for Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary.

Good game.

Good game, guys.

Everybody on the bus.

Yeah. Rat-a-tat-tat.

Boy, you wet them fools up.

That's what I'm talking about.

Where you going? You thought you

wasn't gonna see us again.

Not gonna deal with y'all

right now, man, move.

I'm talking to you.

- Sellout ass.

Where's the rest of your cheap ass team?

Yo, that's Romeo.

That's Romeo.

- Yo, Dru, hold up.

Hey, yo, yo, yo, yo!

Go, go, go, go, go, go, go.

What is wrong with you?

That was stupid.

- Man, what?

You out here having

Ultimate Fighting Championships...

...by yoself.

- Literally, bro.

You didn't have to do that sh*t, bro.

Huh. We b*at they ass, though.

Oh, my God.

I know y'all seen Dru come

through with the Falcon Punch.

Yeah, but who were they, though?

Don't worry about it.

They was nobody.

Yeah, nobody till we b*at they ass.

LeBron. Six-six, yep.

And he ain't even done growing.

Yes.

Special. Very, very special.

Well, just come,

come and see for yourself.

His next game is this Friday.

A-All right, now.

Yes.

Thank you. Good night.

So, who was that?

That was Sports Illustrated.

They want to do a story on LeBron.

Mm-hmm.

We have a big deal now.

Well, look at that.

My baby's a celebrity.

Yeah.

Guess you raised a baller.

Mm.

Coach, Coach. How long

you playing LeBron tonight?

The whole game? Half game?

Max, what don't you ask Coach

Dru a couple of these questions.

I got a game to win.

Hey, how you feeling

about coaching your son...

...in the championship game tonight?

I'm just an assistant,

but I think we're getting

used to the dynamic. You know?

Yeah, you're gonna have to, right,

with Coach Dambrot

going back to college ball.

Where do you get your information from?

You leaving, Coach?

No, don't listen...

- Yeah. Hell yeah.

University of Akron.

Deals done.

Tonight's the last game.

Is this not true?

What's with the questions?

Damn it.

Locker room, right now.

Let's go!

Ball!

No, he didn't touch him!

The 2001 Ohio State Championship...

...is underway and St. Vincent-St. Mary's,

led by LeBron James,

are dominating.

Will you listen?

Listen to me.

Screen, screen, screen,

back, back.

No, don't sh**t that...

Okay, okay.

Okay, get back.

Yeah, the team is

playing with more individual...

...streetball style tonight.

Yeah, I agree.

There's been a lot of showboating,

which is uncharacteristic

for a Dambrot team.

Coach, why don't you try...

...and talk some sense

into one of your boys, huh?

They're not listening.

What's he doing over here?

This is ridiculous.

I gotta call time.

Dru!

Time! Time!

Time.

Dru, Dru, what are you doing?

We got a game plan.

What are you doing?

One play, not one play we practiced.

You know, you...

You got some g*dd*mn nerve,

Lil Dru.

I got a nerve?

We ain't run not one of

your plays this whole night...

...and we still winning.

There's a game plan, Dru.

No, no, stop with the game plan sh*t.

We don't need you,

we never needed you.

You just been riding our coattails...

...ever since you got here.

Dru. -Just so you could get your ticket out.

Yeah, yeah, but I worked

my ass off to build you up.

Nah, Coach,

you just got in the way.

Now, if you want to leave...

...cool, leave.

'Cause I promise, don't nobody

care around here, man.

Bye. See ya. Sayonara.

- This is ridiculous.

C-Coach.

- Hey, Coach. Coach.

No, I'm not putting up with this sh*t.

Coach.

Coach, wait.

There's six minutes left.

It's a championship game.

Coach.

Coach... -I'm not going to be disrespected...

...by a bunch of teenagers.

What do you expect?

They look up to you,

and you're walking out on them.

So you want me to get 'em in a circle...

...and all hold hands and have a good cry?

I have an opportunity.

They'll get over this.

Most of these boys been getting over it...

...their entire lives.

Every time someone gets close to them,

they end up leaving,

abandoning them.

Every single person that matters

to them has left.

Except you.

Coach, I tried to keep them humble.

You said it was going to be hard but...

...they're so damn good and they know it.

Just make sure that

doesn't tear them apart.

Hmm?

Got six minutes.

Yeah. Heard he planned it all along.

Yeah, but what's he going to do?

Not go?

Screw that, Uncle Willie.

We the reason why he got a sh*t

in the first place.

Oh, Dru,

this sh*t not funny, bro.

It's a serious matter.

Bro, how can y'all be serious

with this comedy playin' out?

Yo, stop tryin' to act hard!

With your soft ass.

Man, stop making me laugh.

Yo.

- Oh.

Yo, what you doin'? Focus.

Stop worryin' about us.

Yo, sit down.

- A'ight.

Oh, he mad.

Hey, yo, check this out.

Check this out.

That's my foot.

How is that your foot?

I was standin' right behind him.

Man, Ray Charles could see that

that's my lean chocolate calf.

That is not your ashy ass calf.

Ain't nothin' lean about that calf.

What y'all talking about?

I see it, I guess.

Yeah. Thanks, Ms. Gloria.

Bro, you can't tell she was bein' sarcastic?

Dang.

- What...?

Hey. Stop, st-stop it.

- Get him, Dru. Get him. Hit him.

Man, you hit hard for a little man.

Ma, can we buy your car...

...so we don't have to cram

into Willie's bucket?

Sure, baby.

Yo.

Yeah. Oh, damn.

Hold on.

- Yo!

Oh, yo, this is art.

We in the front,

We in the front.

Get in the back.

Yeah, try to sit in the back.

How'd you pull this off?

I took out a loan.

They know we're gonna be good for it.

Check out your ride.

Man, this sh*t clean, dawg.

Wait, you got a DVD playing here.

LeBron, yo, let's ride.

Let's get out of here.

Wait, hold up, hold up, hold up.

What about my car?

Bro, no, no, ain't nobody

gonna steal that sh*t, bro.

Yeah, laugh now, laugh now.

Just don't forget, when y'all

needed a ride somewhere.

Who was there for y'all?

Uncle Willie.

Uncle Willie.

LeBron.

He's here. LeBron.

Okay, kids, squeeze in.

LeBron.

- Hey.

You a fan of Wes Unseld?

Washington b*ll*ts?

You kiddin' me. Of course.

This is for you.

This real?

- Of course it's real.

It's vintage, from 1976.

Now it's yours.

- Dang.

Man, thank you. Appreciate that.

Yeah, you... hey,

you mind taking a picture?

Uh, sure.

- All right, great.

Hey, would you take our picture?

Please? Come on.

Oh, thank you so much.

- Yeah.

All right.

Thank you very much.

All right, thank you.

- Hey, man, nice to meet you.

Hi. What'd you get?

Cookies and cream.

Yeah, and it's half melted.

Still good,

it's just ice cream soup.

Are you done being famous now?

Done with your little attitude now?

Maybe.

Your food's in the car.

I think it would be

a really smart choice, you know.

I'm sorry,

you said something, babe.

What I was trying to say is that

the class is only 200 bucks...

...and it's supposed to be really good...

...and you should check it out.

Okay.

What do I need to take an SAT for?

What if you blow your knee out or...?

Hey, don't put that on me.

Don't do that.

I'm just saying.

- I'm just sayin'.

I'm going to be making millions

right out the gate.

I definitely don't need college.

You don't either.

Wait, what's that supposed to mean?

It means you hit the lotto.

Oh, I did, did I?

Oh, wait, I just...

Hey, everybody,

I just hit the lottery.

Savannah, that came out.

No, no, no, 'cause my boyfriend

is LeBron James.

I mean,

I had to buy his ice cream...

'cause he didn't have no cash.

But in a couple years?

Bling, bling, hoe.

Gold diggers, stand up.

Savannah, I was just sayin'...

I know exactly what you were saying...

'cause you've been saying it

for a while now.

I mean, look at you,

you ain't even in the NBA yet,

but I can't tell.

What's it going to be like

when you actually are?

Ain't nothin' about me gonna change.

I'm still me.

Are you?

You're good at basketball.

LeBron, you're great,

but if you don't check yourself,

basketball is gonna be all that you have.

Basketball is gonna be all that you have.

Basketball is gonna be all that you have.

Coach!

All right.

All right, all right, I get it.

Listen up.

Now, I know everybody thinks y'all are...

God's gift to basketball, right?

But we got to get ready.

I don't need to get ready

'cause I stay ready.

I hope so,

'cause this ain't last year.

We ain't playing for no state championship.

We're playing for number one in the nation.

So if you thought last year's

schedule was hard, think again.

We ran through that.

Well, now a whole country

going to be watching,

and we got Oak Hill

next month, remember?

The consensus number one team.

Basically,

it's a bunch of all-stars.

I suggest you do not let this

go to your heads.

Came to tell you, you know,

welcome to the family, dawg.

Fab Four is now officially the Fab Five.

What does La Quinta even mean?

It means you failed Spanish, n*gro.

Yeah, we came a long way

from selling duct tape.

Man, jerseys sure look a lot better, too.

Y'all sold duct tape for uniforms?

We came from the struggle, dawg.

Struggle?

I had to break a kid's jaw to get here.

Y'all really believe that sh*t?

But I told these fools

that was some bullshit.

Man, it's the crazy eyes you got, you know.

No, but look, though,

if we b*at these dudes,

we're going to be number one.

Like legit,

the best team in America.

We already the best team.

- Nah, dawg.

Like Ric Flair said,

to b*at a man...

You gotta be the man!

Whoo!

Oh, sh*t.

Oh, what's up?

- Yo...

I just got invited to a party...

...and they said half the league

is goin' to be there.

Hey, y'all got to cover for me.

I'll be back.

Bro.

All right, bro.

The Fighting Irish are going...

...to have their hands full here tonight...

...with Oak Hill Academy.

They've been called The Hoop factory.

NBA High, and, of course,

the number one team

in America by USA Today.

And, boy, are they loaded.

Boasting a starting lineup

filled with top 100 recruits,

including the number one recruit

in the nation, Carmelo Anthony.

What's going on?

Are you all right?

Yeah, it's just the pizza from last night.

Yeah, it was pepperoni.

He was in the bathroom all night, Coach.

Well, maybe you should sit out this game.

No, I'm good.

For real, I'm fine.

Oak Hills' Carmelo Anthony...

...and St. V's LeBron James...

...are both leading their teams in scoring.

Well, we are going to see...

...both of these young men in the NBA,

and one of them is going

to have bragging rights...

...when this game comes up.

Yeah, up until this game.

St. V's hasn't really faced any adversity.

Hey, yo, steal.

Wow, Willie McGee

really picking up the slack...

...for the Irish here in the third.

With all the hype surrounding

LeBron James,

this is a bit of a disappointing debut...

...on the big stage for him today.

Go, go!

Push, push.

A great game,

but, tonight,

Oak Hill just wanted it more.

I agree.

LeBron James and the Irish...

...looked good at times,

but ultimately came up short.

Final score Oak Hill 77.

St. Vincent-St. Mary's 66.

Let me talk to you for a minute.

I want you to take today,

how you played and the outcome...

...and learn from it.

You are a special player.

The whole world already knows it.

You are going to have

to deal with distractions...

...these other boys are not going

to have to deal with.

I'm just being real.

How successful you become

depends entirely...

...on how well you manage...

...the pressure.

We're definitely blessed.

I mean, this is the third year

in a row going back to state.

And I know with these guys behind me,

we can make it a three-peat.

Listen, Dru,

take the ball back up top.

Uh, well, yeah, you know,

it-it's the chemistry we got.

I know where LeBron gonna be

before he even gets there.

No, no, no.

Run it back.

What you-what you looking at?

W-Willie flashed out to the wing.

I thought I could get it to him. -Willie?

They play ain't for Willie, son.

Well, we've been playin'

basketball together...

...since we were ten.

It's like, natural.

Uh, coming from where I'm from.

I-it's crazy to see how

tight-knit everyone was.

And then they just kind of folded me in,

made me a part of the family,

'cause that's what this feels like, family.

Coach, Rome wasn't cuttin' fast enough.

Yo, I was right there.

You just wanted to sh**t that...

I don't want to hear that.

Even when we're not on the

court, we're always together.

That's how it's always been.

LeBron's this big star now,

but to us,

it feels like nothing's changed.

You acting like you don't understand...

...simple concepts!

Hello!

When the down screen come from LeBron,

give him the ball.

Great. Okay,

I think that's good.

Thank you so much, guys.

Thanks.

- Thank you.

Uh, you see that there?

That is pure joy there.

They're just taking every opportunity here...

...and spinning it into pure gold.

And they're a good team,

but this is unexpected.

The fans are going nuts.

Well, with the ten point lead...

...and growing, it's like,

no wonder.

You suck! You suck! You suck!

You suck! You suck!

You suck!

Watch out, watch out,

whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.

Ball.

That ain't no foul, ref?

Ain't no foul, no foul,

keep playing.

No foul, keep playing,

keep playing.

Pass the ball.

You ain't gotta do it all by yourself.

Roger Bacon...!

Let's go!

Move the ball!

Roger Bacon, that's right!

That's terrible court spacing.

Ball, pass the ball.

You ain't gotta do it all by yourself.

Yo, time.

No, you didn't.

- Yes, I did.

Get open. You're no help.

I've been open this whole time.

- Get open.

Hey, I don't want to hear none of that.

Get over here.

Bro, we about to blow it

against Roger got-damn Bacon.

How we gettin' b*at by a team

named after a breakfast meat?

Cut the talk, pay attention.

We could still win this game.

All in on three.

One, two, three.

- All in.

Pass the ball.

Man, play some defense.

What the hell, bruh!

Focus on your game, Dru!

Sorry, can't all be 23.

Watch your mouth.

You supposed to switch that.

I'm only helping.

You need to get back.

Shut the f*ck up, Chosen One.

What'd you say to me?

You got ears.

Get out of my face, bro.

Don't be mad at me...

'cause you ain't tall enough to make it pro.

Huh?

- You stop pushing me.

Hey, hey, guys, cut it out,

cut it out, cut it out.

You gonna mess around and get a tech.

12 green.

Come on, man, think.

You're costing us the game, Dru.

Get off of me, bro.

Dru!

Get over here!

Hey, LeBron.

Damn, get over here.

Are we really gonna lose this game?

Think we might have lost more than that.

Man, this sh*t ain't fun no more.

Yo.

After midnight again, man.

A couple more.

All right, what's going on, man?

What's up?

When we was kids...

...I had size and skills over everybody.

But it's like...

...they got better and I just stayed the same.

What happens if nobody wants me?

Get up, man.

Let me ask you something,

why you think the boys...

...been calling you Uncle Willie

since y'all was 11?

What's that got to do with anything?

You a leader, Willie.

Just 'cause you ain't leading

down the path you thought,

does not mean you ain't on your way.

You hear what I'm saying?

You're a whole lot more than

just basketball, little bro.

What you doing here?

Nice to see you, too.

You should be proud.

You guys had a good season.

You boys are looking good.

When are we not?

Roger Bacon ring a bell?

You come here to break my balls?

Only partly.

My point guard graduates this year.

You want me to come play for you?

You're a good player, Dru.

I enjoyed coaching you.

So much you dipped out on us

first chance you got.

I wanted back in college ball.

I saw my sh*t and I took it.

Not going to apologize for that.

It doesn't mean I'm blind

to what you boys did for me.

Or that I forgot what I was doing...

...in this school in the first place.

It's not like I left you high and dry.

I knew you'd be in good hands.

I wanted to make great players out of you.

And I did.

Your dad wants to make great men.

That'll last you a lot longer.

Don't forget that.

Give me a call.

So we just ain't gonna talk to each other...

...for the whole season?

I got somethin' to say.

Look, I came here to play ball,

to put in work.

So while I'm here,

that's what I plan to do.

Before practice, after practice,

it's whatever.

But when we get on that court,

it's strictly business.

You feel me?

Yeah.

All right.

Well, we got Oak Hill next month, so...

So we do what we gotta do.

A high school game here in Cleveland...

...has attracted a crowd

of 10,000 here tonight.

But it's not just any high school game.

It's phenom LeBron James...

...against the number one ranked

team in the country, Oak Hill.

LeBron mania goes national here tonight.

He's one of those teenage phenoms...

...that come along in their given sport...

...and are so gifted and all I know is...

...if he's half as good

as all I've heard about him,

he is going to be one special athlete.

Good game, man.

LeBron, can we have a word with you?

Oh, no, yeah, of course.

Love you.

You've been on the cover

of Sports Illustrated.

ESPN and USA Today.

That must be a bit surreal.

What do you think?

Is it too much pressure for you?

No, no, it's never no pressure.

No, I just come in there,

play my game,

and get my teammates involved.

You know,

when I'm with my boys, man.

I'm always focused like no other. For real.

And tonight, we played the

number one team in the country.

We gave it our all, 110%,

like we do every other night.

We all do it together.

Well, congrats.

Enjoy the win.

- Thank you.

What happen, somebody die?

A bribe? That's bullshit.

It's what they're claiming.

It was a jersey

a random dude just gave me.

a vintage jersey worth $1,800.

How the hell is he supposed to know that?

Regardless, it was over

the permissible limits...

...set by OHSAA.

- It was from a fan.

Not a coach,

not a booster. A fan.

Besides, all the players get sponsored gear.

If the donor isn't a family

member, it's considered a bribe.

But it was just some random dude.

This is witch hunt, Dave.

There's been some very generous

alumni endowments...

...since these boys

stepped foot on this campus.

Don't you think we owe him our support?

The only thing that St. V

owes anyone is a good education,

and-and the look of a high school player...

...driving a Hummer doesn't help.

Please, no disrespect.

And, yes, I know what this is.

Look, it's not my call.

LeBron, you're suspended

for the rest of the season,

pending appeal.

Are you serious?

- No, you know this isn't right.

Mom.

- You can go to the games,

but you're not allowed to suit up...

...or interact with the players?

For all intents and purposes,

you're not a part of the team anymore.

He's just a kid.

Just... Let's go.

Come on, let's go.

A controversial Ohio High School

Athletic Association...

...ruling today involving

basketball phenom LeBron James.

This ruling means not only

is LeBron James ineligible...

...for the remainder of the season,

it means the Fighting Irish must forfeit...

...the big win last week over rival Buchtel.

Here's the OHSAA commissioner,

Clair Muscaro.

The OHSAA is not persecuting

one student athlete.

Rather, we are protecting every

student athlete on every team.

Bullshit.

Yo, Bron.

It's Unc checking up on you.

Illya told me to save it up.

I'm just letting you know, man,

we got your back, all right?

Yo, big dawg.

Just calling to check on you.

Um, you know, you know,

we gonna get through this.

Don't stress it.

Hey, yo, Bron,

I heard what happened, man.

That's some bullshit.

Forget Clair,

or whatever his name is.

Just hit me back, bro.

Listen up, listen up.

Y'all know who ain't here, right?

But we here. We here.

It don't matter that

everybody written us off...

...because we know what we capable of.

So, let's go out there

and show these fools...

...that we're more than just one player.

A'ight? A'ight?

More than just one player.

A'ight, all in on three.

One, two, three.

- All in!

Tonight St. V's goes

against Canton McKinley.

Both teams need this game...

...to continue to the state championship.

Yeah, and the whole

state of Ohio is aware tonight

LeBron James will not be on the court.

You know,

this is when the phrase,

'Next man up' becomes all too real.

And tonight, we'll see...

...how this St. Vincent team fares

without their centerpiece.

Let's go, green!

To Romeo!

There we go, there we go.

Come on, come on, come on.

Yeah!

Oh, yeah, Willie.

Time out.

- Time, time.

Ref!

Ooh, ooh, here we go, Bulldogs,

here we go, ooh, ooh!

Here we go, Bulldogs,

here we go, ooh, ooh!

Here we go, Irish, here we go!

Here we go, Irish,

here we go!

Here we go, Bulldogs,

here we go, ooh, ooh!

Oh, hey, hey, hey,

come on, LeBron.

You know you can't.

- Come on, Coach Coop.

You'll get us in trouble,

all right?

I'm sorry, brother.

Come on, chin up.

You ain't going to say hi?

Hey, Ma.

How was the game?

What you watching?

I taped my stories.

They won.

They goin' to state.

'They'?

I ain't on the team no more.

Hmm.

Did you have friends in high school?

I had friends just like everybody else.

Nah, I mean like friends.

Yeah, I had a few.

You still talk to any of them?

Nah.

Not really.

That's just how life is sometimes, baby.

You go to school,

you got your crew...

...and you can't imagine what life

would be like without them.

Then you graduate or you move or...

The real world hits you,

gets in the way.

And you just kind of grow apart.

It happens.

It's really not what I wanted to hear.

I know.

But that don't change how it is.

What's important is that

when you look back...

...did you make the time

you had together count?

Did you give it everything you got?

Mr. James.

I'm sure you're aware that the association...

...has no bearing on your

eligibility for the NBA draft.

Yes, sir.

I have to be honest with you then.

I'm a little puzzled why we're all here today.

You're on the very brink

of wealth and fame...

...and by your own admission, you

don't plan to attend college.

I can't see how missing

one high school basketball game...

...will affect your future in any way.

It won't, sir.

You understand that presenting

yourself here today...

...puts us under no obligation

to reinstate you.

Yes, ma'am.

It's just...

...right now I'm not

thinking about the future.

I'm thinking about my brothers.

And they made it all the way

to state without me.

So this is just a vanity play...

...so you can be in

the championship game?

No, ma'am.

It wouldn't matter what game it was.

I moved ten times before I was 12.

All I had is my mom.

She's the only thing consistent,

you know?

And...

...this crazy coach...

...who kept quoting

John Wooden found me.

One of the only men in my life

that I could look up to.

He put me on the sh**ting Stars...

...where I met Dru, Sian and Willie.

And, man, we'd hoop all day

except for school.

Uh... spend nights playing video games...

...and doing it all over again the next day.

It wasn't nothing special

really about it, but...

...it was special to me.

Then we went to St. V's

and met Coach Dambrot.

And, man, he was tough,

but he helped me become

the player who I am now.

People keep telling me that

my life's about to change...

...and...

...they probably right.

In a year..,.

...I might not be the same person.

So if I have to pay a fine,

change my jersey number,

do community service,

I'll do it.

Just tell me what to do.

But please...

...let me play with my best friends

one last time.

What's up, bruh?

Yo, what's up?

Hey, Bron. -It's good to have you back, bro.

I heard you cried in front of the board.

Like a 220-pound baby.

Bro.

- My boy.

What's good, bro?

- What's up, B? -What's up, man?

Look who came crawlin' back.

It's just sad when you see sh*t like that.

Ain't it sad, Rome?

It's definitely sad.

Shut up, y'all.

Ready to hoop?

- Hell, yeah.

Well, Bob,

it's been an absolute pleasure...

...covering four years of basketball...

...with the St. Vincent- St. Mary's team...

...and of course, the Akron phenom

himself, LeBron James.

I think everyone's hoping...

...for a storybook ending.

A low scoring game as we

come to the end of the quarter.

We now go into halftime

with St. V's down by five.

Tonight you have the chance to go down...

...as the greatest high school team

in basketball history.

But...

I want you to take a minute.

Try to grasp this thing.

This opportunity that we've been given.

I can tell you...

...when you look back

at this time in your lives,

it won't be about stats,

accolades, the X's and O's.

It's not about

winning the state championship.

It'll be that person next to you.

And no matter how you spin it,

this is my last time coaching some of you.

More importantly,

this is the last time...

...that this team will ever play together.

Ask yourselves, what are

you going to do with that time?

What's up?

Coach, I think it's time for me to come out.

'Cause it's time for Jimmy to go in.

All right.

Let's do it.

In on three.

One, two, three.

- Do it!

Get it, boy.

Jimmy Podeski!

Why they gotta play this song?

Are you cryin'

- No sh*t, I'm cryin'.

'Cause I got a heart

unlike you cold ass bastards.

It's all right there, big fella.

You guys ready?

Thought you guys were walking

with your families.

We are.

It's crazy.

Man, you abandoning us, Coach?

what y'all doing out here?

You know the party's in there.

Nah, last time we checked,

the party was in here.

Yeah, but you can't play

none of that whack ass music.

Whack ass music?

How have I failed you all so badly?

What do you know about this, Coach?

Y'all have to get in the back.

Yes. Y'all don't know nothing

about no music.

Hey, Willie,

what you doing, man?

Oh, my goodness.

- I got this, I got this.

Y'all stink.

- Coach, I got it.

No!

No, you ain't...

What y'all doin', baby?