Strong to the Hoop

A boy finally gets to play basketball on the main court with the older boys, and has to prove he can hold his own.

James has always settled for watching his big brother Nate play basketball from the sidelines. Then one day, a player is injured and James is asked to join the older boys' game. This is James' chance to prove himself on the main court, and he knows there is much more than game point riding on his last shot.

John Coy's energetic prose captures the intensity and emotion of the competition, while Leslie Jean-Bart's photo collages deliver the urban pace of the game.