"In the summer of 1988, twelve-year-old Chuck Bell is sent to stay with his grandparents, where he discovers jazz and basketball and learns more about his family's past." --

“Real-life news reports of out-of-control hazing by high school sports teams give Lupica’s tale a ripped-from-the-headlines thrill.”—Publishers Weekly
 
South Shore High School’s nationally recognized basketball team is in the midst of a winning season when its team manager is murdered—and aspiring sportswriter, senior Sam Perry, begins to hear stories of hazing that went over the line....

Fifteen-year-old Drew "True" Robinson loves being the best point-guard prospect in high school basketball, but learns the consequences of fame through a former player, as well as through the man who expects to be his manager when True reaches the NBA.

It's the day of basketball tryouts, and Annie overslept! She can't believe she's running late on the most important day of the year. Last year, Annie and her best friends, Megan and Emma, were cut from the team. Of course. the school's meanest girls, Sarah and Dani, made it. But this year there's a new coach, and Annie's been practicing her heart out. Annie is determined to make the team this year, adn she won't let anything stand in her way!

Wildcats center PJ Harris is the tallest player on the team, but he's horrible at free throws. When a game comes down to PJ's free throws making the difference between winning and losing, he freaks. Can he solve his problem in time to earn back the respect of his coach and teammakes, and himself?

Nick and Kia learn that teamwork can be more important than talent.

When the star forward goes on vacation, Daniel Friedland gets his chance in the spotlight. He has worked hard at improving his free throws, but, as everyone knows, he's terrible at layups. He'll need to work hard if he wants to be a starting Wildcat.

Somebody is playing nasty tricks on Ryan DeMoss, point guard for the Hillcrest Hammers, and it is starting to interfere with his game right before the big tournament.

Brian uses basketball to block out memories of his girlfriend and her family who were gunned down a year ago, but the upcoming murder trial and a high school history assignment force him to face the past and decide how far he should go to see justice served. Includes facts about miscarriages of justice in American history.

EllRay Jakes finally grows up (a little) by playing basketball in this ninth book in the series. There's a new game in town: basketball! Or in EllRay's case, "pre"--Basketball. Coach Havens has all the third graders dribbling, passing, and shooting, and he's quick to compliment EllRay's skills. No one else seems to notice them, however, and as 'the shortest kid in the class, ' EllRay is still chosen last for teams at recess. What's a short guy gotta...