Slam!

At school, Slam is bored in history class, and he lets his mind wander about Karen and the project he’s modeling for. After class, Slam finds Karen and some other kids in the band room, and Karen starts sketching while the other kids watch. Karen tells Slam he has great hands, and Slam, letting his imagination run wild, thinks he might marry her. Later, a student notifies Slam that his parents are in Mr. Tate’s office and that he has to go. Slam is worried that something bad happened, but when he walks into Mr. Tate’s office, he sees his mom there with someone he doesn’t know, a Black man the student assumed was Slam’s dad. Slam’s mom and Mr. Tate introduce the man as Richie Randall, a graduate of Howard University, an engineer, and a friend of Mr. Tate’s. He also volunteers with the Guardians, a group that tutors young Black students. Mr. Tate and Slam’s mom want Richie to tutor Slam in math, but Slam says he will think about it. With his dad out of work again, Slam worries that his mother is trying to bring in a surrogate father, which he thinks will cause problems at home.

At practice later that day, Coach Nipper explains that some of the local schools are having budget issues, so Latimer’s regular season is being shortened: The team will only play against the other seven teams in its division, with the division winner going to play in the City championships. Latimer’s first game is against Regis, and Slam notices that they have talented—and pretty—cheerleaders. Slam is angry he is not starting, especially when he sees Ice in the crowd with other guys from their neighborhood. By the end of the first half, Regis is winning 30-21, and Slam hasn’t played at all. Before the second half starts, Ice asks Slam why he’s not playing, and Slam says it’s because the coach doesn’t like him. Coach Nipper then asks Slam who he was talking to, and Slam is impressed that he’s heard of Ice—it means that Ice has a reputation as a player. Regis gets up by 12, and Nipper finally puts Slam in. Slam hears Ice cheering for him and makes his first basket: a slam dunk.

Slam helps lead Latimer to within six points of Regis. Coach Nipper tells them that Regis, with the lead, will try to slow down the game and draw fouls to keep Latimer from catching up. This strategy doesn’t slow down Slam and the rest of the Latimer team, as they end up winning by 11 points. Everyone compliments Slam on the game and his efforts, and they all seem to admire his skill. Ice, who is with two girls, also congratulates Slam, inviting him to join them in a night out. Slam, still riding a high after the game and uninterested in doing homework, goes with them. Ice is driving a nice car, which he says a friend loaned to him. He and one of the girls, Bianca, sit in the front. Slam and the other girl, Kicky, sit in the back. Kicky sits close to Slam. Ice mentions that Slam has gotten better before saying that Carver won its first game. The four go to a restaurant, and at one point Kicky goes outside for a smoke, asking if Slam wants to go with her. Slam accepts, but he refuses a cigarette when she offers. Slam asks Kicky where Ice got the nice car. She thinks it belongs to his cousin, but she’s not sure. He and Kicky make out in the backseat of the car before Ice and Bianca return to leave.

At home, Slam’s mom explains that his dad doesn’t mind Richie Randall but it’s Slam’s decision whether he wants to be tutored. She also tells Slam that she was in the stands at the game and everyone was talking about how good he was. Slam didn’t know she was at the game, but she says she’ll always be there. In his room, Slam wonders whether Ice was telling him the truth about the car having been loaned to him by a friend.

At school the next day, Slam gets paired up with a girl named Margie for a project. They decide to do a documentary about Slam’s neighborhood life that he will film and Margie will edit and add music to. Ducky finds Slam to tell him how more guys want to get on the team after seeing Slam play. Ducky is worried that he will lose his spot on the team because he thinks he’s not good enough. Slam tells Ducky he’s better than he thinks and that he can’t play scared. People at school are excited about the team’s win and are fawning over Slam and his talents, and their attention makes him proud. It also makes him think about the future game with Carver and how—or if—he will be able to get the better of Ice. Slam brings home a video camera from school for his film project.

Slam’s mom asks him to go with her to the hospital to see Grandma Ellie. At the hospital, Ellie is sleeping, having been sedated because her lungs filled with fluid. Once again, Slam feels bad seeing his mom cry. At practice the next day, Coach Nipper announces there will be no new players on the team despite the interest. Ducky, though, remains nervous. At the end of practice, Nick challenges Slam to a game of one-on-one, and Slam agrees. Jimmy quietly tells Slam that Nipper wanted Nick to go one-on-one with Slam to show him up. Nick keeps pace with Slam, but Slam wins. Afterwards, Jimmy says that Nipper thinks Slam has an attitude problem. Jimmy mentions that the team gets along well and Slam should avoid issues and try to get along with everyone. His comment angers Slam, who feels like he’s being singled out.