Slam!

Slam meets Mtisha at Carver, which is hosting Trinity in a big basketball game. Mtisha, who brings the camera with her, tells Slam that a crack addict sold the camera to Carl. Slam sees people he knows from his days at Carver, As the game starts, Slam readies his camera to film the contest. Slam is worried that Brothers, the good player from Trinity, will get the better of Ice. Ice is incredible in the first half, but in the second half he looks tired and is unable to keep up with Brothers, something Slam takes note of. Despite Ice losing steam, Carver still wins the game. Afterwards, Slam takes Mtisha back to her house, hoping she’ll invite him inside. She doesn’t, though Slam gets the sense that she, too, is falling for him and wants to advance their relationship sexually. He wonders if Mtisha gets nervous around him.

Derek is excited to learn Slam has the camera again, and he promises to take better care of it. At school, Slam begins to worry about the coming SATs as the students get their PSAT scores back. Slam remembers hearing a story about a basketball player who tried to get a scholarship but couldn’t because his SAT score was 700. Slam is relieved when he sees that his PSAT score is 740. Going into their next game, Slam is excited to play now that he feels confident he can earn a scholarship down the line.

In the team’s next game, Latimer is playing Hunter, a tough, fundamentally sound team. Coach Nipper decides to take Slam out of the starting lineup, a decision that angers Slam so much that he refuses to go in the game when Nipper calls for him. He calls Slam a “prima donna,” and Slam storms into the locker room while the game is going on. The team comes in at halftime, but Slam puts a towel over his head and stays in the locker room even after the team goes back out for the second half. Coach Goldstein stays behind, telling Slam to get his attitude together, play for himself, and come out for the second half. Slam listens and finally heads out, and Nipper reluctantly puts him in the game. The team works together, and Latimer pulls out the victory by five. After the game, Goldstein reminds Slam that the character he shows on the court has to be shown off the court as well. Slam and Nick take the subway home together, laughing about the game and having a good time. Slam feels good about his blossoming friendship with Nick, as well as his friendship with Ducky, and it makes him realize that being friends with Ice is getting more difficult.

Grandma Ellie is released from the hospital, and Slam goes to visit her at home. She isn’t getting any better or any worse, and Slam feels like she has been sent home to die. She makes him some tea, and they talk about school. Ellie remembers how when she was a girl she wasn’t even allowed to go to school with white kids. Slam admits he needs to work harder to get his grades up. In school, Slam realizes he didn’t do a paper in English, so his teacher, Mr. Parrish, asks Slam if all he wants out of life is to stand on a corner. He also asks if Slam is from the African We-Be tribe, a racist reference to African American Vernacular English. Slam bursts out of his seat; he wants to hit Mr. Parrish in the face but instead throws his books to the floor. Mr. Parrish heads toward the principal’s office, and Slam storms out of school.

Slam goes to a corner restaurant and sits by himself. Coach Goldstein finds him there, and Slam admits he was wrong. Goldstein tells Slam that some of the kids in class are defending him to Mr. Tate. Goldstein asks why Slam has such an attitude and wants to know about what happened. Slam explains he’s angry because everyone is always telling him he’s wrong and that Mr. Parrish said Slam will be nothing more than a corner guy in his neighborhood. Goldstein listens thoughtfully and then explains that Slam is in the game of life; on the court and off the court, he’s in the game. There is always a game being played, and not everyone has the same chances, and things aren’t always fair, but Slam has to play. Goldstein tells Slam that he won’t be in trouble but that Mr. Parrish will be watching Slam carefully from now on. Slam thanks Goldstein for talking to him and then heads back to school, where he apologizes to Mr. Parrish. Slam realizes that Mr. Parrish and the other teachers are tough in order to maintain standards, and Slam now knows he will not graduate unless he meets that standard. He realizes that he needs to win off the court as well as on. Back at home, Slam and Derek go out to do some filming in the neighborhood, and then Slam works on the paper he owes Mr. Parrish.