Mel Jensen, an African-American boy, is talented enough to be on the basketball team's starting lineup, but two of the white players want to keep him in the background.
Forced to referee rather than play basketball after he has been diagnosed as being diabetic, Rusty believes he will never play again until a new man in town organizes a team and coaches him.
Daren's tendency to blame everyone but himself when anything goes wrong causes problems with his best friend, with a young neighbor who idolizes him, and with one of his basketball teammates.