A look at the young life of basketball star LeBron James. Feature film adaptation of LeBron James and Buzz Bissinger's book 'Shooting Stars'.
Based on the book by LeBron James and the Pulitzer Prize winning author of Friday Night Lights, Buzz Bissinger, Shooting Stars is the inspiring origin story of a basketball superhero, revealing how LeBron James and his childhood friends become the #1 high school team in the country, launching James's breathtaking career as a four-time NBA Champion, two-time Olympic Gold Medalist, and the NBA's all-time leading scorer.
Set in the early 2000s in Akron, Ohio, the sports drama "Shooting Stars" revolves around the dominance of St. Vincent-St. Mary, a Catholic high school known for its basketball prowess. The team's remarkable achievements and national recognition are attributed to a pivotal moment in the film when the coach singles out a freshman, LeBron, to join the game. Based on the book of the same name by LeBron James and Buzz Bissinger, the story chronicles the extraordinary four-year journey of a close-knit group of childhood friends-LeBron James, Lil' Dru Joyce, Willie McGee, and Sian Cotton-as they lead the team to unprecedented success. To preserve their unity, the friends make a controversial decision to forego the local public school and enroll in a private institution with a predominantly white student body. This choice, coupled with the media frenzy and the allure of lucrative opportunities surrounding LeBron, adds complexity to their accomplishments and raises eyebrows within the community.—anonymous
Based on the book by LeBron James and the Pulitzer Prize winning author of Friday Night Lights, Buzz Bissinger, Shooting Stars is the inspiring origin story of a basketball superhero, revealing how LeBron James and his childhood friends become the #1 high school team in the country, launching James's breathtaking career as a four-time NBA Champion, two-time Olympic Gold Medalist, and the NBA's all-time leading scorer.
Akron Ohio, 1996. LeBron James (Mookie Cook) lives in a tiny, crowded house with his high school friends. He spent time playing basketball games on his video games console. Friends include Sian Cotton (Khalil Everage), Willie McGee (Avery Wills), Dru Joyce III (Caleb McLaughlin).The boys are being coached to play basketball by their coach Dru Joyce II (Wood Harris), who is also Dru III's father. Dru calls the team the "Shooting Stars". He teaches them that finishing games is the most important thing in any sport. The boys are already very good basketball players and dream of playing in the professional league.
4 years later, Lebron is 14. His mother is Gloria (Natalie Paul). Gloria had to work extra shifts and supports LeBron's basketball as she knows that LeBron will be safe playing ball. Illya McGee (Algee Smith) is Willie's older brother. Willie's parents are both addicts in Chicago, so Illya became his legal guardian when Illya turned 18.
The friends now go to Buchtel High School which has a legacy for Basketball. After meeting coach Sams Dru III is afraid that Sams will break up their team by splitting them.Dru III reads in the paper that Keith Dambrot (Dermot Mulroney) is headed to St Vincent St Mary's High School. Dru III meets Keith by himself and says that he and his 3 friends (who call themselves the Fab 4) can win him the State Championship. Dru III then convinces the guys that at St Vincent, the Fab Four will stay together even though it is a Catholic school, and not much of a history of basketball.The boys then convince their parents, mainly around the argument that Coach Sams does not believe in Dru III and would relegate him to Junior Varsity, while at St Vincent, the Fab Four will get to stay together as a team.
At the tryouts, the Fab 4 meet the seniors on the team. Coach Dambrot pushes the crew to the extreme. The guys blame Dru III as they are missing out on the African American girls at Buchtel and are going through hell with Dambrot, just because Dru III is not tall enough.Dambrot starts the season by benching all Freshmen. Willie gets a chance to play one game, but nobody on the team passes the ball to him.
Things come to a head when the Fab 4 criticize the seniors on the team leading to a game between the 2 groups to settle the matter at Bettes Park. The seniors include Jermaine, James Podeski, and others. The Freshmen beat the seniors easily.Dambrot watches this game and in the next match, he brings the Fab 4 to the court. With the Fab 4 on the court, the St Vincent team is unbeatable. The other African American in the community believe that Dru II sold the Fab 4 to St Vincent instead of serving Buchtel, the African American school. Dru II is himself selected to coach St Vincent and support Dambrot as the boys move into Sophomore year. The Fab 4 have their run in with Romeo Travis (Scoot Henderson), a player on their team.The Fab 4 reach out to Romeo, but he is not interested in bonding with anybody.
LeBron meets Savannah (Katlyn Nichol) at a high school party. Savannah studies at Buchtel. They start dating and eventually kiss. In a game against Buchtel, the home team gangs up against Dru III and the referee refuses to call any fouls. This forces Dambrot to bench Dru III and bring Romeo into the game.Dru III defies his coach, takes the court and wins the game for St Vincent. After the game Romeo is attacked by Buchtel punks, but the team stands up for him and defends him.Dambrot announces that he is going back to coach college teams. The team rebels against Dambrot and refuses to execute any of his game plays. Dambrot leaves the team in the hands of Dru II.
Sports Illustrated do a feature on LeBron James, calling him "The Chosen One". Gloria gifts LeBron a Hummer.Savannah has difficulty adjusting to LeBron status as a celebrity. LeBron says that he doesn't need college and neither does Savannah as she hit the jackpot with LeBron. Savannah is offended by this comment and wonders what LeBron would become once he is a professional ball player.
Junior Year rolls around and the confidence is sky high. The team is #2 in nationwide list of high school basketball teams. LeBron gets invited to many pro events, during which he leaves his team behind.They play the #1 team Oak Hill Academy who has the #1 recruit in the nation, Carmelo Anthony. LeBron has food poisoning from the party the previous night but insists that he will play. LeBron is off color as St Vincent loses the match. Dru II tells LeBron that his success would depend on how well he manages the pressure and the distraction of being at the top.
Dru II now wants to play around LeBron, curbing their natural scoring style. The conflict comes out on court when LeBron and Dru III get into a fight. Dru III accuses LeBron of not being a team player, while LeBron says that Dru III is not talented enough to be a professional player. The Fab 4 loses their unity and St Vincent do not win the National Championship.Dambrot returns and asks Dru III to play ball for his college team.
Senior Year. Romeo tells the Fab 4 to leave their grudges behind on court.10,000 people turn up to watch St Vincent play Oak Hill. Team wins 65-45 against the #1 team in the country.LeBron is then charged with accepting a bribe when a fan gifts him a vintage jersey worth $1,800 which is above the permissible limit for accepting gifts. LeBron is suspended for the rest of the season pending appeal.The team barely wins their next match without LeBron.
LeBron appeals the decision and gets the permission to play the State Championship game. This is the last time the Fab 4 will play together. LeBron plays his heart out. St Vincent are crowned the state champions.The Fighting Irish won three state championships and a national championship while James was in high school.
Sian played football at Ohio State University. Dru II played for Dambrot at Akron State and later played 12 seasons in Europe. Romeo also played with Dambrot at University of Akron and had a career in professional basketball overseas. Willie became the athletic director at St Vincet St Mary.LeBron married Savannah. LeBron played for the NBA.
