HOOPS
Hoopsby Walter Dean Myersreviewed by Marcus Williams
In Walter Dean Meyers'book Hoops, 17 year old Lonnie Jackson tries to shoot his way to the top by using his good basketball skills. He's under alot of pressure as he tries to impress the college scouts and lead his team in a all city "basketball tornament of champions"(p.39) which only the best teams are in. It is tough competition and the teams coach Cal knows what competition Lonnie and the team are going up against. On the court and in life. During the tournament Lonnie has to watch out for gamblers and overcome the temptations of the street. Lonnies coach Cal a former N.B.A. player who fell into these temptations of the street went from park avneue to park bench. He tries to warn the kids about what gambling can do to your career and any shot they have at a career in basketball or anything else.
Lonnie is determind to go to college and then on to the N.B.A.. The N.B.A. is Lonnie's dream and nobody is going to stop him from "getting over."(p.49) Lonnies father left him and his mother when Lonnie was a small boy. Lonnie pretty much lives on his own because him and his mother don't get along very well. But he still loves her very much. He lives at a hotel called the Grant where he also works.
Over the course of the book Lonnie grows to like Cal dispite the fact that Cal was a alcholic off the street and keeps letting the team down by not showing up for games. The reason he likes Cal so much is because Cal is so much like himself. Not only because they both are good at basketball but both of their fathers left them, they are both hard to talk to and they grew up in the same neighborhood.
Lonnies a young man with dreams that can't be broken. As long as he keeps that attitude he will sky above the rest.
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