Bunny is a sixteen-year-old sophomore and an exceptionally talented basketball player. He recently accepted an athletic scholarship to the wealthy, predominantly white St. Sebastian's private school, leaving behind his public school, Whitman High. He carries the heavy burden of trying to secure a professional athletic career to rescue his family from their financial struggles. Though highly disciplined, he frequently feels alienated in his new environment and isolated from his old friends.

Nasir is a studious, compassionate sixteen-year-old high school sophomore who is half Black and half Filipino. Unlike Bunny, Nasir stays at Whitman High and plans to use his father's GI Bill to attend college, perhaps to study medicine. He holds a deep sense of loyalty to his community and feels personally responsible for helping those suffering around him, especially his cousin Wallace.

Wallace is a senior at Whitman High facing extreme poverty and a lack of parental support, as his father is incarcerated and his mother is struggling with addiction. He lives in a one-bedroom apartment with his elderly grandmother and faces imminent eviction due to gentrification. Desperate for money, he frequently turns to risky gambling schemes and displaces his anger onto Bunny.

Keyona is a sophomore at Whitman High and a dedicated student-athlete. She is fiercely independent and strongly believes in personal accountability, often arguing that individuals must work hard rather than making excuses for their circumstances. She holds her ground confidently in her relationships and refuses to let others dictate her choices.

Mr. Thompson is Bunny's hardworking father. He owns a local brick-and-mortar bookstore called Word Up, which serves as a cultural hub for the neighborhood but is slowly failing due to corporate competition. He works long hours, often missing his son's games, to try and keep the family afloat.

Mrs. Thompson is Bunny's mother. She works grueling night shifts as a nurse to help support her large family. Her exhausting schedule limits the time she can spend at home, illustrating the intense sacrifices the family makes to survive.

Jess is Bunny's older sister. She is currently attending college and studying to become a social worker. Her mounting student loan debt serves as a constant reminder to Bunny of the financial stakes their family faces.

Justine is one of Bunny's younger twin sisters. Her presence in the cramped, cold family home adds to Bunny's drive to succeed financially in basketball so he can provide a better life for his siblings.

Ashley is Bunny's other younger twin sister. She shares the struggles of living in a home with failing utilities, directly motivating Bunny to pursue a lucrative basketball career to protect her.

Mr. Blake is Nasir's father, an elementary school teacher and former member of the US Air Force. His military service provides his son with access to college funding. He holds firm boundaries regarding who the family can afford to assist, insisting that people like Wallace must take some personal responsibility for their lives.

Mrs. Blake is Nasir's mother, an immigrant from the Philippines who left her home country seeking better opportunities. She frequently uses traditional proverbs to communicate the importance of community strength, though she aligns with her husband in setting boundaries against destructive family members.

G is Wallace's elderly, disabled grandmother. She has lived in her Whitman apartment for decades but is being forced out due to gentrification and skyrocketing rent prices. She relies heavily on Wallace for basic care.

Eric is a wealthy, white basketball player at St. Sebastian's. He drives an expensive SUV and casually engages in underage drug and alcohol use without fear of consequences, highlighting the vast disparity in privilege between himself and Bunny.

Drew is another wealthy sophomore basketball player at St. Sebastian's. He participates in the carefree, privileged lifestyle that makes Bunny feel like an outsider on his own team.

Brooke is a cheerleader at St. Sebastian's. While she attempts to be friendly with Bunny, she fundamentally fails to understand the pressures he faces or the cultural realities of his life back in Whitman.

Dr. Dietrich is the headmaster of St. Sebastian's. He represents the institutional authority of the private school and is forced to prioritize the school's reputation and compliance with athletic regulations over individual students.