Finley is a quiet high school senior in the heavily segregated town of Bellmont who uses basketball as a mental escape. He lives with his father and grandfather and carries heavy, unspoken trauma from his childhood. Dedicated and hard-working, Finley relies on silence to survive the violent undercurrents of his neighborhood and avoid drawing attention to himself.

Russ is a wealthy, intelligent basketball prodigy from Los Angeles dealing with the recent trauma of his parents' murder. He arrives in Bellmont living under the alternate persona "Boy21," claiming to be an alien gathering data on human emotions. He shares Finley's jersey number and struggles to adapt to public school life while processing his grief.

Erin is a talented, highly athletic basketball player and Finley's closest companion. She practices relentlessly with Finley during the off-season, sharing his fierce desire to escape Bellmont's grinding poverty and violence. She is extremely independent and quick to defend herself physically or verbally when threatened by local men.

Terrell is the star shooting guard on Finley's basketball team and quarterback of the football team. He frequently bullies Finley by calling him "White Rabbit," though he also subtly extends protection over those he values. He enjoys flashing his wealth and acts with confidence tied to his older brother's lucrative street business.

Pop is Finley's crotchety, wheelchair-bound grandfather who spends his days drinking and watching television. He lost his legs years ago and frequently hurls cynical insults at his family. Despite his abrasive exterior, he holds deep regrets about the past and carries his late wife's rosary beads constantly.

Finley's quiet father works night shifts as a toll booth operator to provide for his family. He pushes Finley to focus on basketball and work harder than more naturally talented players. He acts as a steadying presence in the household, constantly encouraging his son to pursue a better life away from their current neighborhood.

Coach Wilkins is the head coach of the high school basketball team and one of the few adults who refuses to use Finley's hated nickname. He sees basketball as a tool for teaching life lessons and demands absolute loyalty from his players. He recruits Finley to help rehabilitate his old friend's traumatized son, viewing the sport as the cure for psychological pain.

Rod is Erin's muscular older brother who no longer plays basketball. His imposing physical presence and connections to dangerous local organizations allow him to grant Finley and Erin safe passage on the neighborhood courts, ensuring no one bothers them.

Wes is a student at the high school who plays on the basketball team. He hides his interest in Harry Potter but eventually bonds with Russ over their shared hobbies, including books and video games, offering Russ a sense of normalcy.

Mr. Gore is a school counselor and field trip chaperone who takes an active interest in his students' emotional well-being. He recognizes the unspoken trauma in Finley's life and consistently attempts to get the quiet teenager to open up about his past.

Mike is Terrell's older brother who drives an expensive car and holds significant street power in Bellmont. His reputation as a prominent drug dealer provides his younger brother with untouchable status in the neighborhood.

Mr. Allen is Russ's polite and composed grandfather who takes his grandson in after a family tragedy. He maintains a clean, heavily religious home in Bellmont and tries to help Russ adjust to a drastically different environment while managing his own worry.

Mrs. Allen is Russ's grandmother who provides a warm, organized touch to the Allen household. She gently encourages social interaction when Finley first comes to visit, hoping peer connection will help her grandson heal.