When eleven-year-old Stanley Cass moves in with his fourth foster family, things seem to be changing for the better. Not only are the Bulldogs the best team around, Coach Taylor lets sixth graders into the tryouts. But Cross has a few loose ends to tie up before he can shoot hoops with the big boys. Unable to read, surrounded by bullies, and ashamed of being an orphan, Cross needs to dribble his way out of trouble before he can play in the final tournament.