Tall Man in the Pivot

By Matt Christopher

Youth novel about basketball.  A young boy sets a trap to catch the person stealing from his locker during basketball practice.

Hook Shot Hero

by Matt Christopher

Tim Daniels is back at Camp Wikasaukee with rest of the gang from Nothin’ But Net, serving as a mentor to three young rookies, and he’s got his hands full! He’s still working on keeping his height from getting in the way of his game–he’s shorter than most of the guys. Plus, he’s got a bully on his hands, and he’s got to find a way to inspire his campers. Good thing NCAA pro Dick Dunbar is there to help Tim with a super-cool shot that gives him the confidence to make his mark at camp.

Hot Shot

by Matt Christopher

Julian Pryce was once the star center of the Tornadoes. But when he joins a new team after his family moves, he suddenly finds himself riding the pine. It turns out the Warriors already have a starting center, Paul Boyd, who has no intention of sharing the court with Julian. The coach is no help, either, for one simple reason: Paul is his son! Now Julian may have to take drastic measures if he’s going to get back into the game. . . but is he to blame when Paul winds up in the hospital?

Shadow Over the Back Court

by Matt Christopher

Jeff is crazy about basketball, but his father, a research scientist, thinks sports are a waste of time. Jeff still wants to play, and so, without his father’s support, he tries out for the school team. And he makes second string. He’d mostly sit on the bench, but Jeff knows that he will get a chance to prove himself to the coach and the team-and his father. He also knows that his dream of playing varsity will take a lot of hard work, but he enjoys every minute of practicing and playing.

After a frightening accident involving the team bus, Jeff’s father insists that he quit the team. Later, the school principal convinces Jeff’s father to change his mind, and eventually Jeff persuades his father to come see a game.

Slam Dunk

by Matt Christopher

Julian Pryce is looking forward to playing basketball for the Tornadoes this year. Last season, the team went undefeated, with Julian as the star center. But to his shock and disappointment, the other boys who made the team great the previous year aren’t at the first practice. Instead, Julian finds himself surrounded by newcomers and kids who rode the bench last year. There’s no way the team will be as good as it once was-and Julian discovers that he doesn’t like the pressure of being the sole remaining star, the player others look to to lead the team to victory. . . Will he be able to reconcile himself to this role or will he decide to take the easy way out?

Nothin’ But Net

by Matt Christopher

A novel about discovering what it means to be a true friend.

Thirteen-year-old Tim Daniels can’t wait to go to four weeks of summer basketball camp. A scrappy point guard, he’s sure he’ll shine on the court. But then he learns that his friend Billy will be going to camp with him. Billy is a good guy, but kind of flabby and not much of a basketball player. Tim is worried that Billy will drag him down, a concern that seems to come true their first week at camp when Billy becomes the butt of practical jokes. Will Tim choose to stick by his friend, or will his desire to be accepted by the popular players make him turn his back on Billy?

The Basket Counts

by Matt Christopher

On-court hostility threatens Mel’s place on the team

Mel Jensen is new to the Titans basketball team, but he knows he could be a vital part of the starting lineup—if only two other plays would give him a chance to show his stuff. But Caskie and Stoney seem bent on ignoring him, and Mel knows it’s because he’s black. Should Mel fight fire with fire, or should he try to get along, if only for the sake of the team?

Center Court Sting

by Matt Christopher

Forward Daren McCall is quick with an insult, quick to take offense, and quick to blame anyone but himself for his troubles. So when center Lou Bettman accuses him first of bad-mouthing him, then of vandalism, Daren turns the tables and insists that Lou is out to get him. The team splits into two camps, those who believe in Daren’s innocence and those who take Lou’s side. The fight heats up when Daren falls victim to an outrageous act. But did Lou retaliate, as Daren suspects, or is someone else trying to teach Daren a lesson?

Long Shot for Paul

by Matt Christopher

No one tries harder than Paul…but is that enough?

Paul Marlette is a special needs kid — a little slow to learn, but always eager to try. His brother, Glenn, is determined to teach him to play basketball well enough to become part of the Sabers team. Under Glenn’s patient guidance, Paul improves. But there’s still a lot to overcome: Paul’s difficulty grasping the rules of the game, Coach Munson’s desire to have a powerhouse team, and the other Sabers who aren’t sure they want Paul on the team. Can Paul and Glenn succeed in the end?

Red-Hot Hightops

by Matt Christopher

Are Kelly’s new hightops magically helping her game?

When Kelly Roberts plays basketball at home with her friend Ester, she’s a whiz, but as soon as she faces a crowd, she freezes. Then one day Kelly finds a brand-new pair of red hightops in her locker. They fit her perfectly, and whenever she wears them, her teammates tell her she plays a better game. She is reluctant to believe in them at first, but soon even she has to admit that the sneakers have a strange, almost overpowering effect on her. Could the mysterious hightops somehow be touched with magic?