''Ball Don't Lie'' is a 2008 film directed by Brin Hill. It is an adaptation of the

novel A novel is a relatively long work of narrative fiction, typically written in prose and published as a book. The present English word for a long work of prose fiction derives from the for "new", "news", or "short story of something new", itsel ...

of the same name, written by

Matt de la Peña Matthew de la Peña is an American writer of children's books who specializes in novels for young adults. He won the Newbery Medal in 2016 for his book '' Last Stop on Market Street''. Biography A San Diego, California, native, Matt de la Peña r ...

. It stars AND1 Mixtape team member

Grayson Boucher Grayson "The Professor" Scott Boucher (born June 10, 1984) is an American streetball player, actor, and former semi-professional basketball player. He is most known for playing on the highly stylized, international AND1 Mixtape Tour; he has also ...

, a.k.a. The Professor. The film premiered at the 2008

Tribeca Film Festival The Tribeca Festival is an annual film festival organized by TriBeCa Productions, Tribeca Productions. It takes place each spring in New York City, showcasing a diverse selection of film, episodic, talks, music, games, art, and immersive progra ...

Plot

''Ball Don't Lie'' plays out over one day in the life of Sticky (Boucher), a skinny high school sophomore

basketball Basketball is a team sport in which two teams, most commonly of five players each, opposing one another on a rectangular Basketball court, court, compete with the primary objective of #Shooting, shooting a basketball (ball), basketball (appr ...

prodigy from

Venice, California Venice is a neighborhood of the city of Los Angeles within the Westside region of Los Angeles County, California. Venice was founded by Abbot Kinney in 1905 as a seaside resort town. It was an independent city until 1926, when it was annexed b ...

. Burdened with emotional scars from a traumatic childhood, a callous

foster care Foster care is a system in which a minor has been placed into a ward, group home (residential child care community, treatment center, etc.), or private home of a state-certified caregiver, referred to as a "foster parent" or with a family mem ...

system, and obsessive-compulsive personality disorder, Sticky manages to transcend his limitations whenever he has a ball in his hands.

Cast

Maxim Knight Maxim Knight (born August 21, 1999) is an American actor who started acting at the age of seven. He is perhaps best known for his supporting role on the TNT television series ''Falling Skies'' (2011–2015). Biography Maxim was born in Honolulu ...

- Sticky, Age 7 *

- Sticky * Kim Hidalgo - Annie *

Emilie de Ravin Emilie de Ravin (; born 27 December 1981) is an Australian actress. She starred as Tess Harding on '' Roswell'' (2000–2002), Claire Littleton on the ABC drama ''Lost'' (2004–2008, 2010), and as Belle on the ABC drama ''Once Upon a Time'' ...

- Baby *

Rosanna Arquette Rosanna Lisa Arquette (; born August 10, 1959) is an American actress. She was nominated for an Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie, Emmy Award for her performance in the TV film ''The Executioner's Song ( ...

- Francine *

Ludacris Christopher Brian Bridges (born September 11, 1977), known professionally as Ludacris (, homophonous with 'ludicrous' in American English), is an American rapper, actor, record producer and record executive. Born in Champaign, Illinois, Ludac ...

- Julius *

Cress Williams Cress Williams (born July 26, 1970) is an American actor, known for his roles in ''Prison Break'' and '' Close to Home''. His most recent roles include Mayor Lavon Hayes on The CW series ''Hart of Dixie'' and the title character on The CW's ''Bla ...

- Dante *

Nick Cannon Nicholas Scott Cannon (born October 8, 1980) is an American television host, actor, rapper, and comedian. In television, Cannon began as a teenager on ''All That'' before going on to host ''The Nick Cannon Show'', ''Wild 'n Out'', ''America's G ...

- Mico *

Dania Ramirez Dania Ramirez (born November 8, 1979) is a Dominican actress. Her credits include the roles of Maya Herrera in ''Heroes (U.S. TV series), Heroes'', Alex in ''Entourage (U.S. TV series), Entourage'', and Blanca during the last season of ''The Sop ...

- Carmen *

Melissa Leo Melissa Chessington Leo (born September 14, 1960) is an American actress. She is the recipient of several accolades, including an Academy Award, a Primetime Emmy Award, a Golden Globe Award, a Screen Actors Guild Award and two Critics' Choice ...

- Georgia *

Harold Perrineau Harold Perrineau (born August 7, 1963) is an American actor best known for his roles as Michael Dawson in the ABC television series ''Lost'' (2004–2010), Augustus Hill in the HBO television series '' Oz'' (1997–2003), Sheriff Boyd Stevens ...

- Jimmy *

Mykelti Williamson Mykelti Williamson (born March 4, 1957) is an American actor best known for his roles in the films ''Forrest Gump'', ''Con Air'' and ''Ali'', and the television shows ''Boomtown'', '' 24'', and '' Justified''. In 2016, he portrayed Gabriel Maxso ...

- Dallas *

Robert Wisdom Robert Ray Wisdom (born September 14, 1953) is an American actor, best known for his roles as Howard "Bunny" Colvin in ''The Wire,'' Norman "Lechero" St. John in ''Prison Break'', and Harold Conway in the 2021 Hulu movie ''Vacation Friends''. ...

- Perkins * Steve Harris - Rob *

Allen Maldonado Allen Maldonado (born May 20, 1983) is an American actor and filmmaker best known for his roles as Curtis in ''Black-ish'' and Bobby in '' The Last O.G.'' He is also an entrepreneur and runs his own clothing line and an app called ''Everybody Digi ...

- Sin * John Bryant Davila - Venice Hardcore Teen *

Mathew St. Patrick Mathew St. Patrick (born March 17, 1969) is an American actor best known for his portrayal of Keith Charles on the HBO drama series '' Six Feet Under'' (2001−05). Previously, Patrick appeared as Marcus Taggert in ''The Young and the Restless' ...

- Louis Accord *

Michael Shamus Wiles Michael Shamus Wiles (born October 27, 1955) is an American character actor of film and television onscreen since the 1980s who has appeared in over 100 films and television shows. Career He portrayed Marc Mitscher in ''Pearl Harbor'' and Mr. Pa ...

- Coach Reynolds *

Kirby Bliss Blanton Kirby Bliss Blanton (born October 24, 1990) is an American actress. She is known for her roles as Kirby in the comedy film '' Project X'' and as Amy in the horror film '' The Green Inferno''. Life and career The youngest of four children, she gr ...

- Jamie Smith

References

External links

* * 2008 films American basketball films 2000s teen drama films Films set in Los Angeles American teen drama films Teen sports films 2008 drama films 2000s English-language films 2000s American films {{2000s-drama-film-stub