Unlike the other kids in his corner of Harlem, 11-year-old Francis is a complete mess on the basketball court. He much prefers the solace of his own room, where he can slap on a James Brown record and turn himself into a pint-sized version of the Godfather of Soul. But when Francis falls for a 13-year-old neighborhood basketball star named Regina, he realizes that a new pair of high-tops is more likely to win her heart than his collection of vintage vinyl.