Hoops

Cal Jones is one of the more nuanced characters in Hoops: he is alternatively portrayed as a wise older figure and a flawed, untrustworthy adult. A former basketball star, Cal lost his chance at true wealth and fame after committing to shaving points from basketball games. His gambling and drinking addictions are connected to the loss of his child, who died in an accident when Cal tried to find a job.

Through his role as the coach of Lonnie’s team in the tournament, Cal is challenged to better himself and work through some of the self-pity shown earlier in the novel. Myers uses Cal’s journey as a mirror to Lonnie’s development as a character; each time Cal fails, Lonnie is challenged to rise to the occasion as a leader. Similarly, each time Cal helps or comes through, Lonnie is forced to acknowledge that he has a supportive father figure in his corner. When Cal dies at the end of the novel, it is the result of one of his most protective and loyal actions.

Lonnie’s girlfriend Mary-Ann is the sister of his best friend, Paul, and is portrayed as a dynamic, independent young woman who shares many qualities with Lonnie. She spends most of her time avoiding her mother and holds her own as an employee at an after-hours club. Mary-Ann loves Lonnie and will do anything for him; she shows this support by helping him at every turn. Mary-Ann’s strength and commitment eventually challenge Lonnie to show these characteristics in turn.

Mr. O’Donnel is a wealthy, white sponsor of the book’s climactic basketball tournament. Although he only appears in a handful of scenes, his character holds enormous symbolic resonance in that he symbolizes the white power structures which seek to wield control over a sport dominated by Black excellence. His body language and speech patterns are designed to make Black individuals like Lonnie and Cal feel “less than,” even though the sport would be much diminished without the contributions of its Black players and coaches.