Above the Rim Plot

Above the Rim is a 1994 basketball-drama film, written by Jeff Pollack and Benny Medina, and directed by Jeff Pollack. This movie stars Duane Martin, Leon Robinson, Tupac Shakur, and Christopher Andrews. This film is the story of a promising high school basketball star and his relationships with two brothers; one a drug dealer and the other a basketball star now employed as a security guard at his former high school. Opening weekend it grossed $3,738,800. It grossed a total of $16,192,320.

A young athlete aspiring to become a professional basketball player must make some tough decisions in this sports melodrama. Kyle-Lee (Duane Martin) is a talented basketball player in high school. While he waits to find out if he will receive a scholarship to Georgetown University he finds himself in a difficult dilemma over a playground basketball tournament. He must decide whether to follow his good-hearted basketball coach or Birdie (Tupac Shakur), a local thug in the neighborhood. Kyle is also feeling resentment for the security guard named Shepherd, or Shep, (Leon Robinson) his mother is falling for. The coach also wants Shep to play. It is later revealed to Kyle that Shep is Birdie's older brother. Due to the tragic death of a friend, Nutso, Shep cannot bear the thought of playing again.