Marcus is one of the best players on his junior high school basketball team. He's the highest scorer and the best rebounder, but he's not so great at free throws. When Marcus misses four free throws at the end of an important game and his team loses, he begins to lose his confidence on the court.

With the help of a school custodian and former high school basketball player, Mr. Dunn, he learns about the "granny shot," an unorthodox way of shooting foul shots, and about Rick Barry, the former NBA star who used it throughout his career. Marcus tries the shot and is successful with it, but he resists using it because it looks silly and his teammates ridicule him. But when he finds himself on the foul line again in a crucial game, his desire to help the team win overcomes his pride. In the end Marcus learns the important lesson that appearances don't matter and pride stems from using knowledge and talent to do your best.

A sports history epilogue provides a detailed inside look at NBA player Rick Barry and the infamous granny shot.