After a string of tragic events, a young high school sociology teacher, Matthew Mullen, recounts the previous school year while trying to find the courage to either return to his school located 200 meters from his front porch or end this brand new feeling of utter depression. Matthew quickly discovers that the years of education he received could not prepare him for the troubles brought on by a freshman student from a broken home. Matthew is forced to learn how to help manage the weight of the ever troubled life that Eli Stevens endures. Stevens finds playing basketball therapeutic, but when he injures the school's star player soon after making the varsity squad; He finds himself thrust into action which results in a locker room full of animosity as well as unexpected attention from a classmate and a teacher, Matthew Mullen. Eli's focus remains on basketball and collecting pay checks to soon move himself and his younger brother away from their current living arrangement while everyone surrounding him tries to motivate him to fully apply himself in the classroom. Meanwhile, Matthew's high school flame resurfaces after several years without contact. Matthew and Eli bond over basketball, books, and trying to sustain relationships neither expected to have.