十六岁的黑人男孩詹姆·华莱士(罗伯·布朗 Rob Brown 饰)在篮球方面极富天赋,非常有潜力成为篮球界的明日之星。他常常与小伙伴们一起打篮球,他们注意到住在对面公寓顶层的沉默男人总是看着他们。这位神秘的隐士原来就是知名作家威廉·佛瑞斯特(肖恩·康纳利 Sean Connery 饰)。一次偶然的恶作剧让两人相互结识,威廉发现他在写作方面也很有天份。很快,詹姆凭借自己出色的篮球技术和优秀成绩,获得了一所著名私立学校的邀请。然而对于一所白人学校而言,詹姆却面临着艰难选择和种种质疑。威廉同意帮助詹姆提高他的写作水平。渐渐地,两人在交流中建立了深厚的友谊,循循善诱的威廉激发出詹姆潜藏的写作才能,而威廉自己也开始改变,终于走出避世多年的隐居公寓。Because of scoring exceptionally high on a statewide standardized exam and being an exceptionally good basketball player Jamal Wallace is sent to a prestigious prep school in Manhattan. He soon befriends the reclusive writer, William Forrester. The friendship leads William to overcome his reclusiveness and for Jamal to overcome the racial prejudices and pursue his true dream - writing.