Courting Mayhem

Two middle-class Black families from Humble, Texas: The Hollingsworths and The Rutherfords are long-time friends that bond over their mutual love of basketball and a shared dream to become Black NBA families - banking on the success of their respective sons: Andre Hollingsworth and Jules Rutherford. Courting Mayhem begins at a basketball tournament that a highly acclaimed basketball recruiter, Big Earl Jensen, attends. Eager to secure their child’s future, the Hollingsworths - Trina and James, and the Rutherfords - Cam and Benny, meet with the stern, “no nonsense” Mr. Jensen, who delivers the news that only one of their sons would be recruited to the team. Both families, experiencing their own deferred dreams, inferiority complexes, and greed, yearn for stardom all in the face of being Black with limited opportunities, grasp at every straw to secure their future - even if they may have to abandon their morals, friendships, relationships, and family values.