Toni

In the fourth installment of the Blacktop series, comes a street-smart, action-packed basketball story with action on and off the court.

Toni, a talented young basketball player, faces a tough challenge on Team Blacktop. But Toni isn’t one to back down.

Toni isn’t Coach Wise’s favorite player. Honestly, she’s not even in his Top Five. And if she’s being real, her own teammates keep siding with him during practice. But her resilience and self-reliance make her a force to be reckoned with. After all, she’s spent her whole life bouncing from one place to the next. If you can’t count on yourself, who can you count on? As she faces challenges both on and off the court, Toni’s unwavering spirit shines through.

Packed with intense action and relatable struggles, Tony #4 captures the exhilaration of the game and highlights the strength of believing in yourself.

LJ Alonge has played pick-up basketball in Oakland, Los Angeles, New York, Kenya, South Africa, and Australia. Basketball's always helped him learn about his community, settle conflicts, and make friends from all walks of life. He's never intimidated by the guy wearing a headband and arm sleeve; those guys usually aren't very good. As a kid, he dreamed of dunking from the free-throw line. Now, his favorite thing to do is make bank shots. Don't forget to call "bank!"