Isaiah Paul Johnson, Sr
Zeke's dad
"Papa Zeke" is a diligent worker and a shrewd businessman; quick-witted, but tactless. He is often very vocal about higher education being a scam, an unnecessary waste of resources.
He is 50 when Zeke and Mimi meet, but he is still quite athletic.
His intense temperament rubs most people the wrong way. Mama often acts as a buffer to salvage relationships.
Mimi easily breaks through his gruff exterior and it isn't long before “Papa Bear” lets his guard down.
Odessa Mahalia Gardner Johnson
Zeke's mom
Dess is a stylist at Clips and Snips, a local salon.
She is caring, but stern. She is a born-again Christian, but she is not flamboyant like many Black Christian moms on TV and in movies. Her personality is more grounded, resembling Jo-Marie Payton who played Harriet Winslow of “Family Matters.”
She is unassumingly athletic and she loves basketball. She might have gone pro but there was no WNBA then. Also, her strict parents objected to the short shorts.
Maurice Joseph Johnson
Zeke’s brother, Keri's twin
When Zeke and Mimi meet, in 2013, the twins are nine.
"Mojo" is the studious twin while Keri is the class clown. He had the opportunity to skip first grade. Mama and Dad refused so Keri wouldn't feel left behind. They didn't know he accidentally overheard the conversation.
Mo's "digging in the dirt" quickly becomes a deep love for entomology. Papa Zeke doesn't understand it and doesn't care to understand it. Instead, he pushes Mo to be more sociable. Mo is just as athletic as anyone else in the family, but he is uninterested like
Mama. This aggravates Papa Zeke who thinks he is wasting God-given athletic gifts.
Mo often feels overlooked and ignored, so Munchausen develops. Eventually, he comes to terms with the fact that Keri's interests are more "high profile" than his.
Keri Maléna Johnson
String Bean, Killa Keri
When Zeke and Mimi meet, in 2013, Mo and Keri are nine.
Unlike Mo, Keri prefers to be the class clown which drives Mo crazy!!
Papa Zeke and Lil Zeke call Keri "String Bean." She is happy to have a nickname, but Mama HATES it!
Papa Zeke takes the twins to the Y every weekend as he did with Zeke. One Saturday in Spring 2014, the AAU coach sees Keri's skills and recruits her to the team. She keeps her grades up, but #ballislife.
She is extremely fierce, a great motivator, and loyal to a fault. She is the emotional leader on all of her basketball teams and many other places where she goes.
