About “All American: Homecoming” in a few words:

All American: Homecoming is a sports drama for young adults set in the world of HBCUs, where Black excellence thrives. Simone, a young tennis star from Beverly Hills, and Damon, an elite baseball player from Chicago, are the main characters. When Simone’s aunt Amara exposes a scandal that threatens to ruin the baseball program at Bringston University, new coach Marcus Turner sets out to win a championship the right way—with Damon’s help. Along the way, they face the pressures of college sports and the ups and downs of early adulthood at a prestigious HBCU.

Meet the characters from All American: Homecoming

Simone Hicks

Oh Simone — the heart and the chaos, the person who runs on adrenaline and loyalty. She’s a natural leader, fierce about justice and maybe a little dramatic (like, she will absolutely text you at 3 a.m. about a plan). Tough as nails but secretly needy? Yes, please — she’s endlessly giving until she collapses and then acts like nothing happened. She juggles school, dreams, and complicated relationships like a circus performer who forgot the net, and also somehow always has time for one perfect bad decision.

Damon Sims

Damon is the quiet storm type — brooding, protective, and low-key magnetic, but not in the flashy way; more like a thundercloud you can’t stop staring at. He’s loyal to a fault and will defend his crew like it’s a religion, which is sweet and also gets him into trouble (often). He softens in tiny unexpected ways — a small smile, a guilty compliment — and then you remember he can be kind of reckless and stubborn, oops. There’s a lot of mystery around him, and he wears his feelings like a closed jacket: zipped up, but slightly rumpled.

Amara Patterson

Amara is ambition in human form — sharp, classy, a little intimidating, and absolutely has a five-year plan she’s already three years ahead on. She’s got standards and manners and a killer stare that says “I mean it,” but also binge-eats cereal while watching rom-coms when nobody’s looking (don’t tell). Smart, strategic, sometimes chilly, but she has this surprising, tiny softness for people she trusts — once you’re in, you’re in for good. Occasionally contradictory: she’ll talk about control and then make impulsive moves like anyone else; maybe that’s the best part.

Coach Marcus Turner

Coach Turner is the kind of mentor who smells faintly of coffee and leather and will call you out in front of the team, then bring you a sandwich afterward like nothing happened. He’s steady, principled, and uses tough love like an art form — equal parts pep talk and reality check — and yes, he loves motivational quotes probably to a fault. He’s got old-school methods but also learns (grudgingly) with the times, which is why kids respect him even when they roll their eyes. Fun little thing: he hums to himself when he’s thinking — creepy? comforting? both.

Jessie ‘JR’ Raymond

JR is chaos wrapped in charm — the jokester who’s sneakily smart and will prank you and then help you study for finals five minutes later. He’s loyal, quick-witted, and has more schemes than sense sometimes, but his heart is in the right place even if his timing is terrible. Deep down he’s more thoughtful than he lets on; there are nights he gets quiet and you realize he’s been carrying stuff. He’s the roommate who eats your leftovers but also fixes your broken stuff at 2 a.m., so like, complex roommate energy.

Thea Mays

Thea is fierce, politically sharp, and always three steps ahead with a pointed comment ready — think activist energy mixed with sharp humor. She’s intense in the best way, organized down to the calendar invites, but also prone to emotional detours that surprise the neat-freak in her (yes, she cries at award speeches, don’t be shocked). She can be blunt and a little dramatic about causes, and she absolutely has an unreadable playlist full of sad bops. Little quirk: she collects enamel pins like tiny flags of mood — cheerful but slightly complicated.

Keisha McCalla

Keisha is sunshine with a side of steel — stylish, warm, endlessly encouraging, and the friend who remembers everyone’s birthday and the weird inside joke from freshman year. She’s creative and ambitious (like, she’ll start three projects and finish two), and there’s this joyful energy that makes people want to be better around her. Guarded? Sometimes, yes — she keeps a private box of worries but hides it behind killer outfits and jokes. Also, inexplicably loves baking ugly cookies and giving them to people as emotional support, which I adore.