The main character in The Crossover is Josh Bell, a 12 year old student in 7th grade. He has a strong passion for basketball and is always looking up to his father who was a pro basketball player known as Da Man. Josh learns through the book that he has more important things to worry about in his life than just basketball. This message becomes clear to him at the end of the story when his father dies, teaching him to realize that family is more important than the game.
Jordan Bell, also known as JB is Josh's brother. JB starts the story, desperate to be as good at basketball as Josh, and once the new girl, Miss Sweet tea, also known as Alexis meets Jordan, everything changes. They start dating and Josh and JB grow apart, starting to ague against their differences. After many calamitys, including the death of their father, they relize that they are brothers and family, and JB accepts his brother as the better basketball player, and that they are and will always be family.