Former NBA and Vols star Jarnell Stokes brings new film ‘Rocky Top College’ to life

Former NBA and Tennessee Vols star Jarnell Stokes is enrolling in “Rocky Top College.”

“Rocky Top College” is the second screenplay by Stokes, who played for the University of Tennessee 2011-2014. Stokes is finishing casting for the suspense movie and filming was planned to begin in May.

Meagan Good (“Think Like A Man), Jabari Banks (“Bel-Air”) and Bailee Madison (“Pretty Little Liars”) will star in the project, Variety exclusively announced May 5.

The movie will be directed by Jamal Hill. Stokes is producing the project with brother Isaiah Stokes and their Stokes Brothers Media team. Good also will serve as an executive producer.

“Rocky Top College” is personal to Stokes and follows the character Zion Williams, a young Black basketball prodigy from Memphis, who gets suspended his senior year and enrolls in a small college to continue his NBA quest. But a series of peculiar and disturbing events has him questioning that decision ‒ and his sanity.

“This story is deeply personal, inspired by real-life experiences, and I’m grateful to have such a talented team helping bring it to life,” Stokes told Variety. “Like Zion, I once walked this path. Basketball was my anchor in an unforgiving world, and I want this film to show young people that hope, and healing are always within reach.”

“Rocky Top College” explores the depths of psyche, blending suspense with a unique twist, according to the film’s director Jamal Hill.