UConn/Calhoun is only a small part of the book but I'd make it a major part of the film as it was critical in Caron's journey to responsible adulthood. Keep in mind that if Marky-Mark bought the rights, he likely is eyeballing a part. That would seem to be Calhoun.
So you start out with Caron's mom worrying about him ending up another thug from the neighborhood. Make the gun shot the first transformative event. Have his mom do a "I raised you to be better than that. You are better than that." speech. Then drift into his early success in basketball.
Move forward to Calhoun (Wahlberg) coming to Racine. It was a huge deal at the time and Calhoun was the only coach to make the trip. Have him do the "Don't have your son come to Connecticut to become a better basketball player, have him come to Connecticut to become a better man" speech. Show Calhoun riding him and Butler eventually winning his trust. End with him being drafted (foreshadow that as the unattainable dream when he was kid in Racine) and then do a post script about the NBA and maybe his son JC. Roll the credits over actual pictures of Caron and Calhoun.
You're welcome Wahlberg.
