Hoop Dreams: True Story of Hardship and Triumph, The

This is a great book. I'll be sending this to my son in Ghana, where so many have NBA dreams.

Goes into great detail about both the player's family experience and drama.

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Story of Authur Agee and William Gates who were 'recuited' in 8th grade to attend St. Joseph Catholic High School for their basketball playing abilities. With Coach Gene Pingatore the place is like a basketball factory putting out prep players such as Isiah Thomas with the goal apparently being that if/when the players make it big they will donate $ to the school.After his freshamn year Authur's parents can no longer afford his school costs, even with him working at the school as a janitor so he has to go to a public high school for his sophmore year and from then on he is there with a different coach. Meanwhile, William gets his girlfriend prego and is happy because if he gets gunned down where he lives at least there will be a record (a child) of his existance. Because he is underage he is not charged and/or required to register. His girl resorts to passive/aggresive behavior telling him if he is not there for her, they are done. She has their daughter the day after the team loses in the post seasson. He did not want to tell his coach.His junior year William hurts his knee at a Nike camp and names of other camp attenders are mentioned, several went on to the NBA. Willaim has surgery but eventually reinjuries his knee and has to have additional surgery. Additional family background is giving about both William's parents and brother and Authur's parents and their difficulties. Swearing throughout.In their senior years Authur and William and their teams advance to post season before one looses and one goes down state to the finals before loosing, they had been watching Isiah Thomas and the Pistons but turned their interests to the Bulls and Michael Jordan and the Bulls as they begin to win.From there William goes to Marquette and Authur plays two years at a small Missouri college before going to play his next two years in Arkansas. William and his gal get married and have another baby, it is mentioned that Authur has some children. An interesting read, at times it appears the players are just being used by the system and even a recruiter mentions that. William feels that but also gives credit to the school, without the school he did not feel he would be where he had gotten. Black and white pictures in middle of book.

I picked this book up for my grandson who is a very good high school basketball player. I wanted him to see just how hard it is to make it to the pros. Of course, I found it interesting enough that I had to read it first.This book is a true story about two 17 year old boys growing up in Chicago. As you can imagine, they got their starts on the neighborhood courts. Their story chronicles how coaches make picks to get them into high school, how they have to work at grades, how school is important and just how difficult it is to get scholarships for college without total commitment. The boys are friends and rivals, yet they both dream just to get out of Chicago and the ghettos.This was a fascinating book and it has even become a movie. Highly recommended.

Summarized by, Isaac SarateTwo kids dream of playing basketball is offered a chance to shine. Who will succeed, and who will fail? It all begins in the city Of Chicago; two young athletes are offered to play basketball at a private school. This school is known as a basketball powerhouse. The often required pay for enrollment but since these gifted athletes play basketball and play it well the school pays for the expense. The only requirement to get this scholarship is to maintain a passing GPA. The young boys by the Name of William Gates and Arthur Aggee are in a documentary of the life in the hood trying to succeed at basketball and life. Arthur comes from rough life of abusive, drug dealing, never there dad. He struggles to adapt to the private school. He soon is released due to failing grades and no money to maintain him enrolled. Arthur returns to his former high school. He never gives up his dream and works on every aspect of his life school, family, basketball, and most importantly his belief in himself. While all the hard times in his life he becomes stronger at basketball proving many wrong. While Arthur was struggling at the beginning William gates was competing highly at the varsity level as a freshmen. He played 3 strong years for the school school. Offered many scholarships William comes to the point where the S.A.T.S gets in his way of his dreams of playing college ball. His final year as a senior playing basketball was cut short with injury to his knee. Rehabbing his knee while his teams try's to return to state. Will William Gates be able to play again in high school let alone play in college? The most inspirational part of the story was when Arthur's father really distracts Arthur's focus on basketball and school, with abuse and violent drug dealing lifestyle. He took money from the family and left them with out electricity for weeks. Many troubling times was brought to Arthur but the never gave up or even gave in on his lifetime goal. He studied in the dark and took care of his family. Arthur rose above all negatives in his life and managed to stay focused. He completed his goals. That really inspired me! It taught me no matte what the situation is make best of it and never give up. The main theme of this book is clearly to never give up. Like what I wrote in the above paragraph, many obstacles might get in your way but, if you're positive and focuses things will workout. Hard work and dedication does pay off in the end. This book is a book I really encourage people to read. It teaches you the lifestyle of kids in the hood. The troubling time many of those young kids go threw really show you in this book. Life lessons are addressed in many different ways. The kid's choices, the downfall in family, grades, collage, and how it affects you and others. People who have trouble in believing in them selves should read this, and it would make them stronger.

Hoop Dreams is about two kids who are looking for the best thing in Highschool, a state championship and Not just any State championship, but a basketball one. The two kids in the book are Aurther Agee and William Gates. They both get into St. Joesph's, but then Aurther gets kicked out because his parents can't pay the bills. Later on he Aurther gets into a smaller school called Marshall. In their senior year, Williams team gets beatin in the Semi Fimals to go into the championship round to play Marshall, but Aurthers team goes on and wins the whole thing.this a great book for anyone wholoves basketball guy or girl. It's a book that as soon as you get it in your hands and starts reading it that you can't put it down.

Not read yet, but the documentary is AWESOME.