Is Hoop Dreams a real story?

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.

What is the main idea of Hoop Dreams?

Hoop Dreams follows two Chicago youths, William Gates and Arthur Agee, from their Freshman year of high school to their first year of college. In addition to documenting the inevitable on-court maturation process, the movie illustrates the difficulties of balancing sports with scholastic and family pressures.

Why was Hoop Dreams created?

The initial idea for “a film about the culture of basketball in the black community” came to director Steve James, an amateur basketball player himself, in 1985 while watching basketball at the recreation center at Southern Illinois University.

Is Arthur Agee in jail?

Arthur Agee Jr., featured in the 1994 Oscar-nominated documentary Hoop Dreams, was released on bond from Cook County Jail on Dec. 17, after allegedly kicking his female companion several times outside a Forest Park bar.

What happened to Curtis Gates?

In 2001, Gates worked out with NBA star Michael Jordan in preparation for Jordan’s comeback and was offered a tryout with the Washington Wizards but injured his foot. His brother, Curtis Gates, also seen in the film, was murdered on September 10, 2001, after being caught in a love triangle.

Where did Hoop Dreams take place?

Chicago
It follows the story of two African-American high school students, William Gates and Arthur Agee, in Chicago and their dream of becoming professional basketball players.

How long was Hoop Dreams filmed?

2h 50mHoop Dreams / Running time

Hoop Dreams was originally intended to be a 30-minute short film produced for PBS; the filming of the special led to five years of filming and 250 hours of footage. Hoop Dreams premiered at the 1994 Sundance Film Festival, where it won the Audience Award for Best Documentary.