| Photos (See all 34 | slideshow) | Videos (see all 3) |
| William Gates | ... | Himself | |
| Arthur Agee | ... | Himself | |
| Emma Gates | ... | Herself - William's Mother | |
| Curtis Gates | ... | Himself - William's Brother | |
| Sheila Agee | ... | Herself - Arthur's Mother | |
| Arthur 'Bo' Agee | ... | Himself - Arthur's Father | |
| Earl Smith | ... | Himself - Talent Scout | |
| Gene Pingatore | ... | Himself - High School Basketball Coach | |
| Isiah Thomas | ... | Himself - Professional Basketball Player | |
| Marlyn Hopewell | ... | Herself - High School Guidance Counselor (as Sister Marlyn Hopewell) | |
| Bill Gleason | ... | Himself - Television Reporter | |
| Patricia Weir | ... | Herself - President: Encyclopedia Brittanica | |
| Marjorie Heard | ... | Herself - High School Guidance Counselor | |
| Luther Bedford | ... | Himself - High School Basketball Coach | |
| Aretha Mitchell | ... | Herself - High School Guidance Counselor | |
| Shannon Johnson | ... | Himself - Arthur's Friend | |
| Tomika Agee | ... | Herself - Arthur's Sister | |
| Joe 'Sweetie' Agee | ... | Himself - Arthur's Brother | |
| Jazz Agee | ... | Herself - Tomika's Daughter and Arthur's Niece | |
| Catherine Mines | ... | Herself - William's Girlfriend | |
| Alicia Mines | ... | Herself - William's Daughter | |
| Alvin Bibbs | ... | Himself - William's Brother-in-Law | |
| Willie Gates | ... | Himself - William's Father | |
| James Kelly | ... | Himself - High School Teacher and Registrar | |
| Michael O'Brie | ... | Himself - High School Finance Director | |
| Dick Vitale | ... | Himself - Television Sports Commentator | |
| Kevin O'Neill | ... | Himself - Marquette University Head Basketball Coach | |
| Bobby Knight | ... | Himself - Indiana University Head Basketball Coach | |
| Joey Meyer | ... | Himself - DePaul University Head Basketball Coach | |
| Frank DuBois | ... | Himself - Camp Academic Director | |
| Spike Lee | ... | Himself - Film Director | |
| Bo Ellis | ... | Himself - Marquette University Assistant Backetball Coach | |
| Bob Gibbons | ... | Himself - Basketball Scout | |
| Dennis Doyle | ... | Himself - High School Assistant Basketball Coach | |
| Clarence Webb | ... | Himself - High School Science Teacher | |
| Stan Wilson | ... | Himself - Basketball Scout | |
| Derrick Zinneman | ... | Himself - High School Basketball Player | |
| Tim Gray | ... | Himself - Junior College Basketball Coach | |
| Myron Gordon | ... | Himself - Junior College Basketball Player | |
| Steve James | ... | Narrator | |
| rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
| Elijiah Ephraim | ... | Himself | |
| Eric Anderson | ... | Himself (uncredited) | |
| Bobby Cremins | ... | Himself (uncredited) | |
| Juwan Howard | ... | Himself (uncredited) | |
| Mike Krzyzewski | ... | Himself (uncredited) | |
| Rick Pitino | ... | Himself (uncredited) | |
| Jalen Rose | ... | Himself (uncredited) | |
| John Thompson | ... | Himself (uncredited) | |
| Chris Webber | ... | Himself (uncredited) | |
Directed by | |||
| Steve James | |||
Writing credits(in alphabetical order) | ||
| Steve James | ||
| Frederick Marx | ||
Produced by | |||
| Catherine Allan | .... | executive producer | |
| Peter Gilbert | .... | producer | |
| Steve James | .... | producer | |
| Frederick Marx | .... | producer | |
| Gordon Quinn | .... | co-producer | |
| Gordon Quinn | .... | executive producer | |
Original Music by | |||
| Ben Sidran | |||
Cinematography by | |||
| Peter Gilbert | |||
Film Editing by | |||
| William Haugse | |||
| Steve James | |||
| Frederick Marx | |||
Production Management | |||
| Emily Stevens | .... | production manager: KTCA | |
| Suzanne Suffredin | .... | post-production supervisor | |
Sound Department | |||
| Cory Coken | .... | sound mixer | |
| Ric Coken | .... | sound mixer | |
| Bryen Hensley | .... | sound mixer | |
| Bill Jenkins | .... | additional sound | |
| Margaret M.S. Marvin | .... | sound mixer | |
| Mirko Popadic | .... | additional sound | |
| Chuck Rapp | .... | sound mixer | |
| Ed Scott | .... | additional sound | |
| Adam Singer | .... | sound | |
| Tom Yore | .... | sound | |
Editorial Department | |||
| Lou Anastas | .... | assistant editor | |
| Linda Balek | .... | assistant editor | |
| Fenell Doremus | .... | assistant editor | |
| Fenell Doremus | .... | post-production coordinator | |
| Jim Fetterley | .... | assistant editor | |
| Sarah Galloway | .... | assistant editor | |
| Lisa Hubbard | .... | assistant editor | |
| Robert Jung | .... | colorist | |
| Neil Laird | .... | assistant editor | |
| Craig Leffel | .... | colorist | |
| Oscar Oboza | .... | colorist (as Oscar Oboza Jr.) | |
Music Department | |||
| Ben Sidran | .... | music producer | |
| Tom Yore | .... | composer: additional music | |
Other crew | |||
| Paul Andrews | .... | additional on-line | |
| David A. Baran | .... | intern: Kartemquin (as David Baran) | |
| Gerry Berlin | .... | legal assistance | |
| Brian Boyl | .... | intern: Kartemquin (as Brian Boyd) | |
| Brian Boyl | .... | production assistant (as Brian Boyd) | |
| Tony Creer | .... | intern: Kartemquin | |
| Ena Dahm | .... | accountant | |
| Fenell Doremus | .... | staff member: Kartemquin | |
| George Eastman | .... | title designer | |
| Joanne Elam | .... | accountant | |
| Brian Farley | .... | intern: Kartemquin | |
| Brian Farley | .... | production assistant | |
| Than Feis | .... | intern: Kartemquin | |
| Jim Fetterley | .... | staff: Kartemquin | |
| Betsy Fil | .... | title designer | |
| Vanessa Finch | .... | intern: Kartemquin | |
| Julia Gibbs | .... | intern: Kartemquin | |
| Julia Gibbs | .... | production assistant | |
| Kim Harper | .... | additional on-line | |
| Laura Hoffman | .... | researcher | |
| Jenny Sioux Hopkins | .... | on-line: IPA | |
| John Jackson | .... | intern: Kartemquin | |
| Tricia John | .... | accountant | |
| Quentin King | .... | legal assistance | |
| Lucy Kinsella | .... | intern: Kartemquin | |
| Neil Laird | .... | production assistant | |
| Anne LaPorte | .... | additional on-line (as Anne 'Closure' LaPorte) | |
| Ken Leshin | .... | additional on-line | |
| Frederick Marx | .... | on-line: Kartemquin | |
| Teddy Mattera | .... | intern: Kartemquin | |
| Marcy McCall | .... | staff: Kartemquin | |
| William Morris | .... | production assistant (as Bill Morris) | |
| William Morris | .... | staff: Kartemquin (as Bill Morris) | |
| Jim Morrissette | .... | technical advisor | |
| Laura Mulhauser | .... | intern: Kartemquin | |
| Bob Musker | .... | intern: Kartemquin | |
| Bob Musker | .... | production assistant | |
| Mark Nielson | .... | staff: Kartemquin | |
| Jim Olen | .... | additional on-line | |
| Mike Perelstein | .... | legal assistance | |
| Brian T. Pitts | .... | production assistant (as Brian Pitts) | |
| Gordon Quinn | .... | creative consultant | |
| Tim Reyna | .... | additional on-line | |
| Gerald Richman | .... | executive in charge of KTCA | |
| Pam Schmidt | .... | intern: Kartemquin | |
| Eric Scholl | .... | on-line: IPA | |
| Pete Senten | .... | additional on-line | |
| Bill Siegel | .... | researcher | |
| John Sloss | .... | legal assistance | |
| Jill Soloway | .... | staff: Kartemquin | |
| April Sopkin | .... | intern: Kartemquin | |
| Melissa Sterne | .... | on-line: Kartemquin | |
| Tom Sullens | .... | intern: Kartemquin | |
| Eric Torres | .... | intern: Kartemquin | |
| Ralph Walsh | .... | intern: Kartemquin | |
| Stephanie Wertlake | .... | staff: Kartemquin | |
| Angela Wood | .... | intern: Kartemquin | |
Thanks | |||
| Michael Apted | .... | thanks | |
| D.L. Bean | .... | thanks | |
| Luther Bedford | .... | special thanks: Marshall High School | |
| Frank Beidler | .... | special thanks: program support (as Pru and Frank Beidler) | |
| Pru Beidler | .... | special thanks: program support (as Pru and Frank Beidler) | |
| Alvin Bibbs | .... | thanks (as Alvin and Peggy Bibbs) | |
| Peggy Bibbs | .... | thanks (as Alvin and Peggy Bibbs) | |
| David Blair | .... | thanks | |
| Jerry Blumenthal | .... | thanks | |
| Patricia Boero | .... | thanks | |
| Bob Boone | .... | thanks: Glencoe Study Center | |
| Jim Bostrum | .... | thanks | |
| Ray Boyer | .... | thanks | |
| Walter Brody | .... | thanks: Sound Ideas | |
| Beverly Brooks | .... | thanks | |
| Steve Brown | .... | thanks | |
| Margaret Caples | .... | thanks | |
| Al Cohn | .... | thanks | |
| Johnny Lee Davenport | .... | thanks (as Johnnie Lee Davenport) | |
| Frank DuBois | .... | thanks | |
| Bob Ebel | .... | thanks | |
| Harry Edwards | .... | thanks | |
| Bill Firnbach | .... | thanks | |
| Michael Flaherty | .... | special thanks: St. Joseph High School (as Principal Brother Michael Flarherty) | |
| Greg Gaither | .... | thanks | |
| Don Garvey | .... | thanks | |
| John O. Gibson | .... | special thanks: Marshall High School (as Principal John O. Gibson) | |
| Arnie Gilbert | .... | thanks: life support | |
| Dru Gilbert | .... | thanks: life support | |
| Temmie Gilbert | .... | thanks: life support | |
| Tim Gray | .... | thanks | |
| Larry Hawkins | .... | thanks | |
| Sandra Heberer | .... | thanks | |
| John Hefferon | .... | thanks (as Dr. John Hefferon) | |
| Jim Hennessey | .... | thanks (as Jim Hennessey and Katje Rooney) | |
| Tod Himmel | .... | thanks | |
| Kathy Hurley | .... | thanks | |
| John Iltis | .... | thanks (as David Sikich & John Iltis) | |
| Scott Jacobs | .... | thanks | |
| Imogene James | .... | thanks: life support | |
| William James | .... | thanks: life support | |
| Michael Jordan | .... | thanks | |
| David Kaplan | .... | thanks | |
| Jack Kaplan | .... | thanks | |
| Barbara Kopple | .... | thanks | |
| Tom Kowalski | .... | thanks | |
| Peter Kuttner | .... | thanks | |
| Richard Lapchick | .... | thanks | |
| Kirk LaVine | .... | thanks | |
| Richard Mandeberg | .... | thanks | |
| Don Marbury | .... | thanks | |
| Ellen Marx | .... | thanks: life support | |
| Larry Marx | .... | thanks: life support | |
| Miriam Marx | .... | thanks: life support | |
| Bernard McKune | .... | thanks | |
| Edonnya Merritt | .... | thanks | |
| Rich Moskel | .... | thanks | |
| Salim Muwakkil | .... | thanks | |
| William Nelson | .... | thanks | |
| Margie Nicholson | .... | thanks | |
| Delano O'Bannion | .... | thanks | |
| Jim O'Boyle | .... | thanks: KOST Broadcast Sales | |
| Kevin O'Neill | .... | thanks | |
| Carol Obertubbesing | .... | thanks | |
| Mary Patton | .... | thanks | |
| Richard Pena | .... | thanks | |
| John Pierson | .... | thanks | |
| Francine Pope | .... | thanks | |
| Tom Radtke | .... | thanks | |
| Jenny Rohrer | .... | thanks | |
| Katje Rooney | .... | thanks (as Jim Hennessey and Katje Rooney) | |
| Judy Roth | .... | thanks: life support | |
| John Schram | .... | thanks: Sports Management Network | |
| Jane Schrepel | .... | thanks | |
| Barbara Searle | .... | thanks | |
| Michael Shepley | .... | thanks | |
| Alan Siegel | .... | thanks | |
| David Sikich | .... | thanks (as David Sikich & John Iltis) | |
| Margot Stern Strom | .... | thanks | |
| Art Taylor | .... | thanks | |
| Carol Taylor | .... | thanks | |
| Jim Taylor | .... | thanks | |
| Susan Taylor | .... | thanks: life support | |
| Isiah Thomas | .... | thanks | |
| Barbara Trent | .... | thanks | |
| Joyce Washington | .... | special thanks: Marshall High School | |
| Howard Weinberg | .... | thanks | |
| Tom Weinberg | .... | thanks | |
| Woody Wickham | .... | thanks | |
| Chuck Wielgus | .... | thanks | |
| Janette Wilson | .... | thanks | |
| Alexander Wolff | .... | thanks | |
| Preston Wolin | .... | thanks (as Dr. Preston Wolin) | |
| Gary Wood | .... | thanks | |
| Dan Woods-Lindley | .... | special thanks: program support (as Dan and Lucia Woods-Lindley) | |
| Lucia Woods-Lindley | .... | special thanks: program support (as Dan and Lucia Woods-Lindley) | |
| Clarence Wordlaw | .... | thanks | |
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| Fathers of the Sport | Half Nelson | Coach Carter | Hoosiers | Love & Basketball |
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| Full cast and crew | Company credits | External reviews |
| News articles | IMDb Documentary section | IMDb USA section |
This film simply exemplifies the reason why I hate most Oscar voters. This movie didn't even get a nomination, and it was one of the most successful documentaries ever! This especially exhibits the encroachment of coaches, family and other parties when it comes to the well being of inner city kids, who just happen to be good basketball players. Considering the state of pro basketball now, this kind of shows how the downward cycle of basketball was seeking lower standards. Sometimes funny, often times sad and poignant, this film is easily one of the best documentaries of all time.