Gunnin' for That #1 Spot (2008)

Director:

Adam Yauch

Release Date:

10 October 2008 (UK)

Genre:

Documentary

Plot:

Eight of the U.S.'s top high school basketball players compete in the first "Elite 24" tournament at Rucker Park.

Plot Keywords:

Apostrophe In Title | Digit In Title | Punctuation In Title | Number In Title

Cast

Jerryd Bayless	...	Himself
Michael Beasley	...	Himself
Tyreke Evans	...	Himself
Robert Garcia	...	Unofficial MC / Narrator (as Bobbito Garcia)
Donte Greene	...	Himself
Brandon Jennings	...	Himself
Jason Kidd	...	Himself
Kevin Love	...	Himself
Kyle Singler	...	Himself
Lance Stephenson	...	Himself

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for language.

Runtime:

USA:90 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

USA:PG-13

Filming Locations:

Harlem, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Oscilloscope Pictures

"Gunnin" is the new Hoops Dreams

The release of Hoop Dreams in 1994 set the standard for basketball documentaries. It depicted the lives of two young men on their journey to fulfill their "hoop dreams," discussing their victories as well as the challenges in their way. No film has since had the same impact; Hoop Dreams was the Michael Jordan of basketball films. So who are the Lebrons, the Carmelo Anthonys, the Chris Pauls? Hoop Dreams has had no match, no counterpart until Oscilloscope's Gunnin' For That #1 Spot. Gunnin' documents eight of the nation's top-ranked high school basketball players as they travel to the first-ever Elite 24 basketball game at the famous Rucker Park in Harlem, where legends have been known to be born. Between astonishing clips of high school games, where senior Kevin Love breaks the glass dunking, and interviews with coaches, trainers, critics, and family, the boys tell us about themselves, their hopes, their game, why they play. It is clear from listening to them talk that they are typical teenage boys who go to regular schools and have regular lives, except one thing; they are the nation's top high school basketball players of any age, and they're almost famous. As the story moves on from getting to know them, their lives, and their game, we become as eager for the Rucker game as the boys themselves, trying to anticipate who will shine. In Harlem, the boys spend three days together, practicing with NBA trainers and being showered with freebees as companies try to snatch the boys up for endorsement early. The game is not a high school game, and these great eight are not just high school players. Dunk after dunk, windmills and swooshes from across the court, the Rucker game brings the excitement of every slam dunk contest, the discipline of the basketball veterans, and renewed intensity reminiscent of Hoop Dreams. Gunnin' leaves us wanting more, hungry for slams dunks and anxious to see which one of these basketball phenoms will join the ranks, who will claim that number one spot.