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Hoop Dreams: A True Story of Hardship & Triumph
To Arthur Agee and William Gates, basketball means literally everything. Their only escape from the grim streets of Chicago's West Side is onto the neighborhood courts, where they and their friends dream of playing in the NBA. For most it's just a forlorn hope, but Arthur and William are different: barely out of grade school, they already display the raw potential that just might make their dreams come true. Hoop Dreams began as a documentary film that tracked these two young men for almost five years as they struggled to turn their playground skills into the kind of basketball mastery that could earn them college scholarships - and maybe even a place in the pros. Critics from coast to coast hailed the film as one of the finest documentaries ever made, both a superb portrait of two gifted teenagers working their way through the tough, often cruel basketball machine, and a searing look at the harsh realities of inner-city life. In this remarkable book, award-winning journalist Ben Joravsky chronicles Arthur and William's battle to reach the top and tells the story that could not be told on film. His vivid prose evokes the experience of being plucked from the projects and offered a glittering future. He captures not only the moments of basketball glory at suburban St. Joseph High School, which produced superstar Isiah Thomas, but also the loneliness of being poor and black in an affluent, mostly white school and the overwhelming pressure to perform both on the court and in the classroom.
299 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1995
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435 people want to read
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September 2, 2019
Recently two sports buddy reading friends of mine completed new release Lady Tigers on the Concrete Jungle. I noted that this sounded like Hoop Dreams for girls, and one of them agreed that this was a fair comparison. Although this now iconic documentary had been released in 1994, none of us had ever read the book version and decided to do so. Twenty five years later when kids still dream of making it to the NBA and other inner city kids are still gunned down by gang violence, Hoop Dreams remains a poignant story of perseverance.
In 1987 the Chicago basketball scene did not resemble the atmosphere of today. Kids did not specialize in one sport year round or play in exclusive travel leagues during their school’s off season. Only a handful of middle school students were being recruited by colleges, and, if they were, in the days before the internet and social media, things were kept quiet. On the west side of Chicago in the heart of the ghetto there was always a pickup game of basketball to be played, either on the black top or at a recreation center. Scouts for public and private high schools scoured these games to find the next star to come out of Chicago. In the mid 1980s, Chicago was a hotbed of basketball action, with many high school stars taking their game to the next level, some all the way to the NBA. Kids dreamed about being the next city star to make it, but, in terms of west side Chicago basketball, no rags to riches story shined brighter than that of St Josephs High School star turned NBA player Isaiah Thomas.
Scout Earl Smith discovered William Gates and Arthur Agee on the Chicago playgrounds in 1987 and convinced both families to send their sons to St Josephs. Teaming up in the backcourt for legendary coach Gene Pingatore, the duo would have a chance to be better than Isaiah and take their team to the state finals. From there, the sky was the limit to their dreams. In the late 1980s, however, basketball was changing. After Michael Jordan’s iconic shot over Craig Ehlo in the 1987 playoffs, Chicago boys wanted to be like Mike and model their games after him. During Gates’ and Agee’s time in high school, they eventually changed their allegiances from Isaiah to Jordan, seeing that Jordan’s game was fast paced and more fluid to the watch than the defensive minded struggles favored by Isaiah. Yet, Coach Pingatore still placed Isaiah on a pedestal after many years of coaching and believed that if any players had a chance to measure up to him, it would be Gates and Agee. Despite numerous promises of greatness, multiple events would occur threatening to derail the boys’ Dreams.
Behind the scenes, William Gates and his family lived in a small apartment in the Cabrini Green projects. His father was not a part of his life, and his mother Emma worked multiple jobs so that her six children would have what to eat and avoid the gang activity surrounding them. When money was tight, the older siblings organized potato peeling parties and the family lived on French fries for a week. The trip from Cabrini to St Josephs would have taken William two and a half hours round trip, so during the week he lived with his sister Peggy and her family on the west side closer to the school. He left behind his mother and girl friend Catharine and later their daughter Alicia in order to get what scouts told his mother was a better chance in a life- a chance that his older and more gifted brother Curtis never had and a chance that included mopping floors after school to pay for his tuition. All Gates wanted was to play basketball; yet, being isolated from his family and being one of few African American students at St Josephs made playing the game a struggle. All of Emma’s children received a high school diploma and she was determined that William would be no different, with or without basketball.
Arthur Agee and his family lived not far from Cabrini Green in a decrepit west side neighborhood. His mother Sheila struggled to make ends meet, and his father Bo turned to deception, drugs, and burglary and was rarely home. In a home that included Sheila, Arthur, and siblings Sweetie and Tomekia and her daughter, Sheila received only $368 in welfare a month, hardly enough to pay bills and support a family. Sheila was one of ten siblings from a close knit family from Birmingham, Alabama, and had followed Bo north chasing his dream. She knew that she and her children were better than the conditions that they lived in and vowed to eventually become a registered nurse even if it meant struggling to make ends meet. This struggle included not being able to pay for Arthur to attend St Josephs, and he eventually transferred back to neighborhood public school Marshall High. At Marshall, Arthur faced the challenges that occur at an inner city school- drugs, gangs, girl friend hangers on- when all he wanted to do was play basketball. Modeling his game after Jordan rather than Isaiah, Arthur was determined to do right by his mother and finish high school and eventually earn a college degree.
Hoop Dreams the movie changed the way documentaries were filmed and is still relevant twenty years later. Film makers followed the Gates and Agee families for six years and became a fixture in both William and Arthur’s lives, even when Catharine gave birth to Alicia and William had knee surgery and when Sheila had no money to pay her bills. Perhaps with the constant presence of the film makers, basketball became more of a chore than fun for both teens, and neither ever reached the potential that scouts saw in them. Both went to college and earned degrees, married, and became productive members of society. This should be the true hoop dream, not the aspiration of making it to the NBA, which few kids do, and many more end up on inner city streets. Twenty five years later, Hoop Dreams should be shown to city high school basketball teams, so that teens can see that are possibilities in life beyond basketball. If there is one legacy from Hoop Dreams, it is that star players including Jalen Rose and current megastar LeBron James have even opened schools encouraging their students to graduate, offering college scholarships to the ones who finish in four years. The ability to make one’s way in society is a brighter gift than a hoop dream.
Ben Joravsky followed the Gates and Agee families for an additional year in order to write the book version of their story, after the film had already won awards. By the then, both families still graciously allowed Joravsky into their homes but appeared tired of the constant presence in their lives. As a result, Joravsky, despite being a Pulitzer Prize winning journalist, writes a book that will not win awards for its prose even though this subject is one that absolutely needs to be discussed. The book is geared toward a young adult audience before the young adult genre became what is today, and it is more important for teenagers than established adults to read Gates and Agee’s tale. This fast reading companion to the award winning film is still timely a quarter century later and should not be overlooked by high school parents and teachers alike.
3.5 stars
In 1987 the Chicago basketball scene did not resemble the atmosphere of today. Kids did not specialize in one sport year round or play in exclusive travel leagues during their school’s off season. Only a handful of middle school students were being recruited by colleges, and, if they were, in the days before the internet and social media, things were kept quiet. On the west side of Chicago in the heart of the ghetto there was always a pickup game of basketball to be played, either on the black top or at a recreation center. Scouts for public and private high schools scoured these games to find the next star to come out of Chicago. In the mid 1980s, Chicago was a hotbed of basketball action, with many high school stars taking their game to the next level, some all the way to the NBA. Kids dreamed about being the next city star to make it, but, in terms of west side Chicago basketball, no rags to riches story shined brighter than that of St Josephs High School star turned NBA player Isaiah Thomas.
Scout Earl Smith discovered William Gates and Arthur Agee on the Chicago playgrounds in 1987 and convinced both families to send their sons to St Josephs. Teaming up in the backcourt for legendary coach Gene Pingatore, the duo would have a chance to be better than Isaiah and take their team to the state finals. From there, the sky was the limit to their dreams. In the late 1980s, however, basketball was changing. After Michael Jordan’s iconic shot over Craig Ehlo in the 1987 playoffs, Chicago boys wanted to be like Mike and model their games after him. During Gates’ and Agee’s time in high school, they eventually changed their allegiances from Isaiah to Jordan, seeing that Jordan’s game was fast paced and more fluid to the watch than the defensive minded struggles favored by Isaiah. Yet, Coach Pingatore still placed Isaiah on a pedestal after many years of coaching and believed that if any players had a chance to measure up to him, it would be Gates and Agee. Despite numerous promises of greatness, multiple events would occur threatening to derail the boys’ Dreams.
Behind the scenes, William Gates and his family lived in a small apartment in the Cabrini Green projects. His father was not a part of his life, and his mother Emma worked multiple jobs so that her six children would have what to eat and avoid the gang activity surrounding them. When money was tight, the older siblings organized potato peeling parties and the family lived on French fries for a week. The trip from Cabrini to St Josephs would have taken William two and a half hours round trip, so during the week he lived with his sister Peggy and her family on the west side closer to the school. He left behind his mother and girl friend Catharine and later their daughter Alicia in order to get what scouts told his mother was a better chance in a life- a chance that his older and more gifted brother Curtis never had and a chance that included mopping floors after school to pay for his tuition. All Gates wanted was to play basketball; yet, being isolated from his family and being one of few African American students at St Josephs made playing the game a struggle. All of Emma’s children received a high school diploma and she was determined that William would be no different, with or without basketball.
Arthur Agee and his family lived not far from Cabrini Green in a decrepit west side neighborhood. His mother Sheila struggled to make ends meet, and his father Bo turned to deception, drugs, and burglary and was rarely home. In a home that included Sheila, Arthur, and siblings Sweetie and Tomekia and her daughter, Sheila received only $368 in welfare a month, hardly enough to pay bills and support a family. Sheila was one of ten siblings from a close knit family from Birmingham, Alabama, and had followed Bo north chasing his dream. She knew that she and her children were better than the conditions that they lived in and vowed to eventually become a registered nurse even if it meant struggling to make ends meet. This struggle included not being able to pay for Arthur to attend St Josephs, and he eventually transferred back to neighborhood public school Marshall High. At Marshall, Arthur faced the challenges that occur at an inner city school- drugs, gangs, girl friend hangers on- when all he wanted to do was play basketball. Modeling his game after Jordan rather than Isaiah, Arthur was determined to do right by his mother and finish high school and eventually earn a college degree.
Hoop Dreams the movie changed the way documentaries were filmed and is still relevant twenty years later. Film makers followed the Gates and Agee families for six years and became a fixture in both William and Arthur’s lives, even when Catharine gave birth to Alicia and William had knee surgery and when Sheila had no money to pay her bills. Perhaps with the constant presence of the film makers, basketball became more of a chore than fun for both teens, and neither ever reached the potential that scouts saw in them. Both went to college and earned degrees, married, and became productive members of society. This should be the true hoop dream, not the aspiration of making it to the NBA, which few kids do, and many more end up on inner city streets. Twenty five years later, Hoop Dreams should be shown to city high school basketball teams, so that teens can see that are possibilities in life beyond basketball. If there is one legacy from Hoop Dreams, it is that star players including Jalen Rose and current megastar LeBron James have even opened schools encouraging their students to graduate, offering college scholarships to the ones who finish in four years. The ability to make one’s way in society is a brighter gift than a hoop dream.
Ben Joravsky followed the Gates and Agee families for an additional year in order to write the book version of their story, after the film had already won awards. By the then, both families still graciously allowed Joravsky into their homes but appeared tired of the constant presence in their lives. As a result, Joravsky, despite being a Pulitzer Prize winning journalist, writes a book that will not win awards for its prose even though this subject is one that absolutely needs to be discussed. The book is geared toward a young adult audience before the young adult genre became what is today, and it is more important for teenagers than established adults to read Gates and Agee’s tale. This fast reading companion to the award winning film is still timely a quarter century later and should not be overlooked by high school parents and teachers alike.
3.5 stars
March 7, 2018
I am currently reading a superb book called Hoop Dreams By Ben Joravsky. Although I am only 60 something pages into the book I find it very interesting and am already relating to the characters Arthur and William. In the book I am noticing the message of the book and how the chances of making the NBA are stacked against you. I deffinately will continue to be reading this book as I am greatly enjoying it.
September 10, 2019
2.5 thoughts soon.
October 27, 2014
Title: Hoop Dreams
Author: Ben Joravsky and Charles Barkley
Main Characters: William and Arthur, 17 years old
They both live in Chicago and can both relate to each other. Both want to go far and be professional basketball players. Their paths start out in a similar way, as they both head off to St Josephs Prep, with a scholarship, a private school away from the streets and playgrounds of Chicago that both William and Arthur had become so accustomed to. However, as time passes, their journeys become very different. William continues to thrive on the court and manages to work through his difficult schoolwork, while Arthur and his family get to the turning point where Arthur can no longer be a part of the prestigious school of St. Joseph's.
The conflict William and Arthur both go through is the fact that they can't afford their college. William is studying and working for the better life he deserves and Arthur's family couldn't afford to pay the money and he left. He has the same dream and continues to push and pursue his success in basketball although he is not in a good school. These are just 2 troubled city kids in the streets trying to improve life for themselves and their families.
I would definitely recommend this book to anyone that has the same dream of becoming a professional basketball player. I loved this book because I could relate to it very much. This is an inspiring book that tells the lives of two boys making it to the top. "Hoop Dreams" is fantastic for people who are determined and are persistent for what they do. This book is also about diversity and where you come from comparing yourself to other communities.
Author: Ben Joravsky and Charles Barkley
Main Characters: William and Arthur, 17 years old
They both live in Chicago and can both relate to each other. Both want to go far and be professional basketball players. Their paths start out in a similar way, as they both head off to St Josephs Prep, with a scholarship, a private school away from the streets and playgrounds of Chicago that both William and Arthur had become so accustomed to. However, as time passes, their journeys become very different. William continues to thrive on the court and manages to work through his difficult schoolwork, while Arthur and his family get to the turning point where Arthur can no longer be a part of the prestigious school of St. Joseph's.
The conflict William and Arthur both go through is the fact that they can't afford their college. William is studying and working for the better life he deserves and Arthur's family couldn't afford to pay the money and he left. He has the same dream and continues to push and pursue his success in basketball although he is not in a good school. These are just 2 troubled city kids in the streets trying to improve life for themselves and their families.
I would definitely recommend this book to anyone that has the same dream of becoming a professional basketball player. I loved this book because I could relate to it very much. This is an inspiring book that tells the lives of two boys making it to the top. "Hoop Dreams" is fantastic for people who are determined and are persistent for what they do. This book is also about diversity and where you come from comparing yourself to other communities.
May 25, 2012
Hoop dreams by Ben Jorvasky is a amazing story of hard work and struggle. William Gates and Athur Agee are two young hoop stars with big dreams. They both aspire to play in the NBA, and both have the raw potential and talent to suceed, but the real question is can they sacrifice thier spare time and focuse on getting good grades and polishing their raw skills. Hoops dreams the book was based of the documentary hoop dreams. I have also whatched the documentary and it is very good. They really complete each other, the book goes more in depth in the characters history and the documentary shows you what the characters arre like in real life and how they act. To get the full story you have to read the book and whatch the movie. I absolutly loved this book. It was facinating to whatch a basketball based documentary in real life. I loved it and felt i could realate to it. I would recomend this book to any basketball or sports fan. It is a true story with up and downs and not every thing turns out perfect but that is what makes it good.
June 6, 2017
Hoop dreams is a biography about two kids from the streets of Chicago, Arthur Agee and William Gates. These two kids are from poor neighborhoods who have a high crime rate. Also both are very talented a basketball. They get recruited to a high school thats in a nicer part of Chicago and is a much better academic and athletic school. The book goes through their journeys as kids and players. After there high school career they both go on to play division 1 basketball at major schools. My favorite part in the book is when there in the state championship and Arthur hits the game winning shot. I recommend this book to people who enjoy sport documentaries or biographies. I give this book 5 stars.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 6, 2018
This was a very emotional book that was written very well. It’s about inner city kids who want to make it to the NBA so they decide they want to play for a premier high school team. They have to travel 90 minutes each way and the book is about the kids avoiding all the obstacles of there lives on and off the court.
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September 5, 2017For summer reading, I read Hoop Dreams by Ben Joravsky, is a book published on February 2nd, 1996. It is a non fiction, coming of age novel. It takes place in Chicago during the late 1980’s, and early 1990’s. Arthur Agee and William Gates are two basketball players, and they are the main characters. Both of them are invited to a private school after being recruited after playing in different parks. Arthur gets kicked out and both players go on their rough, separate journeys through high school. This teaches what these two players had to fight for.
In my opinion, I thought it was a great book. I am interested in basketball, so there was already some appeal. I really enjoyed how they told the story, and how interesting it was. It did a great job of telling both their stories, and giving each time.
In my opinion, I thought it was a great book. I am interested in basketball, so there was already some appeal. I really enjoyed how they told the story, and how interesting it was. It did a great job of telling both their stories, and giving each time.
February 6, 2012
This is a draft
Somebody: William Gates a boy that lives in Chicago with a poor family.
Wanted: To go to a school to Ishaih Thomas pro NBA player went and get to the National Basketball Association [NBA]
But: had to have a good education to participate on the basketball team.
So: He went to St. Joesph preliminary a white school That gave him a good education that helped get to the next level.
then: suffered a injury then lost a d-1 school scholarship.
--------------------------Final----------------------------------------
William Gates a young high school student that lives in ghetto projects of Chicago whose parents aren't rich enough for him to get a good education at a private school.
Wanted to go to a school pro NBA player Isaiah Thomas old high school and get to the NBA. However had to get a good education to succeed to get on the basketball team to get to the next level of competition. So William goes to St. Joesph a preliminary white school that will give him a good education and basketball program that will help him in the near future. Then it all went bad as he suffered a knee injury that end a season and lost a scholarship from a Division 1 school. Finally he got a child and has too make a choice on either his family or basketball.
The circle of life is the theme because William was a kid who didn’t care for school then got good grades, and then next got a family and now is he has a baby.
Somebody: William Gates a boy that lives in Chicago with a poor family.
Wanted: To go to a school to Ishaih Thomas pro NBA player went and get to the National Basketball Association [NBA]
But: had to have a good education to participate on the basketball team.
So: He went to St. Joesph preliminary a white school That gave him a good education that helped get to the next level.
then: suffered a injury then lost a d-1 school scholarship.
--------------------------Final----------------------------------------
William Gates a young high school student that lives in ghetto projects of Chicago whose parents aren't rich enough for him to get a good education at a private school.
Wanted to go to a school pro NBA player Isaiah Thomas old high school and get to the NBA. However had to get a good education to succeed to get on the basketball team to get to the next level of competition. So William goes to St. Joesph a preliminary white school that will give him a good education and basketball program that will help him in the near future. Then it all went bad as he suffered a knee injury that end a season and lost a scholarship from a Division 1 school. Finally he got a child and has too make a choice on either his family or basketball.
The circle of life is the theme because William was a kid who didn’t care for school then got good grades, and then next got a family and now is he has a baby.
September 18, 2011
I haven't finished this book, but so far I love it! it's one of my favorite books. I can relate to it a lot, a boy who has a dream of becoming a professional Basketball player (NBA). He loves playing basketball and has been playing it all his life. His not the riches kid so struggles. Then he gets the opportunity of his life he gets scouted and that's where his dream starts to come true. He goes to a camp where they make him better and improve his weaknesses.
My life has also been all basketball. Like him I want to become a basketball player (WNBA). It's My passion and My love. Working hard is a big park of basketall, Basketball is not easy it takes years of practice everyday.
My life has also been all basketball. Like him I want to become a basketball player (WNBA). It's My passion and My love. Working hard is a big park of basketall, Basketball is not easy it takes years of practice everyday.
September 23, 2011
This is a rare case where the movie (documentary) was far better than the book. But the book was good and did offer some insights into the minds and struggles of William Gates and Arthur Agee that can't been seen on screen. Equal parts sad and inspiring.
February 27, 2015
This book is really good for people that like basketball because it shows how hard it is to become successful in a big town like Chicago. People should read this book because its very suspenseful and you always want to see what happens next.
October 25, 2017
Hoop Dreams is an easy read for students in middle school, or above. It is a true, heartwarming story that is told, by Ben Joravsky, through the eyes of two kids named, Arthur Agee and William Gates. Joravsky wrote this book, so that every chapter it is either told through Arthur’s, or William's, eyes. He tells the story with a lot of dialogue, as if he is having the conversations with other people through Arthur and William’s point of view. He does this, so that the reader can get a sense on how they are approaching events they have on the court and off the court. Even though there is some swearing throughout the story, the swearing just adds to the effect the book has on the reader. These two kids have wanted nothing more than to play basketball professionally. This book describes their dedication, hard work, struggles with their family life as well as their basketball life, and everything in between them being in 8th grade to college. This book shows the long journey, both teens had to face, to achieve their dreams. Dreams are similar to goals in a way. They both want to be achieved. However, in this book it shows that people’s dreams are not always what they want, nor what they get. As the story progresses, Joravsky, describes their adventures, and how they both solve their problems. Joravsky makes this story a page turner, where the reader always wants to find out what’s happening next.
This is truly a great story that many people are recommending to other basketball players who want nothing more than to be part of a professional basketball team. I was drawn to this book, because I am a basketball player. I thought that it would be interesting reading a book about a player, or players, who had the same hopes and dreams that I have. Hearing their story, has kind of told me that there are some achievable parts of the dream to play professionally, but after a long time of playing the sport, there will be an instance where it either isn’t as fun as it was in the past, or something happens that negatively impacts my opinion of the game itself. This book, however, doesn’t just have to be for sports players, it can be for anyone who is interested in reading in general. This is because there are some life lessons, where people have to make the right choices to positively progress in life. I truly recommend this book, to anyone who thinks they would be interested in a heartwarming, true, story that understands a least a little bit about the shared dreams of any teenage athlete. Through all of the hardships Arthur and William face, both teens still want to find a way to pursue their dreams, and achieve their goals of becoming a professional basketball player.
This is truly a great story that many people are recommending to other basketball players who want nothing more than to be part of a professional basketball team. I was drawn to this book, because I am a basketball player. I thought that it would be interesting reading a book about a player, or players, who had the same hopes and dreams that I have. Hearing their story, has kind of told me that there are some achievable parts of the dream to play professionally, but after a long time of playing the sport, there will be an instance where it either isn’t as fun as it was in the past, or something happens that negatively impacts my opinion of the game itself. This book, however, doesn’t just have to be for sports players, it can be for anyone who is interested in reading in general. This is because there are some life lessons, where people have to make the right choices to positively progress in life. I truly recommend this book, to anyone who thinks they would be interested in a heartwarming, true, story that understands a least a little bit about the shared dreams of any teenage athlete. Through all of the hardships Arthur and William face, both teens still want to find a way to pursue their dreams, and achieve their goals of becoming a professional basketball player.
April 13, 2018
Book Review: Hoop Dreams
Do you like reading books with a twist interesting life styles that 2 boys go through? Hoop Dreams, published: 1995
Author: Ben Joravsky, Genre: Biography. The book is really just 2 boys in the hood trying to be superstars and go through some stuff with school and family very interesting. It's a biography because this is based off of a documentary they they made about the boys and followed them around there whole high school career.
The 2 main characters are 2 boys named William Gates and Arthur Agee. The settings is in Chicago in the hood where it's hard to live through. Main problem is high school for them they go through some rough times and some good times but it is a bumpy road for them boys. William and Arthur end up going to school together at St. Joes high school to pursue their dreams of basketball. One gets cheated out and goes through some stuff with the school and the other one gets to stay at the school do to favoritism but ends up getting injured during the season. One ends up going to college and playing ball for a school but the other one goes to college but doesn't finish.
I really enjoyed the book the way it started through the way it finished and normally I don't like reading but this book is very good I would highly recommend it. The messages in the book about life is very good i liked it a lot. I think people would enjoy this book if they like to read about real life stories and and what they go through because some people can relate to that book. So if you are looking for a great book to read, pick up the Hoop Dreams and start reading today.
Do you like reading books with a twist interesting life styles that 2 boys go through? Hoop Dreams, published: 1995
Author: Ben Joravsky, Genre: Biography. The book is really just 2 boys in the hood trying to be superstars and go through some stuff with school and family very interesting. It's a biography because this is based off of a documentary they they made about the boys and followed them around there whole high school career.
The 2 main characters are 2 boys named William Gates and Arthur Agee. The settings is in Chicago in the hood where it's hard to live through. Main problem is high school for them they go through some rough times and some good times but it is a bumpy road for them boys. William and Arthur end up going to school together at St. Joes high school to pursue their dreams of basketball. One gets cheated out and goes through some stuff with the school and the other one gets to stay at the school do to favoritism but ends up getting injured during the season. One ends up going to college and playing ball for a school but the other one goes to college but doesn't finish.
I really enjoyed the book the way it started through the way it finished and normally I don't like reading but this book is very good I would highly recommend it. The messages in the book about life is very good i liked it a lot. I think people would enjoy this book if they like to read about real life stories and and what they go through because some people can relate to that book. So if you are looking for a great book to read, pick up the Hoop Dreams and start reading today.
April 13, 2018
Title : Hoop Dreams
Author: ben joravsky and charles barkley
Main characters : william and Arthur , 17 years old
The story is about 2 boys who both grew up in chicago playing basketball. Both the boys had dreams of playing in the NBA. As freshmen they both attended the same prep school william played varsity and Arthur played freshman, but as times got ruff arthur could no longer afford to go there. AS they got older Arthur started to struggle with school while william started to excel and receive scholarships.
I personally really liked the book. It was based a true story and had real life problems and dreams. It went into depth about drug abuse and financial problems. My favorite character was Arthur because despite all that he went through he stayed strong and continued to chase his dream.
The main conflict with Arthur was his school troubles he didn't do well and couldn't go to a good school. He also wasn't as good as william early on so his didn't receive money for tution like he did. William faced problems with injuries in his knee and later had a child to care for. Despite having a child william still managed to be one of the top recruits in the nation. Arthur wasn't highly recruited due to losing record and grades.
Author: ben joravsky and charles barkley
Main characters : william and Arthur , 17 years old
The story is about 2 boys who both grew up in chicago playing basketball. Both the boys had dreams of playing in the NBA. As freshmen they both attended the same prep school william played varsity and Arthur played freshman, but as times got ruff arthur could no longer afford to go there. AS they got older Arthur started to struggle with school while william started to excel and receive scholarships.
I personally really liked the book. It was based a true story and had real life problems and dreams. It went into depth about drug abuse and financial problems. My favorite character was Arthur because despite all that he went through he stayed strong and continued to chase his dream.
The main conflict with Arthur was his school troubles he didn't do well and couldn't go to a good school. He also wasn't as good as william early on so his didn't receive money for tution like he did. William faced problems with injuries in his knee and later had a child to care for. Despite having a child william still managed to be one of the top recruits in the nation. Arthur wasn't highly recruited due to losing record and grades.
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December 19, 2021hoop dreams is about two young kids trying to fulfil their dreams of making a career out of basketball.
the kids names are william gates, and arthur agee and they are both fourteen and the start of the story. and both of the kids have dreams to make it to the nba and that is really hard to do so they are gonna have to work hard. their is a problem with their dreams also because it is such a low chance for them to make it to the nba a lot of kids come out unsuccessful. So they need to have other plans if that one doesn't work out. while trying to make their dreams come through they go through a lot of challenges. They have to travel 90 minutes to school everyday, Also they have to overcome mental and physical challenges. the main idea of the book is to show what kind of struggles african american men face in poverty struck areas. This story really showed that sports aren't always the way to go especially because they don't usually go as plan and you don't have a good career with them. I liked this book a lot because it taught me about the struggles some people have while trying to make their dream a reality. my favorite character was william gates because i like his story and his drive.
the kids names are william gates, and arthur agee and they are both fourteen and the start of the story. and both of the kids have dreams to make it to the nba and that is really hard to do so they are gonna have to work hard. their is a problem with their dreams also because it is such a low chance for them to make it to the nba a lot of kids come out unsuccessful. So they need to have other plans if that one doesn't work out. while trying to make their dreams come through they go through a lot of challenges. They have to travel 90 minutes to school everyday, Also they have to overcome mental and physical challenges. the main idea of the book is to show what kind of struggles african american men face in poverty struck areas. This story really showed that sports aren't always the way to go especially because they don't usually go as plan and you don't have a good career with them. I liked this book a lot because it taught me about the struggles some people have while trying to make their dream a reality. my favorite character was william gates because i like his story and his drive.
April 13, 2018
The name of the author is Ben Joravsky.The publisher of Hoop Dreams is “It Books”.
Genre of the is Biography.The subject is about Basketball and growing up.
The book was about two kids named William and Arthur. From around middle school through high school then to college. The two kids went to the same school saint joseph's and played for the basketball team there. Later on Arthur cannot afford to go there anymore then had to figure out another way to get through school. One thing the both of them had in common was that they both wanted to be in the NBA.
At first i was not sure about this book but then it grew on me and i started to like it alot.
I don't even like basketball and it's crazy to think that i actually like it. Like the characters were very interesting and the them growing up and seeing it was cool. I would definitely recommend this book and i don't even like reading. Its cool how they followed them around for their whole life and turned it into a documentary.
December 19, 2014
Overview
The book is narrated by Ben Joravsky and is focused on the life and times of then freshman, Arthur Agee and William Gates. They are from inner-city Chicago and are recruited to play for Coach Pingatore and the chargers of St. Joseph’s High School in Westchester, Illinois. However, they don’t have the best home situations. William doesn’t know his father, and his mother struggles to make ends meet and provide for William and his older brother, Curtis. They live in the Cabrini-Green public housing projects. Arthur’s father, Bo, is a crack dealer who unfortunately gets addicted to his own product and drags Arthur’s mother down that path too.
Every morning, William and Arthur take two buses and a train just to get to school. This is only one of many pressures Arthur and William are facing as far as home and school life. William’s older brother, Curtis, is explicit in telling William, “You better not screw up” (39). William and Arthur begin to doubt themselves. Their hoop dreams don’t seem as achievable as previously hoped.
Both William and Arthur receive financial compensation from St. Joseph’s, but as time goes on, the money and attention seem to focus only on William. Just being talented basketball players doesn’t earn the money alone, they also mop the hallways after school to earn extra tuition money. William is grateful and sees all these these obstacles as blessings. Arthur feels differently, much differently. He’s irritated by the fact that his family can’t afford to put Arthur through school by their own power and quickly becomes lackadaisical. Not only that but William is outperforming Arthur on the basketball court. William is the only freshman on varsity and although Arthur is less challenged by his lesser competition, William is playing better.
The school and Coach Pingatore recognize this and kick Arthur out of St. Joseph’s. He’s forced to go to the nearby public school, Marshall. Arthur hates the idea, but he thinks that his scholarship money is now being funneled to William, and he’s right. Joravsky states that, “[William] had found himself... questioning, for the first time, his ability to achieve his dreams of glory” (52). It seems that although William and Arthur have beaten many odds to get where they are, there are many more to face and a long way to go.
Underlying Message
The book displays very real concepts that not only apply to, but are very similar to life in general. You start off as a little fish in a big sea. You may be talented in some aspect of life whether it’s sports, school, a job, or the way you connect with people, but in the grand scheme of things, you’re somewhat insignificant, at least for now. You have people around you with similar goals, like William and Arthur. You’re competing with these people but it’s a symbiotic relationship of pushing eachother to be better for the most part.
While you may have the same aspirations as your peers, not everybody is created equal, nor are backgrounds and situations. Although William and Arthur face hardship in their home lives, it is obvious that Arthur is bearing a greater burden. Fortunately for William and Arthur, they respond quite well to difficult predicaments. They both take two buses and a train every day just to get to school and then the same means of transportation to get home. Many people would lose sight of their dreams by now but not William and Arthur. If that wasn’t hard enough they also have to mop the hallways after school to help pay tuition. There are obstacles in everybody's’ way but some obstacles are less avoidable and manageable than others.
People often aren’t recognized or rewarded for their hard work. A prime example of this is Arthur Agee. Coach Pingatore believes that Arthur is not suited for St. Joseph’s style of play and challenging school work and withdraws Arthur’s scholarship from him, forcing Arthur to attend his neighborhood public school, Marshall. This is where most people get mixed up in the temptations of surrendering to the seemingly endless pressures of the envious people around them, whom have everything but their best interest in mind. (Spoiler Ahead) This is path Arthur takes, losing his hoop dreams.
Although William Gates has Coach Pingatore in his corner, he too succumbs to negative forces around him. This is common among people on the road to their dreams, getting sidetracked by temporary but immediate gratification and ultimately putting their long terms goals at risk. In William’s case, he gets his girlfriend pregnant, and she forces him to prioritize between basketball and raising his son claiming that, “It’s the principle; it’s what’s right. Your family’s got to come first. This baby is your flesh and blood (101).” (Spoiler Ahead) If that wasn’t enough, he undergoes a series of knee injuries which eventually force him to relinquish his childhood dreams of playing in the NBA.
The back cover of the book claims that, “The odds are 7,600 to 1 that a high school basketball player will make the NBA.” It’s not a stretch to assume that people laughed at William and Arthur’s goals. Anybody who has high goals will be laughed at, mainly by people who were unable to reach their goals and have set out to see that nobody else reaches their goals either. It takes a person with an impenetrable mindset and a whole lot of luck to achieve eager and even aggressive dreams.
Recommendation
I highly recommend reading this book. From beginning to end, it was interesting to inspect Ben Joravsky’s ability to capture the period of William and Arthur’s lives where they ambitiously attempted to overcome nearly impossible odds and attain their extraordinarily elusive hoop dreams. The audience that would best be able to appreciate this book would be boys in their teens that take pride in their athletic abilities, specifically basketball.
The book is narrated by Ben Joravsky and is focused on the life and times of then freshman, Arthur Agee and William Gates. They are from inner-city Chicago and are recruited to play for Coach Pingatore and the chargers of St. Joseph’s High School in Westchester, Illinois. However, they don’t have the best home situations. William doesn’t know his father, and his mother struggles to make ends meet and provide for William and his older brother, Curtis. They live in the Cabrini-Green public housing projects. Arthur’s father, Bo, is a crack dealer who unfortunately gets addicted to his own product and drags Arthur’s mother down that path too.
Every morning, William and Arthur take two buses and a train just to get to school. This is only one of many pressures Arthur and William are facing as far as home and school life. William’s older brother, Curtis, is explicit in telling William, “You better not screw up” (39). William and Arthur begin to doubt themselves. Their hoop dreams don’t seem as achievable as previously hoped.
Both William and Arthur receive financial compensation from St. Joseph’s, but as time goes on, the money and attention seem to focus only on William. Just being talented basketball players doesn’t earn the money alone, they also mop the hallways after school to earn extra tuition money. William is grateful and sees all these these obstacles as blessings. Arthur feels differently, much differently. He’s irritated by the fact that his family can’t afford to put Arthur through school by their own power and quickly becomes lackadaisical. Not only that but William is outperforming Arthur on the basketball court. William is the only freshman on varsity and although Arthur is less challenged by his lesser competition, William is playing better.
The school and Coach Pingatore recognize this and kick Arthur out of St. Joseph’s. He’s forced to go to the nearby public school, Marshall. Arthur hates the idea, but he thinks that his scholarship money is now being funneled to William, and he’s right. Joravsky states that, “[William] had found himself... questioning, for the first time, his ability to achieve his dreams of glory” (52). It seems that although William and Arthur have beaten many odds to get where they are, there are many more to face and a long way to go.
Underlying Message
The book displays very real concepts that not only apply to, but are very similar to life in general. You start off as a little fish in a big sea. You may be talented in some aspect of life whether it’s sports, school, a job, or the way you connect with people, but in the grand scheme of things, you’re somewhat insignificant, at least for now. You have people around you with similar goals, like William and Arthur. You’re competing with these people but it’s a symbiotic relationship of pushing eachother to be better for the most part.
While you may have the same aspirations as your peers, not everybody is created equal, nor are backgrounds and situations. Although William and Arthur face hardship in their home lives, it is obvious that Arthur is bearing a greater burden. Fortunately for William and Arthur, they respond quite well to difficult predicaments. They both take two buses and a train every day just to get to school and then the same means of transportation to get home. Many people would lose sight of their dreams by now but not William and Arthur. If that wasn’t hard enough they also have to mop the hallways after school to help pay tuition. There are obstacles in everybody's’ way but some obstacles are less avoidable and manageable than others.
People often aren’t recognized or rewarded for their hard work. A prime example of this is Arthur Agee. Coach Pingatore believes that Arthur is not suited for St. Joseph’s style of play and challenging school work and withdraws Arthur’s scholarship from him, forcing Arthur to attend his neighborhood public school, Marshall. This is where most people get mixed up in the temptations of surrendering to the seemingly endless pressures of the envious people around them, whom have everything but their best interest in mind. (Spoiler Ahead) This is path Arthur takes, losing his hoop dreams.
Although William Gates has Coach Pingatore in his corner, he too succumbs to negative forces around him. This is common among people on the road to their dreams, getting sidetracked by temporary but immediate gratification and ultimately putting their long terms goals at risk. In William’s case, he gets his girlfriend pregnant, and she forces him to prioritize between basketball and raising his son claiming that, “It’s the principle; it’s what’s right. Your family’s got to come first. This baby is your flesh and blood (101).” (Spoiler Ahead) If that wasn’t enough, he undergoes a series of knee injuries which eventually force him to relinquish his childhood dreams of playing in the NBA.
The back cover of the book claims that, “The odds are 7,600 to 1 that a high school basketball player will make the NBA.” It’s not a stretch to assume that people laughed at William and Arthur’s goals. Anybody who has high goals will be laughed at, mainly by people who were unable to reach their goals and have set out to see that nobody else reaches their goals either. It takes a person with an impenetrable mindset and a whole lot of luck to achieve eager and even aggressive dreams.
Recommendation
I highly recommend reading this book. From beginning to end, it was interesting to inspect Ben Joravsky’s ability to capture the period of William and Arthur’s lives where they ambitiously attempted to overcome nearly impossible odds and attain their extraordinarily elusive hoop dreams. The audience that would best be able to appreciate this book would be boys in their teens that take pride in their athletic abilities, specifically basketball.
September 10, 2018
Hoop Dreams
Hoop Dreams by ben joravsky is an astounding book and documentary about two black high school students named arthur agee and william gates who are growing up in the “Hood” of chicago. During their 4 years of high school many things happen including both boys making their schools basketball team, arthur moving schools, william becoming a father, arthur’s dad going to prison, and william tearing cartilage in his knee. Hoop dreams shows that you can overcome life’s boundaries and that life is difficult, but that doesn’t mean you quit. Hoop Dreams draws in readers with it’s intense storyline and amazing tales. This amazing true story is sure to leave you in awe.
Hoop Dreams by ben joravsky is an astounding book and documentary about two black high school students named arthur agee and william gates who are growing up in the “Hood” of chicago. During their 4 years of high school many things happen including both boys making their schools basketball team, arthur moving schools, william becoming a father, arthur’s dad going to prison, and william tearing cartilage in his knee. Hoop dreams shows that you can overcome life’s boundaries and that life is difficult, but that doesn’t mean you quit. Hoop Dreams draws in readers with it’s intense storyline and amazing tales. This amazing true story is sure to leave you in awe.
November 14, 2017
I think this book was a great read. I liked it because it was a fun nonfiction book to read about sports and famous players. One of the main reasons I liked this book was because it suited the needs of this assignment. It was non fiction and it was tolerable to read. Also it was filled with action but started off slow. My most favorite part of the book was when he one a championship with a last second buzzer-beater.
March 22, 2018
Hoop Dreams is about two basketball players that are poor and have the dream of making it to the NBA. Arthur is a point guard for St.Joseph's junior varsity team while William is a shooting guard that starts on varsity as a freshmen. The book talks about how William and Arthur continue to play basketball through the hardships of life. It is a very good book but I do not like how it talks about the families so much. I feel like it should be a part of the book but not a main focus.
May 10, 2022
I really enjoyed reading this book. I am a big fan of basketball and this book shows a in depth look into two basketball players lives. This shows the struggles they go through at a young age just to be successful at their sport. All the practice and all the hard work they put in to be great. This book is a great book to get a full understanding of what young star athletes go through. Overall this is a great book and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a good book about sports.
October 24, 2018
The author of the book called Hoop Dreams by Frederick Marx was about the hardship of both Auther Agee and William Gates went through hardship. This book went into both perspectives. They lived in the bad streets of chicago. His dad left and went to the streets and was using drugs. I recommend this book to older better readers.
May 6, 2024
They are two young boys how are 14 years old .They grow up on the bad side of the block and play basketball. While they were playing basketball they end up getting recruited to a highschool to play for them.
June 1, 2024
A companion piece to the original documentary by the same name. We get a lot more detail about the players' childhood and families. As with the documentary, I'm intrigued by the stories and the moral questions they raise about race, discrimination, poverty, and sports.
June 1, 2017
I would have to say this book is non fiction. I think that it was a good book. It was about kids on there way to fame. I recommend this book for people who like basketball.
October 24, 2017
This book is amazing and interesting
December 28, 2018
A must for any basketball fanatic. Still a pretty good read for anyone else.
January 6, 2020
Good book
April 23, 2020
amazing, inspirational. Makes you want to go outside and hoop!!
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