Hoop Dreams

[Dave James]

I'm sure a number of you have seen the documentary called "Hoop Dreams." It was released in 1991 and followed the lives of two inner city kids as they developed into high school and college basketball players. I'd seen this film several years ago, but I got into watching it again last night. I was hoping that the coda at the end might update you as to what became of the two main "characters", Andrew Agee and William Gates. Unfortunatley, no new information was provided. It just told you that Andrew wound up at Arkansas State and that William had an on and off again relationship with basketball at Marquette. I did a search on the Web this morning, but I couldn't find anything that would bring any closure to this in terms of what happened to the two kids and what they're doing now.

Does anyone have any idea what became of Andrew and William?

Up over and out.

[undergroundagent]

I hope this article sheds some light on your query.

April 18, 2003

Hoop Dreams Star Steps into a New Spotlight

William Gates, one of the two boys featured in Hoop Dreams, now serves as a minister in Chicago, IL, USA.

William Gates doesn't like to watch Hoop Dreams. In fact, he's only done it three times since starring in the 1994 documentary.

But Gates made an exception Wednesday night when he sat down with a handful of Judson College students in Elgin to discuss life on the court and off.

"I was a 14-year-old kid with my own personal camera crew, I had a ball," Gates, now a 32-year-old pastor, told the group gathered in Judson's Herrick Chapel.

Featured as part of the evangelical college's Reel Conversations film series, Hoop Dreams chronicled the lives of Gates and Arthur Agee, two African-American kids from Chicago's inner-city striving to realize their dream of basketball glory in the NBA.

Steve James directed the 171-minute film, which took roughly 5 years to film and nearly 3 years to edit.

Spanning a total of 5 years, filming began when Gates was in the eighth grade and was tapped to play for St. Joseph's High School in Westchester. The film extends through his first year at Marquette University in Milwaukee.

"The film was a blessing because it opened doors for me and Arthur that may have been closed," Gates said, adding that "a lot has happened since the movie."

Curtis - Gates' older brother whose own failed hoop dreams played prominently in the film - was killed in a car-jacking in September 2001.

"The third time I watched Hoop Dreams was in March 2002. I just went through parts to hear his voice, his words," Gates said.

Though Gates admitted with a grin that he hasn't played ball in five months, he revived his dreams of NBA glory in 2000.

"The film was a blessing because it opened doors for me and Arthur that may have been closed."

--William Gates Working alongside Michael Jordan, Gates shed 60 pounds, worked out five hours a day and "got the bug back." Invited to attend both the Washington Wizards and Chicago Bulls training camps, Gates played well. But when a stream of injuries sidelined him, Gates simply shrugged, saying, "Lord, I understand."

"The question in my mind was, 'Would I have been good enough to play in the NBA?' and God gave me that answer. Yeah, I'm good enough."

His curiosity satiated, Gates focused on his other life passion - God.

Returning to his roots in Chicago's Cabrini Green public housing development, Gates now serves as a minister with the Living Faith Community Center.

Given his well-publicized prowess on the court, Gates said basketball serves as a convenient tool in his preaching.

"I can tell the guys, '10 a.m. Saturday, we're playing ball,' and 75 of them will turn out. It gives me an opportunity for some outreach ministry."

Nearly 10 years ago, Gates married his high school girlfriend, who is also in the film. The couple lives in Chicago with their three children. A fourth child is expected soon.

Agee now lives in Los Angeles, where he continues to play basketball, Gates said.

This story and photo are reprinted courtesy of the Daily Herald.

 

[Dave James]

UGA - Thanks for posting this. It's exactly what I was looking for. Nice to see that Gates turned out OK. They both seemed to be pretty good kids.

Up over and out.

[Dmitry]

Search the Washington Post on-line archive. A couple of months ago there was a very very long article on the protagonists of the Hoop Dreams. It'll answer all of your questions, and more.