Hoop Dreams is the compelling story of the trials and tribulations of two basketball players trying to get to the NBA. Ben Joravsky is the writer of this story. This is a story about the life of Arthur Agee and William Gates. Hoop Dreams shows the interaction of talented athletes and their families with the schools that hold the key to their future.
Arthur was a fourteen year old growing up on the West Side of Chicago. Arthur lived with his father and mother and his brother and sister. His dad’s name is Bo and his mother’s name is Sheila. His older sister’s name is Tomekia and his little brother name is Joe, but his family calls him Sweetie.
William was a fourteen year old growing up in Cabrini-Green in Chicago. William lived with his mother and his two other brothers. His mom’s name is Emma and his two brothers are Curtis and David. William has a girlfriend named Catherine.
In the morning both boys have to make long trips just to get to St. Joseph’s. They both have to wake up at 5:30 in the morning and go from place to place to get to their school. At the start of the first day of practice William is moved up to varsity by coach Pingatore while Arthur will stay on the freshman team.
After a couple of weeks at St. Joseph’s Arthur learns that he is going to be kicked out of school because his parents have fell back on tuition payments. After a month out of school Arthur goes to Marshall High School William is becoming a star at St. Joseph’s and is having a great time. The one thing he doesn’t like is his brother Curtis, because he is always pressuring him all the time. The only reason Curtis is doing this is that he cares about William so much and he just wants him to succeed.
William has a little baby girl named Alicia with Catherine and he is afraid to tell Pingatore. At Marshall, Arthur his having trouble getting along with his new coach named Bedford. He is trying to get along with him so he can play basketball.
William hurt his knee in the middle of the season and has to have surgery on it. He has is cartilage repaired and is ready to play basketball. William is more tentative on the court because of his knee. Arthur is now getting along with his coach.
This shows the lives of two Chicago teens that are counting on their basketball skills to bring them out of the inner city and into college and the NBA. Follow their triumphs and tragedies on and off the court as they cope with personal, family and academic problems while playing in pursuit of their dreams.