Hooked: The Legend of Demetrius "Hook" Mitchell  (2003)

Theatrical Release Information:
Hooked: The Legend of Demetrius "Hook" Mitchell

Hooked: The Legend of Demetrius "Hook" Mitchell tells the story of a playground basketball star whose descent into drugs and crime destroyed any chance he had of becoming a professional athlete. Filmmakers Michael Skolnik and William O'Neill (who also made La Esquina Caliente, a documentary about the Baltimore Orioles playing a game in Cuba) interview Demetrius Mitchell, known as Waliy Abdur Rahim since his conversion to Islam in prison, where he describes his rough upbringing on the streets of Oakland, and his struggle to survive. The filmmakers also interview several NBA stars who grew up in the same neighborhood, including Gary Payton, Jason Kidd, Antonio Davis, and Brian Shaw, all of whom played with Mitchell on the streets, and were astonished by his skills, but were unable to help him avoid his sorry fate. Friends and relatives of Mitchell describe his unstable home life and the longing for community that drove him to the streets. Mitchell himself is shown playing prison league games, and is surprisingly still able to play above the rim. The film's soundtrack was produced by DJ Premier. Hooked had its world premiere at the 2003 Tribeca Film Festival. ~ Josh Ralske, All Movie Guide