5. Rebound: The Legend of Earl "The Goat" Manigault (1996; Written by Alan Swyer & Larry Golin and Directed by Eriq La Salle): The true story of a Harlem basketball legend who people say had incredible jumping ability and a solid jump shot. NBA legend Kareem Adbul-Jabbar once said that Manigault was the best basketball player he'd ever seen. "The Goat," portrayed by Don Cheadle, was a high school star but would never make a name for himself beyond that level as he suffered from poor grades and a crippling penchant for heroin. He spent some time in prison and died in 1998 from heart failure. Before his death he had leveraged his experience to help Harlem youngsters stay away from drugs.
Memorable Quote: "You just keep on being like yourself, all right?" - Earl "The Goat" Manigault
4. The Basketball Diaries (1995; Written by Bryan Golubuff and Directed by Scott Kalvert): Leonardo DiCaprio stars as Jim Carroll, a New York high school basketball player full of potentail and promise. He gradually becomes familiar with drugs until his mother kicks him out of the house and his downward spiral intensifies. He and his close group of friends, including Mickey (Mark Wahlberg), roam the streets, indulging in drugs and committing crimes, and his basketball career begins to fizzle.The film is a true portrayal of Carroll's life and is based on his 1978 book of the same name.
Memorable Quote: "I felt dazed, like I just came out of a four-hour movie I didn't understand" - Carroll, through narration, summing up one of his experiences with drugs
3. White Men Can't Jump (1992; Written and Directed by Ron Shelton): Billy Hoyle (Woody Harrelson) and Sidney Deane (Wesley Snipes) are two street basketball hustlers who join forces to make a killing in this basketball comedy. Billy, because he is white and goofy, has an easier time hustling as other players assume he can't play, or jump. The two have different intentions with what they will do with the money they win and the hustling duo has to figure out a way to compromise amd make their partnership work.
Memorable Quote: "You are so stupid. It would take your mother one, no two hours to watch 60 minutes" - Billy, to Sidney
2. Hoop Dreams (1994; Directed by Steve James): This powerful documentary follows the five-year journey of two inner-city African-American Chicago high school students as they work towards their dreams of becoming professional basketball players. William Gates and Arthur Agee are both recruited to play for St. Joseph High School, Isiah Thomas' old high school and one renowned for its basketball program. In the end, neither player achieved his dream of playing professionally. Gates was last offered a tryout for the NBA in 2001 with Michael Jordan's Washington Wizards but suffered a broken foot. He was last working as a pastor in Chicago . Agee is an independent designer and had designed a "Hoop Dreams" clothing line in recent years.
Memorable Quote: "People always say to me, 'when you get to the NBA, don't forget about me.' Well, I should've said back, 'if I don't make it to the NBA, don't you forget about me'" - Gates
1. Hoosiers (1986; Written by Angelo Pizzo and Directed by David Anspaugh): No other basketball movie has come close to Hoosiers in terms of its inspirational story line. The film, set in 1951, follows Norman Dale (Gene Hackman), a coach with a checkered past, who teams with the town's drunk (Dennis Hopper) to lead the Hickory Huskers, an underdog Indiana high school team, to an unlikely run for the state championship. The movie is loosely based on the 1954 Indiana state champion Milan High School, although their are widely varying differences.
Memorable Quote: "If you put your effort and concentration into playing to your potential, to be the best that you can be, I don't care what the scoreboard says at the end of the game, in my book we're gonna be winners" - Coach Dale, to his players
