Good to see these two doing okay 15 years later..
http://www.slamonline.com/online/blogs/the-w/2010/03/hoop-dreams-15-years-later/
"Hoop Dreams, 15 Years Later
Arthur Agee and William Gates share passion for empowering at-risk youth.
by Ben York
“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’. — William Gates, Hoop Dreams
We haven’t forgotten.
Fifteen years ago, a landmark documentary changed the way we viewed the proverbial dream many children have of playing professional basketball. As with millions of youth across the globe, Arthur Agee and William Gates dreamt of one day playing in the NBA; the only difference with them and others is they were actually gifted enough to make it there. Growing up in the inner-city of Chicago, Agee and Gates were recruited early on to play high school basketball at a suburban prep school. Immediately, they found that their dreams of playing in the NBA would come at a much higher price than they originally thought. Academics, money, family troubles, and politics were just some of the newfound barriers they would have to face. Throughout it all, they never lost faith in basketball, and in doing so captured the collective hearts of moviegoers everywhere. Never before had a film given us a glimpse of this journey as it was actually occurring.
In Hoop Dreams, Arthur Agee and William Gates used basketball as a conduit to rise above difficult social, economic, and societal barriers. Widely known as one of the best sports films (and documentaries) ever made, Hoop Dreams provided a personal glimpse into the life of thHoop Dreamsese teenagers, as they struggle to find their identity, maintain their integrity, and persevere through countless hardships. The film wasn’t about basketball as much as it was about education, values, and morals facing today’s youth.
The film’s stars have utilized the success of the documentary to promote the importance of education, mentoring, and beating the odds. As part of the 15th anniversary of Hoop Dreams, Arthur Agee and William Gates attended a special screening of the film in Tucson, Arizona in conjunction with the Tucson Urban League. Open to the public, guests were invited to view the film and take part in a panel discussion afterwards with Agee and Gates. Surprisingly, this was only the fifth time Gates had viewed the film.
Today, Agee and Gates are exactly how you would imagine them and are an extension of what they were in the film. Arthur Agee’s kind-hearted nature and friendly personality is both unmistakable and infectious. His passion for inspiring kids to make the most out of life is refreshing and awe-inspiring at the same time. William Gates is still soft-spoken, but his genuineness and warmth translates very well into his current career – pastor at Living Faith Community Church in Chicago. The bond they shared many years ago is still evident today, perhaps even stronger."
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