The Backcourt

Two high school basketball prodigies. One unbreakable bond. A story that transcends the bounds of time. As state champions in 1969, they earned All-City, All-State, and All-American honors before continuing their ascendancy in college basketball during the 1970s. Dubbed "The Backcourt," they were playground folklore's best-kept secret-nationally overlooked but revered in the Southwest. Often compared to Earl "The Goat" Manigault (Harlem, New York), Demetrius "Hook" Mitchell (Oakland, California), "Fly" Williams (Brooklyn, New York), Pee Wee Kirkland (Harlem/Manhattan, New York), and Raymond Lewis (Watts, California), their superior skills and incontestable chemistry inspired a community and built a legacy. But their paths after basketball couldn't have been more different. One pursued education, while the other was drawn into street life. Their story unfolds against the backdrop of pivotal moments in American history, offering a poignant social commentary on The Great Migration, the Crack Epidemic of the 1980s, Gang Propaganda in entertainment during the 1990s, and the devastating reach of the Prison Industrial Complex. The Backcourt is more than a sports biography-it's a raw, heartfelt exploration of comradeship and the impact of systemic trials on communities across America. Perfect for sports lovers and anyone captivated by stories of atonement and the enduring influence of legacy