Magic. Michael. Kobe. LeBron. Long before LeBron James joined the ranks of basketball’s legends, he was part of the “Fab Five,” playing alongside lifelong friends and high school basketball teammates Willie, Sian, Romeo and Little Dru. Together, they made headlines in their hometown of Akron, Ohio, for the remarkable playing that would take them all the way from a decrepit inner-city gym to the doorstep of a national high school championship and eventually into the consciousness of America. First-time filmmaker and Akron native Kristopher Belman had the foresight to document the incredible rise of the St. Vincent-St. Mary basketball team, situated in a predominantly white, elite suburban school and led by these five young African-American players from extraordinarily diverse backgrounds. On the sidelines, but in the emotional center of the story, is Coach Dru Joyce II, a successful businessman in the corporate world who dared to leave it all behind to follow a calling to shape this remarkable team and guide his young son, Little Dru, to become a big player despite his diminutive stature. Joyce quickly becomes a father figure for all the players and offers much-needed guidance and stability in matters both on the court and off. He understands his mission is not merely to teach these kids how to play basketball, but also how to become men of character and substance. During the team’s improbable nine-year journey, documented by Belman in meticulous and loving detail, we watch their meteoric rise, led by the terrifically talented James, who, while still in high school, is anointed “The Chosen One” on the cover of Sports Illustrated. We cheer from the sidelines as the team rises and falls and rises again, enduring hardships, pressures and triumphs, all while maintaining a remarkably strong and exceptional bond of brotherhood.

Post-screening discussion moderated by NPR All Things Considered host Michele Norris featuring filmmaker Kristopher Belman and special film subjects.