The Last Shot

Darcy Frey chronicles the aspirations of four young men as they navigate the NCAA recruitment process, their only hope of escape from a life of crime, poverty, and despair. It ought to be just a game, but basketball on the playgrounds of Coney Island is much more than that. In The Last Shot, the aspirations of a few of the neighborhood's most promising players reveal that what they have going for them (athletic talent, grace, and years of dedication) may not be enough to defeat what's working against them: woefully inadequate schooling, family circumstances that are often desperate, and the slick, brutal world of college athletic recruitment. Incisively and compassionately written, The Last Shot introduces us to unforgettable characters and takes us into their world with an intimacy seldom seen in contemporary journalism. The result is a startling and poignant exposé of inner-city life and the big business of college basketball. Based on a year spent with the team, this landmark of narrative nonfiction reveals: High-Stakes High School Basketball: Follows four talented but vulnerable players from the playgrounds of Coney Island as they pin all their hopes on a single long shot—a college scholarship. The Business of College Recruiting: An unflinching look at the brutal, high-pressure world of the NCAA, where multimillion-dollar programs compete for the futures of inner-city kids. A Powerful Coming of Age Story: Meet unforgettable characters like Russell, Corey, and Tchaka as they navigate desperate family circumstances, inadequate schools, and the social pressures of the projects. An Exposé of Inner-City Life: A compassionate and intimate portrait of life at the poverty line, revealing the systemic forces working against young men whose athletic talent may not be enough to save them.