Arthur Agee
Encyclopedia
Arthur "Man" Agee, Jr. is one of two Chicago
-area high school
basketball
players whose lives were chronicled in the 1994 Kartemquin Films
documentary, Hoop Dreams
.
, a private, predominantly white suburban school. St. Joseph's is the same school that Arthur's childhood hero, Isiah Thomas
, attended. Because the school was an hour and half from his home, Arthur had to wake up at around 5:30 AM daily and take the train and buses to reach his destination.
Early on in his high school career, when his parents were unable to keep up with the school's tuition payments, Agee left St. Joseph's and instead attended John Marshall High School
, an inner-city school. In his senior year, he helped the Marshall Commandos win the 1991 Public League Championship and finish third for the State Championship. Agee's high school was defeated by Manual High School
that was led by future NBA player Howard Nathan
.
After graduating from Marshall, Agee starred at Mineral Area College
and went on to play for two years at Arkansas State
on a scholarship. He is a member of the Phi Beta Sigma
fraternity
.
. In 1996, Agee turned down a contract with the CBA
's Connecticut Pride
to take a role in the film Passing Glory
.
Today, Agee teaches the "Hoop Dreams" Curriculum, which encourages children to follow their dreams and get their education. He speaks at various public schools throughout the country each year. In addition, he recently launched a 'Hoop Dreams' clothing line (slogan: Control Your Destiny).
On December 15, 2004, his father, Arthur "Bo" Agee Sr., was killed while attempting to run from at least one robber. Speculation that the shooting was a paid hit was supported when a Chicago man was charged by Berwyn police for allegedly accepting money to kill Arthur Agee Sr.
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
-area high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
players whose lives were chronicled in the 1994 Kartemquin Films
Kartemquin Films
Kartemquin Films is a not-for-profit organization that was founded in 1966 by Gordon Quinn, Jerry Temaner and Stan Karter, three University of Chicago graduates who wanted to make documentary films guided by their principle of "Cinematic Social Inquiry." They were soon joined by Jerry Blumenthal...
documentary, Hoop Dreams
Hoop Dreams
Hoop Dreams is a 1994 documentary film directed by Steve James, with Kartemquin Films. It follows the story of two African-American high school students in Chicago and their dream of becoming professional basketball players....
.
Early life
Agee is the second child and first son of Arthur "Bo" Agee Sr. and Sheila Agee. During his younger years he lived in a north side Chicago area near where the other star of Hoop Dreams, William Gates, lived. By the time the movie began filming, the Agees had moved to the West Garfield Park neighborhood, which would remain Agee's home until his graduation. Upon graduation from grammar school in 1987, he was discovered by part-time, unofficial talent scout Earl Smith. Smith convinced the Agees to send Arthur to St. Joseph's High SchoolSt. Joseph High School (Westchester, Illinois)
St. Joseph High School is a Roman Catholic, coeducational, college prep, school in Westchester, Illinois, and is sponsored by the Christian Brothers of De La Salle....
, a private, predominantly white suburban school. St. Joseph's is the same school that Arthur's childhood hero, Isiah Thomas
Isiah Thomas
Isiah Lord Thomas III , nicknamed "Zeke",is the men's basketball coach for the FIU Golden Panthers, and a retired American professional basketball player who played point guard for the Detroit Pistons of the National Basketball Association from 1981 until 1994. He led the "Bad Boys" to the NBA...
, attended. Because the school was an hour and half from his home, Arthur had to wake up at around 5:30 AM daily and take the train and buses to reach his destination.
Early on in his high school career, when his parents were unable to keep up with the school's tuition payments, Agee left St. Joseph's and instead attended John Marshall High School
John Marshall Metropolitan High School
John Marshall Metropolitan High School is a public 4-year high school located on the West Side of Chicago, Illinois, United States. It serves the students of the East Garfield Park, West Garfield Park, North Lawndale and Humboldt Park neighborhoods. Marshall's principal is Kenyatta Butler...
, an inner-city school. In his senior year, he helped the Marshall Commandos win the 1991 Public League Championship and finish third for the State Championship. Agee's high school was defeated by Manual High School
Manual High School (Peoria, Illinois)
Manual High School is a public high school located in the south end of Peoria, Illinois. It is the southernmost of the three city high schools operated by the Peoria Public Schools. Manual opened in 1909 and moved from its Lincoln avenue site to a new building located at 811 S...
that was led by future NBA player Howard Nathan
Howard Nathan
Howard Nathan is a retired American professional basketball player. Nathan attended DePaul University, Northeast Louisiana University and Northwest Arkansas Community College...
.
After graduating from Marshall, Agee starred at Mineral Area College
Mineral Area College
Mineral Area College is a two year public community college located in Park Hills, Missouri, USA. Founded in 1922 as Flat River Junior College, it changed its name in 1965, and has over 11,000 alumni. Current enrollment has quadrupled in the years since the name change and is currently just under...
and went on to play for two years at Arkansas State
Arkansas State University
Arkansas State University is a public university and is the flagship campus of the Arkansas State University System, the state's second largest college system and third largest university by enrollment. It is located atop on Crowley's Ridge at Jonesboro, Arkansas, USA...
on a scholarship. He is a member of the Phi Beta Sigma
Phi Beta Sigma
Phi Beta Sigma is a predominantly African-American fraternity which was founded at Howard University in Washington, D.C. on January 9, 1914, by three young African-American male students. The founders A. Langston Taylor, Leonard F. Morse, and Charles I...
fraternity
Fraternities and sororities
Fraternities and sororities are fraternal social organizations for undergraduate students. In Latin, the term refers mainly to such organizations at colleges and universities in the United States, although it is also applied to analogous European groups also known as corporations...
.
After college
He never achieved his dream of playing in the National Basketball AssociationNational Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
. In 1996, Agee turned down a contract with the CBA
Continental Basketball Association
The Continental Basketball Association was a professional men's basketball league in the United States, which has been on hiatus since the 2009 season.- History :...
's Connecticut Pride
Connecticut Pride
The Connecticut Pride was an American basketball team based in Hartford, Connecticut that was a member of the Continental Basketball Association....
to take a role in the film Passing Glory
Passing Glory
Passing Glory is a 1999 basketball-drama film, written by Harold Sylvester, and directed by Steve James. This movie stars Andre Braugher, Rip Torn, and Sean Squire. The film also features a speaking role by Arthur Agee, the subject of the documentary "Hoop Dreams", also directed by Steve James...
.
Today, Agee teaches the "Hoop Dreams" Curriculum, which encourages children to follow their dreams and get their education. He speaks at various public schools throughout the country each year. In addition, he recently launched a 'Hoop Dreams' clothing line (slogan: Control Your Destiny).
On December 15, 2004, his father, Arthur "Bo" Agee Sr., was killed while attempting to run from at least one robber. Speculation that the shooting was a paid hit was supported when a Chicago man was charged by Berwyn police for allegedly accepting money to kill Arthur Agee Sr.