Description
Book Synopsis: Eight years of unfettered access, a keen sense of a story’s deepest truths, and a genuine compassion for his subject allow Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist George Dohrmann to take readers inside the machine that produces America’s basketball stars. Hoop dreams aren’t just for players. The fever that grips college basketball prospects hoping to strike big-time NBA gold afflicts coaches, parents, and sneaker executives as well. Every one of them has a stake in keeping America’s wildly dysfunctional, incredibly lucrative youth basketball machine up and running—no matter the consequences.
In Play Their Hearts Out, George Dohrmann offers an up-close and unforgettable look inside the maw of that machine. He shares what he learned from his years spent embedded with a group of talented young recruits from Southern California as they traveled the country playing in elite Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) events. It’s a cutthroat world where boys as young as eight or nine are subjected to a dizzying torrent of scrutiny and exploitation. Coaches vie to have them on their teams. Sneaker companies ply them with free shoes and gear. “All-star camps” are glorified cattle auctions, providing make-or-break opportunities to secure the promise of an elusive college scholarship.
At the book’s heart are the personal stories of two compelling figures: Joe Keller, an ambitious AAU coach with a master plan to find and promote “the next LeBron”—thereby paving his own path to power and riches; and Demetrius Walker, a fatherless latchkey kid who falls under Keller’s sway and struggles to live up to the unrealistic expectations his supposed benefactor has set for him. As their fortunes take shape and the pressure mounts—Demetrius finds himself profiled in Sports Illustrated at age fourteen, while Keller cultivates his business empire—Dohrmann weaves in the stories of numerous other parents, coaches, and players. Some of them see their prospects evaporate as a result of poor decisions and worse luck. Others learn how to thrive in a corrupt system by playing the right angles.
Written with incomparable detail and insight, Play Their Hearts Out is a thoroughly unique narrative that reveals the inner workings of an American game, exposing the gritty reality that lies beneath so many dreams of fame and glory.
Details
Are you ready to step inside the captivating world of America's basketball dreams? Get ready for a jaw-dropping journey as Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist George Dohrmann takes you deep inside the heart of the youth basketball machine in his groundbreaking book, Play Their Hearts Out. With eight years of unparalleled access, Dohrmann brings to life the stories of talented young recruits, ambitious coaches, and power-hungry sneaker executives. Brace yourself for the untold truths and unimaginable exploits that fuel the relentless pursuit of fame and fortune in the world of basketball.
Unleash your passion for basketball and delve into the fascinating lives of aspiring players, dedicated coaches, and eager parents. Play Their Hearts Out provides an unforgettable look into the cutthroat world of youth basketball, where boys as young as eight or nine are thrust into a whirlwind of scrutiny and exploitation. Immerse yourself in the high-stakes battles of coaches vying for top talent, and witness the relentless pursuit of elusive college scholarships that could change lives forever.
Join George Dohrmann as he unravels the personal stories of two captivating figures, Joe Keller and Demetrius Walker. Keller, an ambitious AAU coach, is on a mission to discover and promote the next basketball prodigy, all for his own path to power and riches. Meanwhile, Walker, a fatherless latchkey kid, finds himself under Keller's influence, grappling with the overwhelming pressure to meet unrealistic expectations. Brace yourself as their destinies unfold and the intense scrutiny of the basketball world bears down on them.
Prepare to be spellbound by the incredible detail and profound insight that Dohrmann brings to every page of Play Their Hearts Out. As you navigate through the murky depths of an American game, you'll witness the corrupt underbelly that hides beneath the glamorous facade of fame and glory. This riveting narrative exposes the gritty reality of basketball dreams while revealing the untold stories of players, parents, and coaches who either succumb to the system or find a way to thrive amidst the chaos.
Don't miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to uncover the secrets of the captivating yet treacherous world of America's basketball machine. Take the plunge into the captivating pages of Play Their Hearts Out and experience the whirlwind of emotions, aspirations, and ambitions that drive the game we all love. Get your copy today and embark on a truly unforgettable journey.
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