Arthur Agee facts for kids

Arthur Agee Jr. (/ˈeɪdʒiː/; born October 22, 1972) is an American former professional basketball player. He became widely known as one of two Chicago-area basketball players whose lives were shown in the 1994 documentary Hoop Dreams. Agee played college basketball for the Arkansas State Red Wolves. He also played professionally with the Winnipeg Cyclone.

Arthur Agee's Early Life

Arthur Agee Jr. is the second child of Arthur "Bo" Agee Sr. and Sheila Agee. When he was younger, he lived in the north side of Chicago. Later, his family moved to the West Garfield Park neighborhood. This was his home until he finished grammar school.

In 1987, a talent scout named Earl Smith noticed Arthur. Smith helped the Agee family send Arthur to St. Joseph's High School. This was a private school located in the suburbs.

High School Basketball Journey

Starting at St. Joseph High School

In the fall of 1987, Agee started his freshman year at St. Joseph High School. This was the same school his childhood hero, Isiah Thomas, attended. Getting to school was a challenge. It was 90 minutes from his home. Arthur woke up around 5:30 AM every day to take public transportation.

Moving to John Marshall High School

Early in his high school years, his parents faced difficulties. They could not always pay the school's tuition. Because of this, Agee left St. Joseph's. He then attended John Marshall High School. This was a public school in the city.

Senior Year Success

In his senior year, Agee helped the Marshall Commandos basketball team. They won the 1991 Public League Championship. They also finished third in the State Championship. His high school team was defeated by Manual High School. That team was led by future NBA player Howard Nathan.

College and Professional Career

Playing College Basketball

After graduating from Marshall, Agee became a star player at Mineral Area College. He played there for two years. Then, he received a scholarship to play for Arkansas State. He played for Arkansas State for two years. Arthur Agee is also a member of the Phi Beta Sigma fraternity.

Professional Basketball and Beyond

Even though Agee played at a Division I school, he did not achieve his dream. He never played in the National Basketball Association. In 1995, Agee joined the Winnipeg Cyclone. This team was part of the International Basketball Association. He played only one season for the Cyclone.

In 1996, Agee turned down a contract offer. It was from the CBA's Connecticut Pride. Instead, he chose to take a role in the film Passing Glory. This film was directed by Steve James, who also directed Hoop Dreams.

In 2004, Arthur Agee started a clothing line. It was called Hoop Dreams. The slogan for his clothing line was "Control Your Destiny". In 2021, Agee reconnected with his Hoop Dreams co-star William Gates. They also teamed up with producer Matt Hoffar. Together, they launched Hoop Dreams The Podcast. This podcast is in partnership with the Unlearning Network.