The name Wat Misaka is re-entering the lexicon of New York City’s basketball faithful. A Japanese American born and raised in Utah, Misaka was the first person of color ever to play in the NBA. In 1947, three years before Earl Lloyd, Chuck Cooper and the Knicks’ Nat “Sweetwater” Clifton (and 52 years before Yao Ming set foot on NBA hardwood) the 5-7 guard who started at point for the two-time National Champion Utah Utes was not only the first non-Caucasian ever drafted but the first draft pick by the New York Knickerbockers. Ever. Read More »

ESPN Original Films is set to release A Woman Among Boys, a riveting film chronicling the trials and tribulations of coach Ruth “Coach Love” Lovelace as she attempts to guide her boys team at Boys High into the City Playoffs. Lovelace, who attended the high school and was teaching Phys Ed at the time, was named coach in 1994 at the age of 24. She’s faced unique challenges and has seen players on her teams work to overcome significant obstacles both on and off the court, and in the process has rebuilt Boys into a powerhouse to be reckoned with–her squads have playoff appearances in every year of her tenure.

A Woman Among Boys will debut (Sunday, Dec. 21, at 9 p.m.) on ESPN2. By year end, ESPN and ESPN2 will have aired nine ESPN Films documentaries.

Coach Love speaking on her unique situation: “As a female you can command respect from young men. You can get them to play well and get more academically.”