“He Got Game” Predicts the Future of College Basketball
“He Got Game” Predicts the Future of College Basketball
“He Got Game” is a sports drama from 1998, written and directed by Spike Lee at a time when illegal recruiting in college sports was becoming more recognized by the public. According to Lee, the movie was inspired by the abundance of young athletes from Coney Island who were often dealing with illegal recruiting tactics surrounding offers to play college basketball. The film demonstrates common illegal recruiting practices as it follows the journey of the number one college basketball prospect, Jesus Shuttlesworth of Coney Island, who was bribed by various people and universities to join specific teams.
“He Got Game” is more relevant now than it ever has been. It highlights a major issue today as there have been a plethora of instances in which illegal recruiting tactics have been employed to lure in players in the United States. In an FBI probe in February 2018, evidence of illegal recruiting was found amongst various college athletes. Due to such instances, the idea of paying players in college sports is becoming a more pressing issue than it has been during any other period.
The movie accurately depicts what life is like for a college basketball prospect as there are many pressures that affect a prospect’s decision on picking a school. Jesus’ father, Jake Shuttlesworth, was in prison as he accidentally killed his wife when they were fighting. The warden approached the elder Shuttlesworth one day and offered him a deal.
“The governor's made a request that your son, Jesus Shuttlesworth, seriously consider enrolling in his alma mater, Big State. If you persuade your son to do this, the governor's given me his word. He'll do everything in his power to cut your time here short, considerably,” said the Warden.
With a week left until the NCAA deadline for basketball prospects to declare where they were going, Jake had to work fast. Two officers took Jake from prison and gave him money and a deadline to get the job done. The illegal practices, in this case, reached Jesus’ father in the form of a bribe, before even getting to Jesus. Jesus refused to sign the contract given to his father by the warden proving that Jesus would attend Big State. Regardless of this, Jesus ended up choosing Big State after his father was sent back to prison.
Along the way to making this decision, Jesus was pressured by those around him such as his girlfriend, Lala, and his Uncle Bubba. Lala pressured Jesus to speak to an agent named Dom Paganotti who would try to persuade Jesus to sign with him instead of enrolling in a university. Signing with an agent is illegal under NCAA rules and would have ruined Jesus’ chances at playing college basketball.
“Several NBA teams are interested in you right now…I know you’ve considered jumping straight to the pros. The money is there. I have the contacts. So apply for the NBA draft now. Right here, Jesus, is a contract. This makes me your agent,” said Dom Paganotti.
Jesus declined this offer, but still had to deal with his uncle who refused to believe he would not get paid for college sports. “Full athletic scholarship, that’s all? No money, no cars, no job for your family” said his Uncle Bubba who later requested a car under Jesus’ name from one of the universities. This is illegal as the NCAA does not allow players to accept payments and preferential benefits.
“You gotta take it back, give it back, do what you gotta do,” said Jesus as he refused to participate in any illegal activities that could ruin his chances of playing basketball. His career was far more important to him than anything he was being offered.
The issue of illegal recruiting is not only a fictional issue from 1998, but a problem in college sports today. According to an ESPN report earlier this year, the FBI found at least six players who were receiving payments exceeding $10,000 through illegal recruiting. These players include “Dallas Mavericks point guard Dennis Smith Jr., who received $73,500 in loans from ASM before he played for NC State; Brooklyn Nets shooting guard Isaiah Whitehead, who received more than $37,000 around the time he was a freshman at Seton Hall; and 2017 №1 NBA draft pick Markelle Fultz, who received $10,000.”
Illegal recruiting has made its way into our justice system in various court cases such as Alston vs. NCAA. These cases further push the NCAA to have to consider options in compensating players outside the standard scholarship especially because it already seems to be happening with under the table deals made by enormous shoe companies and coaches at universities.
“Alston and Hartman assert that the NCAA’s system of capping the value of athletic scholarships unlawfully prevents conferences and individual colleges from competing with each other” reported Sport Illustrated in September 2018 in regards to a lawsuit led by former West Virginia running back Shawne Alston and former Cal center Justine Hartman.
Today, illegal recruiting is a huge issue that needs to be addressed in universities across the United States. Jesus Shuttlesworth’s journey to picking his school in “He Got Game” perfectly portrays the hardships that come with being a top college basketball prospect. College athletes today often face the same issues that Jesus did when it comes to choosing a school. It may be time for the NCAA to consider allowing players to be paid for their work.
