Review of Gunnin' for That #1 Spot (2008) by Shannon J — 17 Mar 2010

On the corner of 155th Street and Frederick Douglas Boulevard in Harlem, New York lies Rucker Park. By appearances, the green concrete pavement, anchored on either end by its run down slab bleachers, is no different than any other basketball court in the city. But this is the place where nicknames are earned and legends are made.

On September 1, 2006, the top 24 high school basketball players in the nation stepped out on this same court that once saw the likes of Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Dr. J to compete in the first annual "Boost Mobile Elite 24 Hoops Classic." GUNNIN' FOR THAT #1 SPOT documents these athletes' skills on the most legendary court in the world, showing never before- seen footage of that "Elite 24" game.

Directed by Adam Yauch (founding member of the Hip Hop trio the Beastie Boys and director of "Awesome: I Shot That"), the film follows eight of the country's premiere high school basketball players on the fast track to the NBA, as they are adored by fans, wooed by colleges and sneaker companies, and groomed to be in the spotlight of the multi-million dollar game. Blending this next generation of b-ball players with a mix of raw hip-hop, jazz and break beats, Yauch?s unique kinetic filmmaking, GUNNIN? is an explosively entertaining look at soon-to-be NBA All Stars.