Student Athlete (HBO Sports Documentary)

(2018)

Synopsis

An HBO Sports documentary produced in collaboration with LeBron James, Maverick Carter and Steve Stoute, Student Athlete examines the complex rules of amateur athletics, and how they affect uncompensated athletes and their families. Each year, student athletes generate billions of dollars for universities and private companies, yet a vast majority earn nothing for themselves and leave school with few resources for careers outside of sports. Directed by Oscar® winner Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy (see below) and Trish Dalton, this hard-hitting, often-poignant exposé unveils the exploitive world of high-revenue college sports through the compelling stories of four young men at different stages in their athletic careers, as well as two others: a coach-turned-advocate for student athletes, and an anonymous whistle-blowing shoe rep. Weaving together interviews, verité and archival footage, and social-media posts, Student Athlete highlights the perils and promises facing young athletes as they reach for their dreams, but who are often left with physical injuries and financial hardships on their quest to become professional athletes.

Cast

Chris Chavannes, Shamar Graves, Silas Nacita, Nick Richards