More Than a Game

Coming out of Akron, OH, in 2003, LeBron James was the most highly touted high school basketball prospect ever—and rightly so, as the Cleveland Cavaliers forward is now the NBA's reigning MVP. But even budding superstars need teammates to work with and adults to look up to, and while “King James” is the natural focal point of Kristopher Belman's documentary, the director also does a nice job here of depicting how camaraderie on and off the court helped turn a small school into a national power. James and his pals “Little” Dru Joyce III, Willie McGee, and Sian Cotton began playing together well before high school, starting as an Amateur Athletic Union squad known as the Ohio Shooting Stars (footage reveals that even then LeBron was a man among boys). The foursome stuck together when it came time to move to the next level, enrolling at St. Vincent–St. Mary High School and, together with fifth member Romeo Travis, winning state and national titles. The path wasn't always easy: Travis took quite a while to fit in; Joyce's father, Dru II, had little experience when he abruptly took over the team after the previous coach quit; and the glaring spotlight on James became a distraction for everyone. Ultimately, More Than a Game is an engaging portrait of a group of talented, thoughtful, and articulate young men—some of whom grew up under challenging circumstances—as well as the soft-spoken elder Joyce, who is a truly admirable mentor. Recommended. (S. Graham)