By Mike Kinney | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Don't Edit

YouTube Originals

'Best Shot' docu-series goes way beyond basketball court

You won't need to know your Xs and Os. Heck, you don't even have to like basketball to be drawn in and then captivated by "Best Shot," a YouTube docu-series- produced by LeBron James - that chronicles the 2017-18 season of the Newark Central boys basketball team.

This series, which premieres - i.e., is available for streaming on Wednesday at 12 p.m. - goes way beyond the basketball court to tell this story. It is a stark, unflinching look into the daily tests and tribulations that these young players must accept and endure before they can experience triumph.

The first episode opens with a sweeping, wide-angle view of the Newark skyline, but then promptly shifts to microscopic focus just as the opening credits fade. Central head coach Shawn McCray is standing across the street from the Newark Police Department's First Precinct on 17th Avenue, the flashpoint of the 1967 Newark Riots, and this edgy-yet-endearing story is underway.

There are compelling and often heartbreaking individual vignettes here - one after another, in fact - but also a broader theme laid forth early on by McCray that the only way to get through these remarkable challenges is by doing it together.

With their "Heart over Hype" motto put to practice, these Blue Devils went all the way to the NJSIAA Group 2 final against Haddonfield March 11 at the Rutgers Athletic Center. This series stays close, every step of the way.

Here's what else you need to know ...

Don't Edit

Ethan Miller Getty Images | for NJ Advance Media

1. Project has slam-dunk backing

Those aforementioned opening credits will let you know that there is serious clout behind this project. NBA star LeBron James along with Maverick Carter, his longtime friend business manager, are the executive producers. If you're wondering whether the newest Los Angeles Laker makes an appearance, he does (we just won't say where), as a member of the Cleveland Cavaliers, of course.

The filmaker is Michael John Warren, an eight-time Emmy-nominated director behind such highly acclaimed works as the Jay-Z documentary "Fade to Black" and the Drake documentary "Better Than Good Enough."

Don't Edit

YouTube Originals

2. Jay Williams goes deep from Day 1

Former St. Joseph (Metuchen) star and Duke All-American Jay Williams plays an enormous role in this docu-series as a guest coach, friend and mentor to the Central players and coaching staff. The No. 2 overall pick by the Chicago Bulls in the 2002 NBA Draft has dealt with his own pool of personal pain when a June 2003 motorcycle accident essentially ended his playing career after just one season. He attempted a comeback in 2006, but was waived after one month by the New Jersey Nets.

But the current ESPN analyst has learned much from his experience and wishes to share his wisdom and provide direction and hope for these inner-city youngsters. Williams' playing resume, status as a college analyst and ability to engage and relate interpersonally all made the former Plainfield resident a natural for his role here. Both his personal story of success, dejection and rebranding and his relationship with the players are played out prominently throughout the series.

"I have people who've empowered me, who helped me get to where I was at and helped me believe in myself when I didn't," he said. "If I can serve in that capacity for other people, that's what it's supposed to be.

"The really cool experience is helping these kids understand that, hey, just because you have circumstances that are different from what other people's are, that doesn't mean that should hinder you from being as successful, or even more successful than we are."

Don't Edit

YouTube Originals

3. Shawn McCray: Shady figure to father figure

Shawn McCray made a stunning transformation from drug dealer out of the Hayes Home projects in the city's Central Ward to basketball guru for that same community when he founded the Zoo Crew Summer Basketball Program in 1998 and later became head coach at Central, his alma mater. He also teaches at the high school.

That Zoo Crew name now represents healthy competition, participation and even a temporary escape from tough, sometimes unforgiving streets of Newark. Zoo Crew used to be the very name that was once reviled by local law enforcement as one of the more notorious drug rings in the city. McCray had a foot in both worlds and, in fact, bluntly lays that all out in his 2016 autobiography "One Foot in One Foot Out."

What does McCray hope the audience learns from this docu-series?

"Just to give an understanding of what kids go through in urban America," he said at a "Best Shot" screening June 11 in Newark. "I know a lot of people will do a lot of different stories on the inner city, but this is different. You have a coach who actually came up through this stuff. I got caught up and now I'm back on the right track. I don't hide my history. I've made mistakes. I tell the kids I'm trying to help you to not make those mistakes."

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

YouTube Originals

4. Tough start for Quan Quan

As the first episode gets underway, we discover that junior guard Shaquan "Quan Quan" Clark is not yet available for the initial practices. Why? You'll just have to see for yourselves.

Clark's personal story becomes one of the feature elements of "Best Shot."

Don't Edit

YouTube Originals

5. Waiting for Haddie

Junior guard Jihad "Haddie" Evans was in study hall when this photo was snapped. He had just put away his cell phone after several reminders to do so - and he's not listening to books on audio on those earphones.

Evans, the team's best on-ball defender, was not eligible to join the Blue Devils until Feb. 23, due to his own set of issues.

Evans made strong contributions to the team's fortunes once in uniform, but also was in the middle of one of the most heart-rending moments of the entire series.

Don't Edit

YouTube Originals

6. Road trip to the other Blue Devils

Jay Williams brought Duke to a national championship and was a two-time All-America guard for those Blue Devils. He cherishes his association with Duke, and wanted to share his devotion with the Central Blue Devils. The team visited Williams' alma mater during one of the later segments and settle in quite nicely to college life.

Don't Edit

Chris Faytok | For NJ Advance Media

7. Dee-End speaks up

Dee-End McCrae was Central's leading scorer and rebounder and a force at both ends of the floor, yet very reluctant at first to let his feelings be known. In fact, Jay Williams specifically requests some sort of commentary from McCrae during a rough patch for the team in an early segment, but the senior captain declines.

As the season progresses, we see a more open McCrae actually volunteering advice and support during practices and team huddles. His next stop as a student-athlete will be Rutgers-Newark.

Don't Edit

YouTube Originals

8. The letters

Jay Williams was anything but a celebrity figurehead for this series. From the moment he arrives at the high school, he entrenches himself into the practice drills and also the lives of these youngsters.

Early on in the series, Williams writes a personal letter to each member of the team, detailing both their strengths as a player and their value and potential as a maturing young man. One player poignantly tells Williams that "No one ever really said anything like this to me before."

Williams' personal commitment and connection to the players is powerful stuff.

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

YouTube Originals

9. The end of the road

This is hardly a spoiler alert. Central played gallantly in the Group 2 state final, but lost to a bigger, more experienced Haddonfield team, 62-45.

That you may know. What you don't know is what went on behind the scenes for the almost four full months leading up to that game. Central was 4-4 on Jan. 8, but bonded both on and off the court to become a formidable unit that finished 23-9 and won the program's first North Jersey, Section 2 crown since 2011.

"This is the best group of kids I've ever coached," McCray said after the loss to Haddonfield. "If I could ride out my career with guys like this, it would be perfect."

Don't Edit

YouTube Originals

10. How to watch

The first two episodes of "Best Shot" will be made available as of noon Wednesday on the NBA YouTube channel. A new episode will be aired on the subsequent Wednesday over the next six weeks.

Don't Edit

Mike Kinney may be reached at mkinney@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on twitter @MikeKinneyHS.