Grab the popcorn, some tissues and have your excuse well-rehearsed as to why you will likely be running a little late for work on Wednesday.

"Best Shot," a YouTubeOriginals docu-series on the Newark Central boys basketball team, is coming to ESPN2 tonight, Sept. 18, and will be aired its entirety beginning at 8 p.m. That means four and one-half hours of this sometimes joyous, sometimes tearful, always compelling closeup of an inner-city team led by a head coach - Shawn McCray - with a sketchy past in the Brick City, but a crystal-clear message with which to guide his own players' tomorrow.

The docu-series is produced by basketball superstar LeBron James, who makes several appearances, and directed by renowned director Michel Warren. A major role in this real-life drama belongs to former St. Joseph (Met.) star and Duke All-American Jay Williams, who serves as mentor, friend and celebrity coach. Williams, a first-round draft pick in 2002 by wth Chicago Bulls, is now a college basketball analyst with ESPN.

Newark Central head coach Shawn McCray (You Tube Originals)

With Central's "Heart over Hype" motto put to practice, the team 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.who traveled all the way to the Group 2 state final before falling to Haddonfield at the Rutgers Athletic Center in March.

Over eight million viewers caught the first episode of "Best Shots' when it was originally streamed as a YouTube Originals series in July, and at least that many presumably watched over the next seven Wednesdays.

Along with following the team's athletic progress, we were presented some very personal looks into the lives of such players as Shaquan "Quan Quan" Clark, Jihad "Haddie" Evans, Zarique Nutter and Isaiah Smith, whose exposure through the series helped him secure college placement at Bloomfield College. You can see Smith's story on the link below.

RELATED: Docu-series exposure gives Newark Central's Smith his best shot academically

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. 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 riveting 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.

But why waste our breath? You can just tune in tonight and see for yourselves.

Don't forget the tissues.

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