Motley crew
Marquette alums inspirational, but also infamous
By: Joseph Boesen
Posted: 5/1/07
William Gates, College of Communication '95
William Gates captured the hearts and minds of America when he co-starred with Arthur Agee Jr. in the documentary "Hoop Dreams." The story follows the two young men from a rough neighborhood in Chicago through their recruitment to a premier basketball high school in the suburbs and finally to college.
In the film, both Gates and Agee experience tough times. Gates suffers injuries to his leg while Agee witnesses family and friends succumb to the dangers of his neighborhood.
Gates grew up in the notoriously violent Cabrini Green neighborhood on the near north side of Chicago. He was recruited by St. Joseph's High School in Westchester, a western suburb of Chicago.
There, he started for the varsity basketball team as a freshman and worked his way into regional spotlight, which eventually brought him to Marquette on a full scholarship under then-head coach Kevin O'Neill.
"I had a great time at Marquette," Gates said.
Although at the end of the documentary he appears to be weary of life on the court, Gates later said the cameramen caught him at a bad time.
"I was like most freshmen, away from home and very homesick," he said.
While at Marquette, Gates said he was still dedicated to basketball and tried to get involved with the student body as much as possible.
"Our hangout spot was Real Chili," he said.
Associate Athletic Director Tom Ford was Gates' adviser at Marquette.
Filmed during Gates' high school years, the documentary was released during his senior year at Marquette, Ford said.
"I started the year fully committed to basketball and school but that lasted only a half a semester," Gates said. "At every city we played at, all these reporters would want to talk to me about my story."
Gates said the athletic department handled most of the interviews for him.
Ford said Gates had to continually get interviews and appearances checked out by an NCAA review board so he could maintain his eligibility.
"I knew it was a distraction and I didn't want the movie to overshadow what we were trying to do as a team," Gates said.
The distraction was bittersweet because it complicated the season but also served as a recruiting tool for Marquette, he said.
In 1995 Marquette went to the NIT final, and Gates played off the bench.
After graduation, Gates said he toured the world speaking about the movie, but the game of basketball was still very close to his heart.
"I still play, I still talk trash, and I hope I can keep playing until I turn 60," he said. "I still talk to (Agee) too."
Gates is now a senior pastor at Living Faith Community Center in the same neighborhood in which he grew up.
