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True North: Inside the Rise of Toronto Basketball
True North: Inside the Rise of Toronto Basketball

E2 - Elijah I: Just a Kid

| 15 min

An intimate look at the rise of five aspiring athletes, Ryan Sidhoo’s nine-part docu-series captures the raw emotion of navigating today’s youth basketball machine.

Credits
  • conception
    Ryan Sidhoo
  • director
    Ryan Sidhoo
  • producer
    Shirley Vercruysse
  • executive producer
    Shirley Vercruysse

Episodes

  • E1 - The Roots & The Rise
    2018 23 min
    Toronto is at the epicentre of Canada’s NBA talent boom. We meet the pioneers who have grown the game and introduce a group of young hopefuls chasing their own hoop dream.
  • E2 - Elijah I: Just a Kid
    2018 15 min
    Elijah Fisher is the top-ranked 12-year-old in the world. We go beyond the rankings and social media clout to see how a family manages the expectations that come with raising a child in the spotlight.
  • E3 - King Nation I: Play Small, Win Big
    2018 23 min
    King Nation AAU are on the rise, but need a floor general. The responsibility falls on the shoulders of 5’9 point guard Keone Davis, 15, who leads the team into the Pittsburgh Jam Fest with high hopes.
  • E4 - Cordell I: Trust the Process
    2018 15 min
    Cordell Veira enters his senior year playing for an underdog program. Time is ticking for Cordell to land a Division 1 scholarship offer while also carrying the weight of family redemption.
  • E5 - King Nation II: The North's American Dream
    2018 15 min
    Inspired by his father and the NBA players from his suburb, Jalen Celestine, 15, knows the NBA is within reach. With big-time US prep schools calling, the family ventures south for official visits.
  • E6 - Elijah II: Defend Your Crown
    2018 15 min
    Along with the legendary coach, Ro Russell, Elijah heads to the Fab 48 Tournament in Vegas and a middle-school ranking camp in D.C. He is set to defend his title as the best in the class of 2023.
  • E7 - King Nation III: Bright Lights
    2018 23 min
    The King Nation trilogy closes with Malachi Ndur, 15, who has gone from small-town kid to major prospect. Malachi along with Keone and Jalen head to the Fab 48 tournament in Vegas with a chance to end the summer crowned as kings.
  • E8 - Cordell II: For My Family
    2018 15 min
    Without an offer, Cordell’s season is winding down. A slate of big games offers him one last chance to catch the eye of a Division 1 coach.
  • E9 - Finale: Making It
    2018 15 min
    We catch up with each player in the midst of their journey as they reflect on their road ahead.

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