by Dan Perkins

The award-winning documentary, Hooked: The Legend of Demetrius “Hook” Mitchell will make its world television premiere on NBA-TV, the National Basketball League’s 24-hour channel, in a special broadcast presented by Reebok on Monday, June 14 at 8 PM ET.

Hooked is a powerful documentary directed and produced by Michael Skolnik and William O’Neill. Rob Stone and Jon Cohen also serve as producers.

Completed in 2003, Hooked traces the life of Demetrius "Hook" Mitchell, a 5-feet-9 legend of West Oakland playground basketball courts.  Mitchell earned a reputation by jumping over the top of a Volkswagen car and slam-dunking a basketball. It's a feat so amazing, that when you see it in the documentary, you'll wonder if it's humanly possible.  Mitchell is considered by several NBA All-Stars to be the greatest player to never reach the NBA.

Skolnik recorded some interesting reflections from several NBA stars, including NBA All-Star Jason Kidd of the New Jersey Nets who said, “Hook could jump over a building. He was by far the best player to come out of Oakland. There is no comparison to me, Gary Payton, Antonio Davis, Greg Foster or Brian Shaw.”

NBA All-Star Gary Payton of the Los Angeles Lakers stated, “Hook was better than me … he was better than everybody. He would jump over trucks to win slam dunk contests.”

Three-time NBA champion Brian Shaw declared, “Hook could handle the ball with the Marburys and Iversons of the world. And he had the pure competitiveness of a Michael Jordan.”

While Mitchell had everything going for him on the basketball court, his life off the court was another matter.  He watched several of his childhood friends become stars in the NBA, while he allowed his own life to spiral out of control on the drug- and crime-ravaged streets of West Oakland.  Mitchell ended up serving a lengthy prison term, but amazingly, he has not allowed himself to become bitter.  Instead, he has come to terms with his past and with the bad choices that landed him in the California Men’s Penal Colony.

Although Hooked provides an intimate look at a what can easily be described as a human tragedy, the documentary is far from being  just another ghetto-to-prison via drugs-and-crime story. The sobering look at human frailty is balanced by hopeful glimpses at the transformative power of human intervention and divine redemption.  Skolnik is clearly an artful storyteller who has succeeded in crafting a compelling documentary.

Hooked has previewed at more than 20 film festivals in the United States, including the TriBeca Film Festival.  And wherever Hooked is shown, it touches audiences. 

Hooked garnered awards in 2003 ranging from “Best Documentary” to bronze medal at the Rhode Island Film Festival, San Francisco Black Film Festival, San Francisco World Film Festival and Worldfest Houston.

Readers of this publication are encouraged to see Hooked, which will be released on DVD in October 2004. For more information about this incredible documentary, visit www.hookmitchell.com.

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