There are certain areas in the U.S. where basketball is religion. Kentucky is one of those such areas, where a high school basketball player is treated like a deity. And all high school basketball players in the Bluegrass State have one goal – to make it to Rupp Arena where the state championships are held. It's this quest for Rupp that Keith O'Brien documents in his great book Outside Shot: Big Dreams, Hard Times, And One County's Quest For Basketball Greatness.
O'Brien was embedded with the Scott County Cardinals during their (hopeful) run to the 2010 state championship. The team is led by a legendary coach, has a former middle school prodigy and Kentucky Wildcat recruit, along with several other D1 prospects. But it is more than just a book about basketball – it is a book about Kentucky, about the recession, about relationships, and about the importance of basketball to areas like Scott County. That's what makes this such a great book – it isn't merely just a recap of the team's games and who hit what shot and who fouled out like so many lesser books are. The reader gets invited into the lives of the Scott County players, coaches, fans and area residents to paint a real picture of life in basketball-mad Kentucky. It's a riveting, enlightening, fun read.
Grab a copy here:
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