An educational Companion piece to Hoop Dreams, Higher Goals features NBA star Isiah Thomas in a fast-paced, entertaining PBS special that encourages young athletes to put their dreams of professional sports in perspective and focus on getting an education. The real life stories of two high school athletes demonstrate that the sports skills of practice and discipline can be applied to academics as well.
30 minutes
Study Guide (PDF)
- Executive Producer
- Gordon Quinn
- Producers
- Steve James
- Peter Gilbert
- Gordon Quinn
- Directors
- Frederick Marx
- Steve James
“In December, I conducted an in service for our school counselors and at that time showed the video, Higher Goals. I have never seen such enthusiasm. They did not want to leave for lunch until they had seen it in its entirety. All of them wanted their own tape. They talked of how they could use Higher Goals with teachers and parents and stated that the message was clear that the length of time was appropriate to hold students’ attention and that it was great to see superstars relating to “real” situations and not emphasizing sports.”
—-Brenda Flint Nixon, Curriculum Supervisor, Dayton Public Schools
PBS National Broadcast, 1992
Emmy Awards, 1993 – Nominee