Ray Allen plays the role of Jesus Shuttlesworth in the film He Got Game. Photo Credit: Quora

Nineteen years ago today, “He Got Game” debuted, and the world met Jake and Jesus Shuttlesworth.

The film, stars Ray Allen and Denzel Washington and keyed in on the life of Jesus Shuttlesworth, the basketball star of Brooklyn’s Lincoln High School. Jesus is the most sought after high school basketball prospect in the nation.

Denzel Washington plays the role of Jake Shuttlesworth, Jesus’ father.  Jesus’ story is overshadowed by his father who is doing a long bid in jail after accidentally killing Jesus’ mother.

Although in prison, Jake Shuttlesworth tries to earn himself an early release by talking his estranged son into playing basketball at the governor of New York’s alma mater, Big State University.

Simply put, Lee’s film gave the world a glimpse into the life of a blue chip athlete. 

Actor, Hill Harper not only played the role of cousin to Ray Allen in the “He Got Game” film, but he also played the role of his teammate on that Rail Splitters team. At the time of the film, Allen was in the early years of his career as a member of the Milwaukee Bucks, but way back then, Harper knew that Allen had something special.

So what stood out?

“His work ethic,” Harper told me on Scoop B Radio.

Check Out Hill Harper Chat With Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson on Scoop B Radio 

“He had a work ethic. He was shooting and playing every day. He wanted to do well as far as the acting was concerned, wanted to do well as far as the basketball was concerned.”

Ray Allen went on to retire as one of the greatest shooters in NBA history. He also won two championships with the Miami Heat during the big three era of LeBron James, Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade on South Beach. Harper is not surprised by Allen’s success, in fact he saw it coming even on set.

“People that I know who are successful and have longevity, they have work ethics and it comes down to that and he obviously had that. When he was acting, he wanted to be the best that he could be. When he was playing ball, he wanted to be the very best that he could be.”

With a budget of 25 million, “He Got Game,” made  22.4 million in the box office. 

Check Out The Trailer

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The post Spike Lee Directed & Denzel Washington, Ray Allen Starred “He Got Game” Debuted 19 Years Ago Today appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

In an acting career that extends over 20 years, in roles on CSI, Married With Children, HBO’s The Sopranos and more, hoop heads know him as Booger!

Booger was the impressionable cousin of Jesus Shuttlesworth in the film, He Got Game.

Check Out Hill Harper & Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson Chatting On Scoop B Radio

The film, stars Ray Allen and Denzel Washington and keyed in on the life of basketball star Jessus Shuttlesworth, of Brooklyn’s Lincoln High School. Lee’s film gave the world a glimpse into the life of a blue chip athlete.

Hill Harper not only played the role of cousin to Ray Allen in the He Got Game film, but he also played the role of his teammate on that Rail Splitters team. At the time of the film, Allen was in the early years of his career as a member of the Milwaukee Bucks, but way back then, Harper knew that Allen had something special.

So what stood out?

“His work ethic,” Harper told me on Scoop B Radio. “He had a work ethic. He was shooting and playing every day. He wanted to do well as far as the acting was concerned, wanted to do well as far as the basketball was concerned.”

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The post “He Had A Work Ethic” – Hill Harper on Playing Alongside Young Ray Allen in ‘He Got Game’ appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Hill Harper is probably one of the most diverse actors that you’ve ever seen and you probably didn’t even know it.

How many people can say that they appeared on the hit 90s television show, Married With Children, had a recurring role on CSI and HBO’s the Sopranos. went to law school with current U.S. President Barack Obama, been on screen with Denzel Washington and Ray Allen in He Got Game and has three earned Ivy League degrees?

Yup, that’s Hill Harper!

By the way, he has three earned Ivy League degrees, yet decided to move to Los Angeles to pursue a career in acting. He did it his way!

Speaking of He Got Game, Harper appeared on yesterday’s episode of Scoop B Radio and discussed the earlier years of his career, playing the role of Jesus Shuttlesworth’s cousin Booger.

Harper spoke reverently about film director, Spike Lee who gave Harper the chance to play in He Got Game after he had wrapped up his role in another Lee film, Get On The Bus.

“It was an honor for him to ask me to be in another film right after that,” he told me. “That usually means that the director likes what you did and what you brought to the table. It’s a role that I look back on and am so proud of.”

Playing in He Got Game, Harper got to see Ray Allen early in his career and was impressed even then. “His work ethic,” Harper said with a smile. “He had a work ethic. He was shooting and playing every day. He wanted to do well as far as the acting was concerned, wanted to do well as far as the basketball was concerned, he just had a work ethic. People always talk about my work ethic, people that I know who are successful and have longevity, they have work ethics and it comes down to that and he obviously had that. When he was acting, he wanted to be the best that he could be. When he was playing ball, he wanted to be the very best that he could be.”

Early in Harper’s career, he also played the Role of Breezy T in the film, In In Too Deep. Directed by Michael Rymer, In Too Deep, a crime thriller is a film that goes into the the life of rookie police officer, Jeff Cole works his way up the ladder as an undercover officer. The role of Cole is played by actor, Omar Epps. Officer Cole goes undercover into a large drug empire run by a man who calls him self God. The role of God is played by actor and recording artist, LL Cool J. Acting as J. Reid, Officer Cole works his way up the ranks and soon becomes close friends on the business and personal side with God. Cole’s superior officer fears that he has gone too far in and may not be able to go back to his real self. In addition to Epps and LL Cool J, the all star cast included Stanley Tucci, Pam Grier, Nia Long, Nas, Jermaine Dupri, Guillermo Diaz, Richard Brooks and Hill Harper.

“I wore blonde hair in the film,” recounted Harper. “I don’t get to play the bad guy very often. But he really wasn’t a bad guy, he was trying to feed his family. He was a go between. It was a fun film.”

An accomplished actor and humanitarian, Harper’s career has spanned 23 years. He looks back on the early years often. “I look at my career now and wish I had more opportunities to play characters like that,” he said.

Unfortunately, I’ll be honest, they’re not writing characters like that. If you look at films that are character based and character inspired, where are they?”

Hear the interview in its entirety here: 

http://www.scoopbradio.com/2016/10/scoop-b-radio-ep-034-feat-actor-hill-harper/

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The post Flashback Friday: Hill Harper Reflects On In Too Deep and He Got Game appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.