Ken Carter was a successful businessman when he accepted the head basketball coach position at troubled Richmond High School in California in 1997. He instituted a contract which players and their parents signed. It spelled out crucial rules of conduct: treat others with respect; shun drugs and alcohol; sit in the front of class and participate; wear a suit and tie on game day; and maintain a minimum of a 2.3 GPA.
When not all of the players lived up to these obligations, the playoff bound, undefeated Richmond Oilers -- including Carter's own son, Damien -- were locked out of the gym and pulled from any basketball-related activities to learn how to "rise as a team." Academically solid players tutored weaker ones, and the whole team improved their GPAs. Most importantly, these inner city students ultimately returned not just to the court, but to a new standard of winning, one which transcended the hoop dreams of high school. The students now thought about college educations and futures they might never have imagined for themselves.
