Last Chance U: Basketball

The Struggle of Junior College Basketball

In Last Chance U: Basketball, the players for the East Los Angeles Community College Men’s Basketball team are subjected to the grueling and often demoralizing conditions of the junior college basketball level. The stigma that comes with being at the JUCO level is one that does not take kindly to those involved; from no meal plans, no student housing, and consistent struggles financially, all while attempting to remain academically eligible and play well enough to receive a scholarship to a better program, the junior college route can be a struggle for anyone brave enough to attempt it. This theme will provide evidence and attempt to depict the often-overwhelming obstacles presented towards junior college athletes, as well as the lack of support these players are given to succeed at this level.

While it is fair to point out that this theme is evident across all 8 episodes of the documentary, I would like to focus on a few key moments from the show that most accurately support the thesis and what it’s attempting to achieve. Take first for example a moment from Episode 1, titled The Window. For a majority of the documentary, there is a large focus on interviews conducted with faculty and players throughout the season as it progresses. In an interview with Head Coach John Mosley regarding the JUCO level, he explains how “there’s no meal plans here. We have kids traveling an hour and a half to get here every day. They have to find their own living situation…three of four of them are living in a one-bedroom apartment trying to make it to class and remain eligible. They don’t have very much money…it’s a tough 2 or 3 years” (Leibowitz & Whiteley, 2020).

Unlike Division 1 college basketball, where players are provided student housing, free meals, and financial support, JUCO players are left to fend for themselves. Along with the lack of support for individual players, the junior college program as a whole often struggles to provide adequate facilities and conditions for their teams. Take for example another moment in Episode 2, Hooper. During a team practice, Coach Mosley points out that both of the rims the team predominantly practices on are noticeably tilted upwards, making it nearly impossible to make shots. Although these practice conditions are clearly unacceptable, especially at the college level, the funding for the team is simply too miniscule for anyone to be paid to service it. As Coach Mosley explains, “this is the most successful team we’ve had in years and our budget gets cut” (Leibowitz & Whiteley, 2020). Despite the possibility of a historic season, East LA is unable to receive the necessary financial support to allow for productive practices, and are left to deal with the problem themselves.

A third and final example comes again from Episode 1. In an opening interview with Coach Mosley, when asked about the future of his players, he describes how “a majority of these players only have one small window of opportunity. If they make a mistake, it’s closed. That’s just the reality of JUCO” (Leibowitz & Whiteley, 2020). The situation these players are placed into is truly a “last chance” type of scenario. Because the conditions are so challenging, and everyone is playing to get out, it creates a very difficult environment to thrive in and, in turn, makes the entire junior college process one that causes many players to struggle immensely.

In relation to an outside example, I’d like to look at a scholarly article titled “Understanding the Academic Struggles of Community College Student Athletes” by Jason Demas. Demas describes in the article how there are “numerous obstacles” faced by community-college athletes that put them behind those athletes starting at 4-year institutions. A study conducted for the article shows that many community-college athletes come from “lower socioeconomic backgrounds, and may also work a full or part-time job in addition to pursuing a degree and participating in sports” (Demas, p. 2). However, the most important issue stressed in Demas’ article is the lack of support of community-college student athletes across the nation.

Research shows that an athlete at the junior college level is put at an academic disadvantage when their sport is in season. While this is evident in athletes at any level to an extent, the biggest obstacle that comes with JUCO is the complete “absence of support programs” at these schools that are either financially incapable or simply unable to offer efficient support for their players. Another study identified in the article found that, compared to the national average of 57%, community-college athletes only had a 28% chance of obtaining a 2-year degree (Demas, p. 3). Because it is evident that whatever happens on the court often carries over into players’ academics and personal lives, it is clear that the baggage at the JUCO level is much more challenging than that of a player in Division 1.

The unfortunate circumstances the players of Last Chance U: Basketball as well as JUCO players across the country face have implications for athletes everywhere who are struggling to survive at the community-college level. In all junior college sports, even in sports like track and field, there is a general lack of funding, player support, and overall fan engagement that prohibits more to be done to help these athletes, instead giving the attention to more appealing Division 1 programs and players. As these athletes are given little to no focus regarding the conditions they play under, the narrative has stayed the same and the lives of the majority of JUCO players today have barely improved over time. Until there is more discourse about the drastic differences between JUCO and Division 1 (or any other level for that matter), as well as the overall lack of financial, mental, and academic support for junior college athletes, there will be no signs of improvement.

Mental Health and Its’ Effect on Junior College Athletes

One of the most common and recurring themes in Last Chance U: Basketball was that of the mental health struggles the players underwent during the course of their 8-month season. Specifically, the high levels of mental and emotional stress brought on by the overwhelming challenges of JUCO basketball. For the majority of the players highlighted in the series, there is an evident back and forth battle in attempting to maintain the mental capacity to fight through the frustrations, setbacks, and interpersonal struggles found at the junior college level. This theme will provide moments from the series as well as analysis from interviews and dialogue to provide evidence as to the mental health struggles experienced by the players during their time at East LA.

For my first piece of evidence, I would like to again go back to Episode 1 of the series during an opening interview with Coach Mosley. In the interview, Mosley is asked about the hardest part of being in JUCO. He responds by saying that “it’s not just X’s and O’s. That’s the easy part. The tough part is keeping them emotionally stable. Do you have the mental capacity to fight through it?” (Leibowitz & Whiteley, 2020). While this statement is in the opening minutes of the pilot episode, it becomes a crucial thematic element that is shared amongst all of Mosley’s players during the season. Frustrated outbursts, emotional breakdowns, and even threatening to quit are common themes that are persistent throughout the show.

Building off Mosley’s statement, I’d like to shift forward to a moment from Episode 3, titled Jenny. After Joe, one of the stars of the team, leaves practice out of frustration and throws a tantrum in the locker room, we cut to one of his teammates, Deshaun, during an interview later that day. When asked about the incident, Deshaun replies “not everyone is as mentally stable as the next guy.” Moving forward to later in the episode, we’re again given an interview with Recruiting Coach Ken Hunter regarding Joe, who since his outburst, hasn’t been to practice in 3 days. While talking to a Division 1 scout about Joe during practice, Ken explains that “I told him—he could make as much money as he wants to…but you have to quit being mentally unstable” (Leibowitz & Whiteley, 2020). Similarly to many of his teammates, Joe is held back from being recruited to bigger programs by his inability to keep his mental health in check. While Joe’s sudden decision to walk out was surprising, it is unfortunately a behavior that is common among JUCO players; while many of them struggle with similar mental health issues, there is an abundance of support in junior college to console them.

Finally, I’d like to again jump forward to a moment from Episode 5, titled Colby Ranch. In an attempt to relieve tension amongst the team as the playoffs loom, Coach Mosley decides to take the team to a secluded cabin in the mountains to try and not only build chemistry, but attempt to provide mental and emotional support for his players who have otherwise had a complete lack thereof during their time on campus. During a team meeting at a bonfire that evening, Coach Mosley encourages the team to confide in one another with the struggles they face, as they are all stuck in the same situation. Mosley describes how “our season is 8 months…there is a constant grind on your body, and especially on your mental. It’s hard as hell here. It’s hard” (Leibowitz & Whiteley, 2020).

Unfortunately, the rigorous circumstances and environment in which most junior college athletes compete in create different mental health issues and affect the overall “psychological well-being” of the players involved (Watson, p. 1). While there is an array of moments during the show that depict this struggle, it is most evident in the highs and lows experienced by the players. The almost cycle-like formula of having a mental breakdown, being consoled and bouncing back, then doing it all over again was consistent in nearly every player documented during the series. Because of the lack of resources in junior college to provide real, structural support for players with mental health issues, this was a theme the team struggled with for the entirety of the season.

In relation to an outside example, I’d like to look at another scholarly article titled “The Face of Mental Health: Kevin Love and Hegemonic Masculinity in the NBA” by Katherine Lavelle. In the article, Lavelle discusses how athletic expectations often make it more difficult for athletes to come forward over mental health issues. After NBA player Kevin Love came out detailing his own personal battles with anxiety and depression, it opened the door for big-time athletes to speak more on the issues many athletes face. Specifically, Lavelle explains that because we live in a culture where athletes are “commended” for brushing off physical pain and emotional stress, they feel uncomfortable discussing vulnerable topics like mental health (Lavelle, p. 2).

A 2019 study done for this article found that athletes are more vulnerable to mental illness than the rest of the general population; because of conditions like unique physical challenges, significant time and energy, and the pressure not to fail, many athletes are susceptible to depression and other mental health dilemmas. Coming from a professional basketball player, it’s likely very eye-opening to see the struggles athletes of Kevin Love’s caliber can experience. However, what many fail to realize is how amplified these affects are at lower levels of basketball, in this case junior college. The added pressures of attempting to remain eligible, living independently, and struggling to remain financially stable along with trying to play well on the court only go to show why so many JUCO athletes struggle with their mental health. Unfortunately, although there are over “72,000 junior college student athletes” competing annually, there are simply not enough studies that have been conducted on these athletes’ psychological and mental well-being to sufficiently support them (Watson, p. 4).

The mental health struggles for the players depicted in Last Chance U: Basketball have implications for male athletes across the world. While the conditions of junior college basketball certainly heighten the lengths to which these issues occur, there is a certain stigma surrounding mental illness in sports that discourages male athletes from appearing weak or vulnerable. Because of this stigma, many athletes attempt to simply “be tough” or “brush it off” when they are dealing with mental health issues instead of seeking help due to fears of appearing non-masculine. Although athletes like Kevin Love have recently started to come forward about struggles with mental health, there is still “little structural support” when it comes to providing athletes of all levels the necessary help in dealing with mental illnesses these athletes are proven to be more vulnerable to (Lavelle, 2020).

The Lack of Exposure & Media Coverage in JUCO

Along with rigorous conditions and mental health issues that come with playing JUCO basketball, one of the most prominent issues in all of junior college basketball is the lack of exposure the athletes get during their time playing. Having incredibly sparse media coverage and a lack of overall fan engagement at a level where “getting out” and being seen by higher level college coaches is everything, it makes the experience one that is frustratingly challenging. This theme will provide evidence as to the lack of proper media exposure for JUCO athletes and how it negatively impacts their window for opportunity at the junior college level.

To begin this final theme, I’d like to go back to another moment from Episode 2 of the series. In an attempt to incentivize East LA students to come out to home games, the athletic department suggests Coach Mosley get a pie thrown in his face after the game. Because attendance is so lackluster, Mosley reluctantly agrees. When asked why students won’t come to any of their games, despite being the subject of a Netflix documentary, Mosley explains, “we don’t have the media outlets that alert anybody about the success we’re having” (Leibowitz & Whiteley, 2020). Because of their status as a JUCO team and general lack of funding, East LA has little to no media coverage. Essentially, this creates an unfortunate lack of student and overall fan engagement, which is evident as nearly all of the games shown during the series are less attended than an average high school game. As Coach Mosley attempts to get his players seen by Division 1 coaches, this makes it very difficult to provide the proper exposure for his team to receive opportunities at the next level, a goal that every player on East LA is trying to achieve.

Moving forward, I’d like to jump to another moment from Episode 4, titled In My Father’s House. Nearing the end of a closely contested game, the camera pans down to the players on the end of the bench who haven’t gotten any playing time. One of the reserve guards, Mark Boland, is shown looking frustrated. When asked about his role on the team, Mark describes how “at the end of the day, you need minutes to play to get exposed, get a scholarship and move to the next level…and unfortunately that doesn’t always happen” (Leibowitz & Whiteley, 2020). For players like Mark who struggle to get minutes on the floor, the lack of media exposure in JUCO can prove to be even more challenging. For starters, access to game film allows them to post highlights online in attempts to reach higher level college coaches. Because no one else is covering their games on social media or anywhere otherwise, this leaves players like Mark with a very small window of opportunity to display their skills, especially in an environment where “getting out” is everything.

Lastly, I’d like to move forward to one final moment from the series in Episode 7, titled Lifers. A day away from the first round of the State Championship playoffs, Coach Mosley is in a meeting with Joe to discuss his expectations as to Joe’s behavior for the rest of the season. Although Joe’s time at East LA was an emotional rollercoaster that featured many ups and downs, the State playoffs are the only time junior college players can be fully exposed to hundreds of Division 1 scouts and coaches from across the country. Mosley explains to Joe: “As far as we go, it we win a title--the better your life is going to be. I’m not talking about just a scholarship. I’m talking about your life changing. You all really need this opportunity” (Leibowitz & Whiteley, 2020).

Due to the complete scarcity of media coverage and fan engagement amongst the majority of JUCO programs, the window of opportunity for junior college athletes is much smaller when compared to athletes at higher levels. With that being said, the little exposure JUCO teams do receive (if they are able to make it to the postseason) is enough to completely change the lives of all those involved. The stereotype surrounding the conditions and environment in which JUCO basketball is played has led most fans to entirely disregard any and all junior college athletes in general; however, many fail to realize that if even the smallest fraction of the attention focused on pros and Division-1 players was shifted to the players in JUCO, it could give them all the opportunity they need to finally move on to a better situation.

In relation to an outside example, I’d like to look at one of our readings from class this year, titled “Female Athletes, Women’s Sport, and the Sport Media Commercial Complex: Have We Really ‘Come a Long Way, Baby?’” by Janet Fink. While the article is predominantly about the highly differential media coverage between male and female athletes, I believe it has concepts that relate to closely to the similar lack of media coverage experienced by JUCO athletes. There is a specific idea that Fink discusses regarding how the mediatization of athletes essentially “shapes how the public perceives reality” (Fink, p. 2). Media coverage, and in this case a lack thereof, creates a portrayal of certain groups of athletes (whether that be female athletes, junior college, etc.) that often reinforces negative stereotypes these athletes want to avoid.

Take for example a 1999 study discussed in the article about the differences between the men’s and women’s NCAA tournament coverage. While televised, the “actual production techniques” that were utilized for the men’s versus women’s games were drastically different; using more shot variations and on-screen graphics to promote greater excitement for the men’s games while rendering the women’s games as less important and engaging (Fink, p. 5). Unfortunately, the same scenarios can be applied to junior college basketball. With no televised games, minimal to no social media coverage, and an abundance of loyal fans, JUCO basketball and its’ players accomplishments on the court are often degraded and disregarded, despite having the talent to play at larger programs that are given national exposure.

Due to the lack of media coverage in junior college basketball, most JUCO players are categorized and often stereotyped by the public as the lowest end of college basketball. Despite many of the players having the potential to play Division-1 and beyond, the lack of support and media attention received in JUCO has created a narrative that ultimately dismisses the talents of all those involved.

The lack of media exposure depicted in Last Chance U: Basketball bears implications for the lives of men and women in sport across the world. The appeal of sports in general has made it an “immensely influential social institution” and, in turn, has made mass sports media one of the most powerful forces for shaping the values of modern sports fans and sports culture. Because of this, the qualitative differences (or lack thereof) in sport media coverage among different groups like female or JUCO athletes only create and reinforce negative perceptions of these athletes’ capabilities that create a variety of “economic, social, and political” limitations that are difficult to exceed (Fink, p. 3).

During the extent of Last Chance U: Basketball, we are invited to view the world of junior college basketball through the eyes of Netflix documentarians Greg Whiteley and Adam Leibowitz. While their series does an excellent job depicting the little-known world of JUCO, this portrayal cannot be viewed as an inherently positive truth. Although it is fair to argue the filmmakers used their platform to shed light on the struggles of junior college athletes, including how the players’ mental health was affected as well as the lack of exposure and opportunity, their representational practices only reinforce the negative ideologies surrounding junior college athletes in sport.

Throughout the narrative of the series, various players and faculty members for East LA are brought in to conduct recurring interviews as the season progresses along. During these interviews, we as viewers are exposed first-hand to the themes discussed above: the rigorous and challenging world of junior college basketball, the effects it has on players’ psychological well-being, and the abundance of media attention that is so crucial to moving on to better programs and beyond. However, despite shedding light to all these important issues, even implementing an upbeat, positive ending looking ahead to the bright futures of the players’ featured, the documentary itself does nothing to actively change or create real discourse surrounding the difficult circumstances most JUCO athletes face.

Even though it is fair the documentarians used their platform to provide an in-depth look into the otherwise unknown struggles of junior college basketball, their presentation still reinforces hegemonic viewpoints of JUCO athletes. Although Netflix allows for millions of viewers to be exposed to said struggles, the documentary only serves to identify and acknowledge the problems within programs like East LA, not fix them. While from an outside perspective, the series may be looked upon as a chance to provide more attention to the various issues involved with junior college basketball and athletics in general, in reality, it is using these athletes and the emotional appeal of their situations to provide entertainment and promote engagement among viewers—which is thoroughly evident among the consistent lack of support or change within these junior college programs that has continued on despite being broadcast for the entire world to see.

This paper looked to determine how the show Last Chance U: Basketball depicted the little-known hardships involved with being a junior college athlete, as well as the implications involved. Throughout this analysis, I have shed light on the startlingly strenuous conditions in which these players have to compete. While my hope is that this paper and those alike will create genuine discourse as to the absolutely necessary need for change and support amongst athletes at the JUCO level, this will still likely not be the case. Unfortunately, this topic matters because without people like myself looking to spread awareness over these issues, there would be no conversation as to how we can better support these struggling athletes whose trials and tribulations during their time in junior college are otherwise disregarded. Although this is an issue that is far from being solved, it is crucial that we as sports fans come to realize that the media’s portrayal of junior college athletes—and lack thereof—does not define who these players are, and should not shape the way we perceive these struggling athletes who, because of their status, are never given a chance to define themselves.