Documentary chronicles USC standout’s struggles

Nick Young overcame adversity to become a probable first round pick.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — By all rights, Nick Young wasn’t supposed to be a college basketball standout.

He flunked out of two high schools. His oldest brother died in a drive-by shooting.

Now, the Southern California player is set to be chosen in this week’s NBA draft and earn millions of dollars.

His struggle is portrayed in “Second Chance Season.” The documentary debuted last week at the Los Angeles Film Festival.

“Every now and then, a kind of special story picks me,” said Daniel H. Forer, the director and co-producer. “It was an absolutely remarkable journey.”

Forer discovered Young, one of the city’s most heralded prep players, in early 2003 while working on a cable pilot about basketball. Intrigued by his background, Forer followed Young’s multiple appeals with the Los Angeles Unified School District to get back into high school. Days before his senior year was to begin, Young was admitted to Cleveland High in suburban Reseda.

“I’m not the smartest person, but sit down and work with me,” Young says on camera. “I know what to do.”

Tough test

The film follows Young’s attempts to score at least 800 on the SAT exam to earn a basketball scholarship to USC, a private school with hefty tuition.

On each of three tries, he gets special tutoring and extra time on the test. The camera zooms in as he repeatedly opens the score results.

“It started off pretty cool, but some days it got kind of overwhelming,” Young said in an interview about the film. “It was hard.”

In between Young’s academic lows, he leads Cleveland High against rival Taft High and Jordan Farmar, a close friend whom Young saw get more acclaim and be drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers.

At home, the Young family’s emotions careen between joy at Nick’s basketball prowess and anger about the killing. There is also worry about another son whose emotional problems landed him in a group home and concern about Nick’s test scores.

Forer’s cameras capture the family’s life in their modest three-bedroom apartment and the mounting pressure on Nick to succeed.

Done well

“It’s just right on,” Charles Sr. said, referring to the film. “It helped my son and my family get through some hard times. We’ve gotten used to the idea that my son is dead and isn’t coming back. We have to push the kids we have now in their careers.”

Especially Nick.

Young is projected as a top-20 pick in Thursday’s NBA draft, with some experts considering him as the second-best shooting guard behind Corey Brewer of national champion Florida. First-round picks receive guaranteed contracts.

“Maybe he’ll get a high draft choice and make a lot of money, then I can retire,” said Charles Sr., who has supported his family by driving moving vans and hauling other people’s stuff for 29 years.

“I’m getting nervous,” Nick said. “Everybody keeps saying it’s a big draft and you don’t know where you’re going to end up. I’m so used to being an L.A. city guy and I could be out of there.”

Young has yet to live away from home, having stayed with his family during his three seasons at USC.

“Nick is kind of a momma’s boy,” his father said.