A journey that started nearly six years ago is far from complete for the producers of the independent film “Streetballers.”
“Streetballers” is an urban drama exploring the lives of John Hogan and Jacob Whitmore – two junior college basketball players from diverse backgrounds – and their struggles within a divided city, broken homes and the demand of collegiate-level athletics.
The film was produced by Matt Krentz, Craig Thomas, Patrick Rooney and Vernon Whitlock III. It stars Krentz, Rooney, Thomas and former University of Missouri basketball player Jimmy McKinney.
Krentz, the writer/director of the film, plays the role of Hogan and McKinney stars as Jacob. Krentz, a native of St. Louis, is a Rockhurst University graduate and is back in the Kansas City area with Thomas and Rooney to promote the film’s premier tonight at the Tivoli Cinemas (4050 Pennsylvania) in Westport Manor Square in Kansas City.
“I’m excited to play the film in Kansas City,” Krentz said. “I played two years of basketball at Rockhurst and I played junior varsity soccer my senior year. I lived off Troost for a number of years and I lived on 39th and Roanoke in Westport. I was writing my first screenplay when I lived in Kansas City.”
In September, the film premiered at the famed Grauman’s Chinese Theatre in Los Angles after a successful run in August at two theaters in the St. Louis area. Krentz said in both instances, the movie ranked in the top 10 in per-screen average for their respective weekend openings.
“We were ranked No. 9 in the country in per-screen average after our St. Louis premiere,” Krentz said. “So we broke the top 10 according to Variety (magazine, the bible of the entertainment business). “And that was out of 128 films. We played in St. Louis for three weeks and that opened up the door to play at the (Grauman’s) Theatre in L.A.”
The Los Angeles premiere of “Streetballers” was hosted by Los Angles Lakers basketball player Josh Powell. Powell is represented by Strategic Sports Management, for which Thomas is an agent.
“We were ranked No. 9 in the country again (after the Los Angles screening) for per-screen average for opening weekend and ended up No. 14 in the country out of 138 films for the weekly average,” Krentz said. “We only played there for one week. It was a big premiere for Los Angeles.”
Thomas also represents McKinney, who plays professionally in Germany after a standout career at Mizzou that he ended as one of only four players in school history to record 1,100 points, 400 rebounds and 300 assists. The St. Louis native joined Mizzou All-Century Team members Melvin Booker, Doug Smith and Anthony Peeler as the only other Tigers to accomplish the feat.
