Basketball
Lethal Shooter and Chloe Pavlech travel the US in all-new hoop series
Red Bull Media House and Sports Illustrated join forces to explore city culture through the lens of basketball. First and second episodes out now.
Chris Matthews aka “Lethal Shooter” has traveled all over the U.S. training players on the art of shooting, whether it’s in the backwoods of Carolina, or deep in Los Angeles’ San Fernando Valley. Throughout his travels, he’s met hoop-loving characters who shape the culture of cities and communities. The same can be said for Chloe Pavlech, a former college player at Maryland who then became a top content creator as “Overtime Chloe,” finding fresh stories to tell about young basketball personalities all over the world. She also is currently a women’s assistant basketball coach at D-1 powerhouse Baylor.
When both expressed a passion to dive deeper and tell under-reported stories about the people who make up the fabric of local hoops, Red Bull Media House and Sports Illustrated joined forces for a first-ever 3-part basketball travel series titled 'Hoops Passport'.
Chris "Lethal Shooter" Matthews
© Brian Hall
Hoop in your city:
The features explore how people and places have shaped the culture and DNA of hoop hotbeds Atlanta, Washington D.C. and New York, with a storyline emphasis on the women’s game, grassroots organizers, and local hot spots.
All three episodes will premiere weekly on the Sports Illustrated YouTube channel starting with Atlanta episode, and the latest Washington, D.C. episode which premiered on August 30th is available to watch now.
Stay tuned for the finale New York episode premiere on Sept. 6th.
01
Stop #1 - ATLANTA
1 min
Hoops Passport Atlanta trailer
Watch the 'Hoops Passport' Atlanta episode trailer.
In the first episode, Lethal Shooter and Pavlech explore Atlanta’s thriving community with an introduction by the Mighty Marching Panther Band from Clark Atlanta University - the first historically black college or university (HBCU) in the Southern United States. This is the same marching band featured in the 2002 movie Drumline.
The crew also meets up with Hulio Smith, general manager of the Atlanta Celtics, an iconic grassroots basketball program that bred NBA stars Anthony Edwards, Josh Smith, Dwight Howard and rookie Jabari Smith. Other guests include DeAndre Bray aka “The Mosquito;”Ty Young, 12-year WNBA veteran and first-ever pick of the Atlanta Dream; Jah Rawlings, founder of the Atlanta Entertainment Basketball League (AEBL); Bria Janelle, the voice of Atlanta basketball; and a visit to Wish Atlanta, the iconic streetwear shop.
As Lethal Shooter put it, folks here “use basketball to do other things and it shows how creative-minded people from Atlanta are.”
View behind-the-scenes photography from 'Hoops Passport' Atlanta:
Chris "Lethal Shooter" Matthews and Bria Janelle
© Cameron Moon
Hoops Passport Atlanta
© Cameron Moon
Chloe Pavlech shops Wish ATL
© Cameron Moon
Hoops Passport Atlanta behind-the-scenes
© Cameron Moon
More from 'Hoops Passport' Atlanta:
02
Stop #2 - WASHINGTON, D.C.
1 min
Hoops Passport Washington, D.C. trailer
Watch the 'Hoops Passport' Washington, D.C. episode trailer
In the Washington D.C. episode, Lethal Shooter and Pavlech make a homecoming trip to a region that shaped them both. Matthews was born and raised in D.C., while Pavlech played college ball at Maryland in the greater DMV area. During their visit, they meet up with old and new friends who sit at the core of hoop culture:
• Streetball legend Baby Shaq - a former star on the And 1 Mixtape Tour
• Local women’s hooper Iman McFarland, COO of The Campus DMV
• Young filmmaker Melanie Page
• Roc Mikey, one of the leading voices of the popular Go-Go band UCB
• Oji Abbott, owner of soul food spot Oohh’s & Aahh’s
• Delonte Taylor aka Coach Nut – the man who coached Lethal Shooter and many others from a young age.
View behind-the-scenes photography from 'Hoops Passport' D.C.:
Baby Shaq and Lethal Shooter stop for a shot with the camera crew
© Cameron Moon
Chloe Pavlech and Lethal Shooter
© Cameron Moon
Roc Mikey and Lethal Shooter chop it up in episode 2 of 'Hoops Passport'
© Cameron Moon
Chloe Pavlech and Iman McFarland pose for a photo
© Cameron Moon
03
Stop #3 - NEW YORK
COMING SOON.
On their final stop in New York, Lethal Shooter and Pavlech catch up with WNBA star Stephanie Dolson, Hoop York City’s Alex Taylor, Christ the King Hall of Fame coach Bob Mackey and Camille Buxeda, the creator of WSLAM.
Learn more at www.redbull.com/HoopsPassport.
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