Available now on NFB.ca, NFB’s YouTube channel and RedBull.tv !

True North provides an intimate look at the rise of the Toronto hoop dream through the stories of five young athletes, inspired by the wave of NBA talent coming from their city. In this nine part docu-series, director Ryan Sidhoo captures the raw emotion of navigating today’s youth basketball machine through the eyes of the city’s players, coaches and families at the centre of it.

Canada produces the most NBA talent outside of the United States, and Toronto is at the epicentre of this boom. More players from the city’s six boroughs are having their names called on draft night, fueling the belief that Toronto’s next wave can make it too. Thrust into the limelight in adolescence, hopefuls find their love of the game weighted with the added pressure of an increasingly professionalized and competitive amateur basketball scene.

The series follows contemporary coming-of-age stories as they unfold in an evolving city, sharing a unique Canadian experience that’s rooted in generational immigration. At its heart, True North is about ambition, the pursuit of full-ride scholarships, and the intersection of luck and opportunity.

True North provides an intimate look at the rise of the Toronto hoop dream through the stories of five young athletes, inspired by the wave of NBA talent coming from their city. In this nine part docu-series, director Ryan Sidhoo captures the raw emotion of navigating today’s youth basketball machine through the eyes of the city’s players, coaches and families at the centre of it.

The series follows contemporary coming-of-age stories as they unfold in an evolving city, sharing a unique Canadian experience that’s rooted in generational immigration. At its heart, True North is about ambition, the pursuit of full-ride scholarships, and the intersection of luck and opportunity.

True North: The Roots & The Rise
Toronto is at the epicentre of Canada’s NBA talent boom. We meet the pioneers who have grown the game and introduce a group of young hopefuls chasing their own hoop dream.

Elijah I: Just a Kid
Elijah Fisher is the top-ranked 12-year-old in the world. We go beyond the rankings and social media clout to see how a family manages the expectations that come with raising a child in the spotlight.

King Nation I: Play Small, Win Big
King Nation AAU are on the rise, but need a floor general. The responsibility falls on the shoulders of 5’9 point guard Keone Davis, 15, who leads the team into the Pittsburgh Jam Fest with high hopes.

Cordell I: Trust the Process
Cordell Veira enters his senior year playing for an underdog program. Time is ticking for Cordell to land a Division 1 scholarship offer while also carrying the weight of family redemption.

King Nation II: The North’s American Dream
Inspired by his father and the NBA players from his suburb, Jalen Celestine, 15, knows the NBA is within reach. With big-time US prep schools calling, the family ventures south for official visits.

Elijah II: Defend Your Crown
Along with the legendary coach, Ro Russell, Elijah heads to the Fab 48 Tournament in Vegas and a middle-school ranking camp in D.C. He is set to defend his title as the best in the class of 2023.

King Nation III: Bright Lights
The King Nation trilogy closes with Malachi Ndur, 15, who has gone from small-town kid to major prospect. Malachi along with Keone and Jalen head to the Fab 48 tournament in Vegas with a chance to end the summer crowned as kings.

Cordell II: For My Family
Without an offer, Cordell’s season is winding down. A slate of big games offers him one last chance to catch the eye of a Division 1 coach.

True North Finale: Making It
We catch up with each player in the midst of their journey as they reflect on their road ahead.

Photography by Yasin Osman:
http://yescene.com/
https://www.instagram.com/yescene/