Helena Frye
Last Chance U: Basketball is a Netflix docuseries that follows the ELAC Huskies, a junior college basketball team, and their trials and tribulations on and off the court. The series, a spin-off of the award-winning Last Chance U, showcases the talent of the Huskies during their successful 2019-2020 season in season 1, and continues to follow the team in season 2. The show highlights the players' journeys, both during their time with the Huskies and after, as they make career-altering decisions and pursue their basketball dreams.
| Characteristics | Values | |
|---|---|---|
| Season | 1 | 2019-2020 |
| Team | ELAC Huskies | |
| Players | Bryan Penn-Johnson, Joshua Phillips, Dezmond Washington, KJ Allen, Joe Hampton, Mark Boland, Shemar Murrow, DC, Joshua, Shemar Morrow, Deshaun Highler, Malik Muhammad | |
| Coaches | Mosley, Rob | |
| Season | 2 | 2021-2022 |
| New Players | Demetrius Calip II |
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What You'll Learn
ELAC Huskies' success in 2019-2020
The East Los Angeles College (ELAC) Huskies men's basketball team were the focus of the debut season of Last Chance U: Basketball, a Netflix sports documentary series. The series followed the team's successful 2019-2020 season, which saw them advance through a near 30-game season, seed high in the playoffs, and win a spot in an eight-team state championship tournament in San Francisco.
The ELAC Huskies' success in the 2019-2020 season can be attributed in large part to the leadership of head coach John Mosley. Mosley joined ELAC with a mission to help student-athletes reach their athletic goals and gain access to four-year colleges through full scholarships and financial aid. His eccentric leadership style and faith in his players paid off, as the Huskies had a stellar one-loss season and their sights set on the championship tournament in early March 2020. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic forced the cancellation of the tournament, bringing their record-breaking season to an abrupt end.
Several players stood out during the 2019-2020 season and went on to achieve notable success. KJ Allen, arguably the best prospect to ever come through ELAC, earned a spot at USC after his impressive performance. Malik Muhammad, the tallest player on the team at 6'9", was crucial to the team's defensive strategy and went on to play for Central Michigan University. Joe Hampton, who had previous experience with Division I basketball at Penn State, was an instant game-changer for the Huskies and continued his career at Long Beach State, a Division 1 program in the Big West.
Other players from the 2019-2020 squad also went on to play at various colleges. Dezmond Washington, the only returning player from the previous season, started as a junior at the University of Minnesota-Crookston, where he averaged 25 minutes, 10 points, and 5.4 rebounds per game. Joshua Phillips, a dominant member of the 2021-2022 ELAC Huskies, moved on to play for Division 1 Grambling State. Demetrius Calip II, who struggled with a large ego during the show, continued to put in strong efforts and played for Moorhouse College. Shemar Morrow, who faced academic struggles, remained on the Huskies but played for East Los Angeles College.
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Player career paths post-season 2
Several players from the ELAC Huskies, who were featured in season 2 of Last Chance U: Basketball, have gone on to pursue their basketball careers at various colleges and universities.
Joshua Phillips, a dominant member of the 2021-22 ELAC Huskies, is now playing at Division 1 Grambling State University , an HBCU that has had some notable wins this season. Phillips, a 6'9" 240-pound junior, is averaging 7.5 minutes per game and dealing with an injury. Bryan Penn-Johnson, another standout player from the same ELAC Huskies team, is currently playing Division 1 basketball at Cal Poly. The 7'1" 235-pound junior is making an impact for the Mustangs, averaging over 10 minutes, 3.5 points, and just under 2 rebounds and 0.5 blocks per game.
Dezmond Washington, who was the only returning player from the 2019-20 squad, is now a junior playing Division 2 basketball at the University of Minnesota-Crookston, where he is a starter, averaging 25 minutes, 10 points, and 5.4 rebounds per game. KJ Allen, considered the best prospect to come through ELAC, played for USC after his time on the 2019-20 squad, but transferred to Texas Tech, where he is now averaging 13 minutes, 3.7 points, and 2.9 rebounds per game. Joe Hampton, another star from the 2019-20 season, played for Long Beach State, a Division 1 program, and has since moved on to play professionally overseas, most recently in the Ecuadorian league.
Mark Boland, who gained internet fame from the show, attended Lincoln University Missouri, a Division 2 HBCU, but is not currently rostered on any team. Shemar Murrow and Demetrius Calip II (DC) remained with the Huskies after the show, with DC now playing for Moorhouse College.
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Player Dezmond Washington's journey
Dezmond Washington is a USA basketball player born in Los Angeles, California. Standing at 6'6", Washington is a forward who most recently played at Texas A&M University-Texarkana in the RRAC.
Washington was the only returning player from the 2019-20 ELAC Huskies squad, and broke out in his second season. He is now a junior playing Division 2 basketball at the University of Minnesota-Crookston, where he gets a lot of playing time, starting as a junior. He averages 25 minutes per game, 10 points per game, and 5.4 rebounds per game.
Before transferring to the University of Minnesota-Crookston, Washington averaged 10.1 points and 4.0 rebounds per game for East Los Angeles College during the 2021-22 season.
Washington was part of the 2021-22 ELAC Huskies, which was featured in season 2 of the Netflix documentary series Last Chance U: Basketball. The series followed the highs and lows of junior basketball players seeking redemption and a chance at fame and fortune. At the end of season 2, many fans were left wondering what became of the key basketball players on the Huskies squad.
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Coach Mosley's mentorship
Coach John Mosley's mentorship style is guided by his strong faith and background in ministry. He is shown to be a supportive coach, taking the team on a retreat in the woods to build stronger bonds after tensions rose within the Huskies. Mosley also helped his players deal with the death of Kobe Bryant, which shocked the team.
Mosley is also known for his motivational speeches, the most iconic of which was the "We Rocking With Mark" speech, directed at Mark Boland. Mosley's mentorship seems to have had a positive impact on his players, with one player, Bryan Penn-Johnson, crediting Mosley with helping him turn his struggles around and succeed in the 2021-22 JUCO season.
Mosley's mentorship extended beyond the basketball court, as he also helped his players with their academics. With graduation approaching for the sophomores, Mosley ensured they got their academics in order to prepare for life after ELAC. Mosley's mentorship and guidance appear to have been successful, with the ELAC Huskies having a record-setting season that ended unexpectedly.
The impact of Mosley's mentorship is evident in the players' journeys after the conclusion of the season. Many players, such as Dezmond Washington, KJ Allen, and Joe Hampton, went on to play basketball at the university level or professionally. Shemar Morrow, who struggled academically, continued to play basketball despite not making it to the professional level yet.
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Player Joshua Phillips' story
Joshua Phillips, a forward for the Grambling State University Tigers in Louisiana, has had a challenging journey to Division I basketball. Phillips, who stands at 6'9" and 240 pounds, initially played at the University of Portland from 2018-2019 before joining the ELAC Huskies for the 2021-22 season, which was documented by Netflix's "Last Chance U: Basketball."
Phillips' athletic journey began in California, but he faced early life challenges, including a difficult home environment due to domestic violence, which led him to move to London, UK, away from his family. After a few years overseas, he and his mother returned to California, where he ended up at Edison High School. Phillips dealt with autism and had unusual outbursts, which he shared openly during the show. Despite these challenges, Phillips excelled on and off the court, earning As and Bs in his classes and averaging 3.4 points and 3.2 rebounds during the 2021-22 season.
After the conclusion of "Last Chance U: Basketball" season 2, Phillips moved away from Los Angeles to Grambling State University, an HBCU. He has appeared in 12 games during the 2022-23 season, averaging 7.5 minutes per game after dealing with an injury. Phillips' talent and determination have helped him overcome obstacles and achieve his D-I dreams, proving wrong those who doubted his ability to play basketball or obtain a high school diploma.
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Frequently asked questions
Many of the players from the inaugural season of Last Chance U: Basketball have gone on to play at Division 1 schools. Bryan Penn-Johnson, for instance, is now playing at Cal Poly, while Joe Hampton is playing for Long Beach State.
Yes, several players from the first season of Last Chance U: Basketball have gone on to play professionally. Joe Hampton, for instance, is playing professionally overseas, while Deshaun Highler is playing for USC.
Many of the players from the second season of Last Chance U: Basketball have also gone on to play at different schools. Joshua Phillips, for instance, now plays for Grambling State University in Louisiana, while Dezmond Washington is playing Division 2 basketball at the University of Minnesota-Crookston.
It is unclear if any of the players from the second season of Last Chance U: Basketball have gone on to play professionally. However, several players are still playing basketball, including Shemar Morrow, who is not yet playing professionally, and Demetrius Calip II (DC), who currently plays for Moorhouse College.
Last Chance U: Basketball follows a coach in East Los Angeles who leads a group of young men who aspire to play college basketball.
