SpringHill to give YouTube its Best Shot

YouTube has ordered a basketball documentary for its YouTube Red subscription service from LeBron James’ production outfit SpringHill Entertainment.

Best Shot centres on a group of student basketball players mentored by former NBA star turned ESPN analyst Jay Williams as they strive for greatness.

It will also focus on Williams’ story in the aftermath of a motorcycle accident which cut short his own basketball career.

The eight-part series is being produced in association with fellow US outfits Boardwalk Pictures and Warner Bros’ digital production unit Blue Ribbon Content.

Maverick Carter, SpringHill Entertainment’s co-founder, will exec produce with James, alongside Andrew Fried, Dane Lillegard and Jordan Wynn from Boardwalk Pictures. Michael John Warren is slated to direct and will also exec produce.

The order comes soon after YouTube Red greenlit Liza On Demand (8×30′), a comedy series from online personality Liza Koshy.

It is another indication of the Google-owned platform’s expansion into content production, following a raft of commissions made earlier this year across sci-fi, eSports, competition, kids and family content.