For more than a century, one game has inspired dreams, dedication, and fierce loyalty in Kentuckians of all ages. Basketball in Kentucky—Great Balls of Fire traces the origins and development of this rich basketball heritage in television’s most comprehensive statewide look at the game.

From the legendary 1952 Cuba Cubs to the fabled teams helmed by Ed Diddle, Adolph Rupp, Denny Crum, and others, the four-part documentary examines many of the people, places, and moments that have defined the game in Kentucky. Along the way, the series features more than 130 interviews with high school and college players and coaches, sports writers, and fans, all of which is interspersed with archival pictures and film footage—some never before released for public viewing.

Among the primary questions the series addresses are why and how it is that one game has managed to transcend the lines between races, genders, classes, and economic levels to become nothing less than a way of life.

From the lone child playing on a dirt court to the teams greeted every week by thousands of cheering fans, Basketball in Kentucky—Great Balls of Fire captures the essence of the game that holds a special place in the heart and mind of nearly every Kentuckian.