Basketball can bring together people who might otherwise never cross paths.
That’s part of the idea behind Under the Boards, a film project being developed by Jim Schafer with deep roots in Atlantic City, basketball and the relationships formed around the game.
But calling Under the Boards simply a basketball story misses much of what the project is about.
The game provides the backdrop. The people are the story.
Atlantic City has a rich basketball culture, but behind the games, gyms and competition are generations of players, coaches, families and community members whose lives intersect through the sport. Those relationships can extend far beyond the final buzzer.
Under the Boards is intended to explore that world — the personalities, experiences, struggles, connections and sense of community that exist around the game.
That makes the project a natural part of the broader story of the Jim Knute Schafer Foundation.
The Foundation itself grew from a belief in coaching, teaching, mentoring and giving young people opportunities to move forward. Basketball has been an important thread running through that history, from Jim Knute Schafer’s influence to Jim Schafer’s own years as a teacher, coach and mentor.
Under the Boards provides another way to preserve and share some of those stories.
The project remains in development, and we’ll continue sharing updates, stories and behind-the-scenes material as it moves forward.
Learn more about the project on our Under the Boards page.