Evans, the star from American Christian Academy & Prep School, should have looked different. It was 2 years ago when Evans was a part of a group of high school stars featured in the documentary film titled "Gunnin' For That No. 1 Spot," which is scheduled for release Friday. It looks at these players and delves into their roots, going to their homes, speaking with family members.

"I saw it and I do look a little different than now, and when I'm playing," the gifted 6-5 shooting guard said. "But it's kind of fun being up there, being shown with those guys."

Gunnin' catches Memphis-bound Evans when he was a sophomore at American Christian, which has eliminated its high school academic and athletic programs. He was considered one of the best young players in the country, though not yet the dominant player he became by his senior year when he was named Pennsylvania Player of the Year by the Associated Press and MVP of the prestigious McDonald's All-American game.

The star of the film is Beasley, the Kansas State man-child projected by many NBA experts to go either first or second in the draft on Thursday. Beasley, from the Washington, D.C., area, showed a jovial, playful side as opposed to the scowling face he wears on the court.

The imposing 6-10, 235-pound power forward was once a rambunctious little kid who supposedly mooned his first-grade teacher. He had been to six high schools, but was fawned over by AAU coaches and everyone else who saw him play.

Evans appears in the film being interviewed in a Chester park with a pickup game in the background. Sitting with him is Chester High star Nasir Robinson, then at American Christian before he transferred to Chester. Robinson now is headed to Pittsburgh. Also appearing in the film is Eric "Pooh" Evans, one of Tyreke's older brothers.

"There's a lot of stuff and violence going on around here in Chester, and you work your way to get out," Tyreke says in the film. Pooh reinforces that notion, but says the only thing his brother wants is a pair of sneakers and to play basketball.

Tyreke also comes off much more grounded than the other players highlighted, though Pooh stresses, "Temptations are heavy around Chester."

An interesting part of the film touches on the dark side these high school stars endure. Sneaker companies try to lure them to represent their brands; agents begin recruiting them at the high school level.

"College coaches send text messages that are worse than your girl," says Tyreke in the film, a practice the NCAA has since clamped down on and was not updated in the film. Tyreke got it so bad from coaches, he had to turn off the text-message component on his cell phone.

Gunnin' shows how much of a cottage industry high school hoops and recruiting has become. Everything around these players has suddenly blown up, where they're treated like stars before they become stars in a broader sense. It talks about the many ways they're exploited. But the twist in the film is this: The same people who talk about the pressure these stars encounter are the very ones exploiting and putting pressure on them, the ones who run high school recruiting tout sheets and the plethora of Web sites that rank them. They're all looking to make a name for themselves by finding that "next great one."

In the film, the players all talk about waiting for the day when they're in an Armani suit, ready to put on their new team cap and shake NBA commissioner David Stern's hand, all wanting to be great. *