This biography chronicles the life of Lloyd "Swee'pea" Daniels, considered one of the finest basketball players ever to come out of New York City. The book also serves as a sociological expose of the dark side of collegiate and professional sports, in its description of a youngster chasing the dream of playing basketball, but finally finding himself at a dead end due to his reliance on alcohol and crack cocaine. The biography focuses on Daniel's early life; development of his basketball talent; and relationships with his extended family, friends, and coaches who tried to counsel him to avoid drugs. Daniels, a dyslexic with a third-grade reading level, was graduated from high school and admitted to the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, but was involved in a drug bust and expelled before ever playing a game. After receiving extensive injuries from gunshot wounds during a drug purchase, he determined to make another try for a professional basketball career, but failure resulted when he could not resist the use of drugs. Accounts of other "playground legends" such as James "Fly" Williams, Joe Hammond, and Pee Wee Kirkland are also included. (JDD)