or


[11/03/21 - 11:53 AM]
BET Studios in Partnership with Klutch Sports Group Present "KLUTCH Academy"
"KLUTCH Academy" documents KLUTCH Sports Group - led by CEO Rich Paul - as they prepare six college basketball prospects for pro careers.

[via press release from BET]

BET STUDIOS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH KLUTCH SPORTS GROUP PRESENT "KLUTCH ACADEMY" -- A NEW ORIGINAL FIVE-PART DOCUMENTARY SERIES EXECUTIVE PRODUCED BY KLUTCH CEO RICH PAUL, KENYA BARRIS' KHALABO INK SOCIETY AND TOLLIN PRODUCTIONS

Premiering November 23 at 11PM/10c on BET, the Unscripted Series will Follow Six NBA Hopefuls on their Journey to the Draft and Off Season

NEW YORK, NY - November 3, 2021 - BET Studios, in partnership with Rich Paul and KLUTCH Sports Group, present a new original documentary series, "KLUTCH Academy" - a five-part unscripted series to be executive produced by Paul and his KLUTCH Originals banner, Kenya Barris, and the creative team behind the award-winning docuseries The Last Dance, Mike Tollin and Jon Weinbach. "KLUTCH Academy" documents KLUTCH Sports Group - led by CEO Rich Paul - as they prepare six college basketball prospects for pro careers. These talented athletes possess the potential to be stars in the league but will need to work through areas of improvement on and off the court to achieve success and one day reach superstardom. Each one-hour episode will candidly reveal what players and agents experience in the process leading up to the Draft - and showcase that KLUTCH is more than an agency... it's a tightknit group dedicated to developing young men for life in the NBA and beyond. "KLUTCH Academy" premieres November 23 at 11pm ET/10c on BET.

"With Kenya Barris, Rich Paul, Mike Tollin and Jon Weinbach all on board for KLUTCH Academy, we couldn't have hoped for a better inaugural project for BET Studios," said Aisha Summers Burke, Executive Vice-President and General Manager of BET Studios. "The BET Studios venture is all about giving creators an opportunity to tell stories that have yet to be told, and KLUTCH Sports has a remarkable background and history that we know will resonate with our audiences, which is why we're so glad the series found its home right here on BET."

"These young men work their entire lives to get a shot at becoming a professional athlete, and at KLUTCH we invest the time and care to help them succeed not only as players, but as human beings prepared to meet all of life's challenges," said Paul. "It's an honor to work with Kenya and BET to share our rookies' powerful stories, and I'm excited for audiences to get a glimpse at the incredible work my team does every day to help athletes achieve and sustain success."

"There is no denying the impact that Rich has had. He and the Klutch Team have pushed boundaries and completely shifted the narrative," Barris commented. "And while buzzwords like disruptor and super agent are fitting, it's the work that they do with these young men, behind the scenes and off-the-court, that is the most impressive and I'm excited for viewers to get a glimpse beyond the headlines into that part of their story."

"KLUTCH Academy" will give audiences a 'courtside' seat to the progression these young athletes undergo as they transition from college into the pros - from signing with an agent to training for pro competition to Draft day anxiety and off-season preparation to managing personal relationships and the challenges young Black men in their unique circumstances face. The show will also pay tribute to Terrence Clarke, who tragically passed away the day after signing with KLUTCH. The cast features a roster of talent who recently had their lives changed being drafted into the NBA.

· Brandon Boston Jr. - A former University of Kentucky Forward from small-town Norcross, Georgia, Brandon was selected as the 51st pick by the LA Clippers. The loss of his best friend and college teammate Terrence Clarke in a tragic car accident weighs heavily on Brandon, but also drives him to stay focused and make the most of the opportunity to realize his childhood dream.

· Kai Jones - Hailing from the tiny island of the Bahamas, this former University of Texas Forward was selected 10th by the Charlotte Hornets. At 6-foot-11, Kai is the tallest of the KLUTCH prospects, but he's not nearly "NBA big" yet. He must add weight and show his team he can compete against the world's best players, has the discipline to work in the weight room and will be ready when his number is called.

· Jalen Johnson - A year ago, Jalen was projected the potential number one overall pick of the 2021 Draft. After leaving Duke University, one of college basketball's iconic programs, questions surfaced about his maturity. But Jalen's older brother relocated to help him navigate the process of turning pro and is learning everything he can from Rich and the KLUTCH team about managing the day-to-day of NBA pros. Jalen was drafted as the 20th pick by the Atlanta Hawks.

· Moses Moody - Moses had an excellent freshman season at Arkansas, and his combination of size and shooting ability placed him on numerous pro scouts' radar. Now more than ever - after being selected 14th by the Golden State Warriors - he feels the pressure of being the one who will change his family's future forever.

· Jericho Sims - A breakout performance at this year's combine trended Sims's draft stock upwards. His 44.5-inch vertical leap (the third highest in NBA Combine history) caught the eyes of NBA scouts and the KLUTCH team. But physicality is simply one phase of a player's game - selected 58th to the New York Knicks, Jericho faces the challenge of breaking out of his shell to impress NBA front office staff.

· Scottie Lewis - As a top-rated high school player, Scottie was projected to be a future first-round Draft pick, but a few lackluster seasons at the University of Florida caused doubts about his game. Redemption came in the 2021 NCAA tournament with a stellar performance that turned his fortune around. Picked 56th to the Charlotte Hornets, Scottie will need to work extra hard to prove he has what it takes to make it in the league.

· Terrence Clarke - Hailing from Boston, Massachusetts, Terrence was an accomplished athlete, son, brother, and friend who touched the lives of everyone he encountered. A top prospect from the University of Kentucky, the KLUTCH team and prospects are devastated by his tragic passing but work side by side with his family to make sure his legacy lives on forever.

"KLUTCH Academy" is executive produced by Rich Paul and Fara Leff for KLUTCH Originals, the production arm of KLUTCH Sports Group; Mike Tollin and Jon Weinbach serve as Executive Producers; Kenya Barris serves as Executive Producer through his company Khalabo Ink Society; Tiffany Lea Williams serves as Executive Producer for BET; Mike Gleaton serves as Executive Producer and Showrunner.

For more information visit BET.com. Follow @bet across social media and join the conversation using the hashtag #KlutchAcademy.

# # #

About BET

BET, a subsidiary of ViacomCBS Inc. (NASDAQ: VIACA, VIAC), is the nation's leading provider of quality entertainment, music, news and public affairs television programming for the African American audience. The primary BET channel is in 90 million households and can be seen in the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, the United Kingdom, sub-Saharan Africa and France. BET is the dominant African-American consumer brand with a diverse group of business extensions including BET.com, a leading Internet destination for Black entertainment, music, culture, and news; BET HER, a 24-hour entertainment network targeting the African-American Woman; BET Music Networks - BET Jams, BET Soul and BET Gospel; BET Home Entertainment; BET Live, BET's growing festival business; BET Mobile, which provides ringtones, games and video content for wireless devices; and BET International, which operates BET around the globe.

About KLUTCH Originals

KLUTCH Originals is a media and content company that serves as the production arm for KLUTCH Sports Group, the premier agency representing the world's biggest athletes across major professional sports founded by Rich Paul, KLUTCH Sports' CEO and Head of Sports at United Talent Agency. A provider of premium original content, KLUTCH Originals is currently in development on multiple projects across scripted, unscripted, digital and podcasts.

Founded in 2012, KLUTCH is minority-owned and women-led. KLUTCH's unique, 360 approach helps clients at any stage of their career maximize opportunities across the rapidly changing entertainment, media and business landscape, and provides strategic support in partnerships, branding, communications, social responsibility and more. With proven expertise in the intersections of sports, entertainment and culture, KLUTCH connects top teams, major leagues and properties with global brands. In 2019 KLUTCH partnered with United Talent Agency (UTA), and in April, KLUTCH was recognized on TIME Magazine's first-ever list of TIME100 Most Influential Companies.





  [november 2021]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
 


· KLUTCH ACADEMY (BET)





[02/05/25 - 03:01 PM]
Apple TV+ Announces New K-Pop Song Battle Series "KPOPPED"
The series stars PSY, the international chart-topper who helped bring K-pop to the world with his global sensation "Gangnam Style," and three-time Grammy award-winning superstar and executive producer Megan Thee Stallion, who also performs her hit song "Savage."

[02/05/25 - 01:49 PM]
First Look: Hulu Original Film "Summer of 69"
Jillian Bell's feature directorial debut stars Chloe Fineman, Sam Morelos, Charlie Day, Paula Pell, Liza Koshy, Nicole Byer and more.

[02/05/25 - 01:20 PM]
ESPN NBA Schedule Update: Los Angeles Lakers Host Indiana Pacers on February 8 in Luka Doncic's Expected Lakers Debut
This matchup replaces the previously scheduled Utah Jazz vs. Phoenix Suns game on Friday.

[02/05/25 - 12:05 PM]
NBC Announces "Come Together for Nature" Impact Campaign & Strategic Partnerships Centered Around Epic Nature Documentary Series "The Americas," Narrated by Tom Hanks
The impact campaign aims to encourage viewers to reconnect with nature wherever they are by spending more time outside and taking steps to make a difference in their communities.

[02/05/25 - 11:10 AM]
Omari Hardwick and Dana Gourrier Join the Cast of Amazon MGM Studios' "The Greatest"
They'll play Muhammad Ali's parents in the first authorized scripted series about his life.

[02/05/25 - 11:04 AM]
Oxygen True Crime's "Fatal Family Feuds" Returns for a Second Season Beginning Sunday, Feb. 16 at 7 P.M. ET/PT
The show delves into cases where a person lost their life at the hands of someone they should have been able to trust the most, their family.

[02/05/25 - 11:01 AM]
Fan-Favorite Crime Drama, "Murdoch Mysteries," Returns to Acorn TV Monday, February 10
Set in Toronto in the early 1900s during the age of invention, Detective William Murdoch (Yannick Bisson) uses radical forensic techniques to solve some of the city's most gruesome murders.

[02/05/25 - 10:30 AM]
"Live with Kelly and Mark" Returns to the Oscars Stage for Massive "After the Oscars Show" Special
The fan-favorite "After the Oscars Show" will air live from the famed Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood in front of thousands of fans, sitting in the very seats that Hollywood's elite warmed mere hours before, winning their golden statuettes.

[02/05/25 - 10:01 AM]
Oscar Winners Robert Downey Jr., Cillian Murphy, Da'Vine Joy Randolph and Emma Stone Return to "The Oscars" Stage
Hosted by Conan O'Brien, "The Oscars" will air live on ABC and stream live on Hulu on Sunday, March 2, at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT, with the official live red-carpet show airing at 6:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m. PT.

[02/05/25 - 10:00 AM]
TNT Sports and HBO Sports Documentaries Present "We Beat the Dream Team," Debuting February 17 on HBO and Max
The film reveals the little-known story of a group of college basketball players who were tasked with preparing Larry Bird, Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan and the rest of the legendary "Dream Team" for their Olympic debut in 1992.

[02/05/25 - 09:30 AM]
Prime Video Debuts New Stand-Up Comedy Special "Iliza Shlesinger: A Different Animal"
The one-hour special will premiere March 11 on Prime Video.

[02/05/25 - 09:18 AM]
CBS "FBI" Line Up Wins Tuesday Night
"FBI" was the #1 show of the night with 5.83 million viewers, winning its hour by +1.33 million viewers.

[02/05/25 - 09:02 AM]
Holland America Line and The History Channel Introduce Multi-Year Partnership Featuring Exclusive Historically Focused Itineraries and Immersive Shore Excursions
These worldwide itineraries are rich in destinations that have played a part in historical moments or have a deep-rooted history.

[02/05/25 - 09:00 AM]
Video: "Benefits with Friends" - Official Trailer - Hulu
Bia (Bruna Marquezine) and Victor (Sérgio Malheiros) are best friends. While he lives in a relationship that has gotten boring, she has fleeting relationships, without believing in love.

[02/05/25 - 09:00 AM]
We TV Renews Ground Breaking Music Competition Reality Series, "Deb's House," for a Second Season
The eight episode, hour-long reality series, is currently filming in New York and New Jersey and slated to premiere this summer, airing exclusively on We TV and streaming exclusively on ALLBLK.