Who Played Me in "Coach Carter"? Quiz

Answer: Samuel L. Jackson

Jackson, born on December 21st, 1948 in Washington, D.C., was cast as Coach Ken Carter. Carter held many records when he, as a high school student, played ball for Richmond High School. He was asked to coach the boys' varsity team since they did not do well and he accepted the offer. Carter made the players sign contracts that said they would maintain a 2.3 GPA and sit in the front row of all their classes as well as attend all classes. Rules stated that students only needed a 2.0 GPA to play sports but Carter stated that, if you had a 2.3 GPA, you could get a lower score on the SAT and still get a college basketball scholarship. Carter gained controversy when he locked his players out of the gym after not all of them fulfilled the contract (mainly did not get a 2.3 GPA).

At the end of the film, Richmond High School lost a very important game to St. Francis but Carter told his team he was so proud of how they turned into men. Jackson was also in the films, "Snakes on a Plane", "Jurassic Park", and "Lakeview Terrace." In 1995, Jackson was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in "Pulp Fiction" but lost to Martin Landau of "Ed Wood." Other Oscar nominees for Best Supporting Actor that year were Chazz Palminteri for "Bullets over Broadway", Gary Sinise for "Forrest Gump", and Paul Scofield for "Quiz Show."

Answer: Debbi Morgan

Morgan, a native of Dunn, North Carolina, portrayed Tanya Carter for the film, "Coach Carter." Mrs. Carter was a devoted wife to Ken Carter and mother to their son, Damien Carter. Tanya fully supported Damien's move to transfer from St. Francis High School to Richmond High School so he could play for his father. During one of the games, Tanya was seen yelling at the referee for issuing a foul to a player from Richmond when she believed it was a jump ball and not a foul.

At the meeting to determine if the lockout on the gym should end, Mrs. Carter was seen supporting her husband. Morgan starred in the films "Eve's Bayou" and "The Hurricane." She is best known for her Daytime Emmy-winning portrayal of Dr. Angie Hubbard on the ABC soap opera, "All My Children."

Answer: Robert Ri'chard

Ri'chard, born in 1983 in Los Angeles, portrayed Damien Carter. Damien attended St. Francis High School, a more prestigious school in Richmond, California, but he transferred to Richmond High School so he could play basketball with his father. Damien modified his contract and told his father he would maintain, at least, a 3.5 GPA and do more hours of community service than was required.

At the end of the film, we found out that Damien broke his father's records of assists and scoring and that he studied at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. Ri'chard guest starred on the TV series "Veronica Mars", "CSI: Miami", and "Touched by an Angel."

Answer: Ashanti

Ashanti landed the role of Kyra, Kenyon Stone's girlfriend. Kenyon was a great basketball player and Kyra worried that he would focus all his energy on basketball and none on his unborn child with her. At one point, Kenyon was over at Kyra's house while she babysat her baby cousin. Kyra contemplated names to give to the baby and she said, if she had a girl, she would consider naming her Harmony. Near the end of the film, Kyra told Kenyon to go play basketball in college, since she would be fine. At the end of the film, we found out that Kenyon went to Sacramento State University and received a degree in Communications. Ashanti had roles in the films "Malcolm X", "John Tucker Must Die", and "Resident Evil: Extinction."

Answer: Nana Gbewonyo

Gbewonyo played Junior Battle in "Coach Carter." Battle was a solid basketball player but he had a big problem going to class. His science teacher told Coach Carter that Junior Battle was like a lunar eclipse since he barely showed up but, when he did, it was memorable and exciting.

At the next practice, Carter confronted Battle about not going to his science class but Battle said that he and the teacher were on good terms. Carter suspended Battle and that was when Battle walked out of the gym. That night, Mrs. Battle took her son to see Coach Carter at his sporting goods store. Junior apologized to Coach Carter for his behavior and Carter gave him another chance.

At the end of the film, we learned that Battle got a full ride scholarship to play basketball at San Jose State University. Gbewonyo was seen in the movies "Slumlord" and "Gran Torino." He also had a guest starring stint on the TV series "ER" in 2008.

Answer: Octavia Spencer

Spencer, born on May 25th, 1972 in Montgomery, Alabama, was cast as Mrs. Battle. Mrs. Battle was livid when she met with Coach Carter and found out that her son had to wear a tie to all basketball games. Carter told her she could go down to the local Goodwill store and purchase cheap ties.

When Mrs. Battle found out her son walked out on the team during practice, she took him to see Coach Carter at his sporting goods store. Mrs. Battle entered the store first, and told him she agreed with his rules and wanted Junior to play with him and begged Carter to give Junior another shot.

She mentioned to Coach Carter that she feared that if Junior did not play basketball for him, he would wind up in serious trouble and possibly be killed, like his brother was in a drive-by shooting. Coach Carter told Mrs. Battle she had to hear this from Junior himself, so she told him he was right outside in the car.

After Coach Carter agreed to give Junior another chance, Mrs. Battle mouthed the words "thank you" to him. Spencer had guest starring roles on the TV shows "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation", "Ugly Betty", and "CSI: NY."

Answer: Channing Tatum

Tatum, a native of Cullman, Alabama, landed the role of Jason Lyle. Lyle was a devoted player of the Richmond High School boys' basketball varsity team and hoped to get a scholarship to play ball in college. During one practice, Carter asked Lyle where his father was and Lyle said he was in prison. Carter encouraged him to do well in school and basketball, since that would put him on the right track. Lyle was seen, at many times, walking home from games and practices with friends of his on the team.

At the end of the film, we found out that Lyle attended San Diego State University and received a degree in Business Administration. Tatum starred in the movies "Step Up", "Supercross", and "She's the Man."

Answer: Denise Dowse

Dowse, born in 1958 in Honolulu, Hawaii, portrayed Principal Garrison. Garrison was the Principal of Richmond High School and managed the school's finances. Garrison remarked to Coach Carter that she admired his methods of getting his players to do well but felt they were extreme. Garrison noted to Coach Carter that Richmond High School was ranked low on the Academic Performance Index and, thus, the school did not get rewarded by the State of California for good school performance. Due to this, she told him she had less money to pay faculty and staff and that Carter would be lucky to graduate even one of the five seniors on his team.

At the meeting to determine if the lockout on the gym should end, Garrison voted to not end the lockout. Dowse guest starred on the TV series "Gilmore Girls", "Law & Order", and "Everwood."

Answer: Rick Gonzalez

Gonzalez, born on June 30th, 1979 in New York City, got the part of Timo Cruz for "Coach Carter." Timo quit the team since he did not like Coach Carter's rules in the contract that he gave to the players. Cruz told Carter, during one practice, he really wanted to play and asked him what he had to do to get back on the team. Carter told Cruz he had to complete many basketball exercises in a certain time period that would virtually be impossible to complete. Cruz fell short of completing all of his exercises but his team did some exercises for him since they were a team and they needed to stick together. Right after the players found out Coach Carter locked them out of the gym, Cruz quit the team again. Near the film's end, Cruz's friend got shot and he died.

He went to Coach Carter's house and told him he would do anything to get back on the team, and he also mentioned to Carter what happened to his friend. Carter hugged Cruz and took him inside and told him he could come back to the team and play.

At the end of the movie, we learned that Cruz went to Humboldt State University. Gonzalez had roles in the films "Old School", "The Rookie", and "Roll Bounce."

Answer: Antwon Tanner

Tanner, a native of Chicago, got to play Jaron "Worm" Willis for the film "Coach Carter." Willis was a good player but he objected to Carter's contract but still signed it if it meant he could play basketball. "Worm" did not always live up to his end of the contract but he still managed to do well enough in school to graduate and go to San Francisco State University on a basketball scholarship.

When the Richmond High School boys' varsity basketball team won, in a basketball tournament, the teammates went to a rich man's house since "Worm" got their daughter's phone number and address and learned she was throwing a party. Coach Carter found out where his team was and, when he got to the house, it was revealed that "Worm" made love to the owner's daughter, Susan. Tanner guest starred on the TV series "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation", "NYPD Blue", and "Boston Public."