How a Silver Spring Kid Turned His Overseas Basketball Journey Into a Hulu/Disney+ Documentary

When Mike Creppy Jr. graduated from James Hubert Blake High School in Silver Spring, Maryland in 2004, he had the same dream as thousands of other high school basketball players: make it to the NBA.

Fast forward to 2025, and Creppy did make it—just not the way he originally imagined. His documentary "Imported," now streaming on Hulu and Disney+, tells a story rarely shown in American sports media: what happens to the 99% of basketball players whose NBA dreams don't come true, but whose love for the game takes them around the world.

And it's not just Creppy's story. It's the story of hundreds of American basketball players who discover that "making it" doesn't always mean the NBA. Sometimes it means finding purpose, passion, and a professional career on courts from Europe to Asia, playing in front of fans more passionate than any NBA arena.

The Journey from Newport Prep to Blake to the World

Mike Creppy Jr. was raised in Silver Spring, Maryland and started his high school career at Newport Prep in Kensington, Maryland—one of the DMV's most legendary basketball powerhouses before it closed down.

Newport Prep was a factory for elite basketball talent, producing countless NBA players and top-tier athletes. The school's alumni roster reads like a who's who of DMV basketball royalty: James White (NBA), Rodney White (NBA 9th overall pick in 2001), Jamison Brewer, TJ Thompson (now assistant coach at Rutgers), and many more top-tier talents from the DMV area. Even Kevin Durant's manager Charlie Bell came through Newport's legendary program.

Creppy later transferred to and graduated from James Hubert Blake High School in 2004, before heading to the University of California Riverside where he earned a degree in Sociology in 2008.

Like many talented high school and college players, Creppy had NBA aspirations. But when that door didn't open, he made a decision that would change his life: he went overseas to play professional basketball.

For the next decade, Creppy played professionally overseas for 10 years, experiencing basketball culture in ways most American players never see. He immersed himself in foreign countries, learned new cultures, played in front of intensely passionate crowds, and lived the dream—just on a different stage than he'd originally imagined.

But Creppy didn't just play basketball overseas. He documented it.

Turning Experience Into Art

Creppy funded and shot all developmental footage for his debut film "Imported" himself, spending years capturing the untold stories of American basketball players chasing their dreams on international courts.

The documentary, directed by Fiz Olajide and co-produced by Jay Williams and Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo through their company Improbable Media, was spearheaded by Creppy's vision to tell a story that mainstream sports media ignores.

"Imported" premiered on Hulu and Disney+ on August 28, 2025, as part of Andscape's acclaimed &360 documentary series, joining previous critically acclaimed titles like "Hip Hop and the White House" and "Breakin' on the One."

What 'Imported' Reveals About Overseas Basketball

The documentary follows American basketball players who "discover purpose, growth, and global fandom on courts around the world" after experiencing failure pursuing careers in the NBA and WNBA.

Through intimate storytelling, "Imported" showcases:

The Reality of International Basketball:

  • Players earning significant salaries overseas, often comparable to or exceeding what they'd make in the G League or lower NBA contracts
  • Passionate fan bases that rival or exceed American sports culture
  • The challenges of adapting to foreign cultures, languages, and lifestyles
  • The emotional toll of being far from home while chasing a dream

The Athletes Featured:

The documentary features James Gist, Edgar Sosa, Lindsey Pulliam, and Mike Creppy Jr. himself, whose real-life journeys illuminate both the challenges and triumphs of finding success beyond the NBA.

James Gist - A seasoned professional who built an entire career in Europe, showcasing the determination it takes to thrive abroad

Edgar Sosa - Former University of Louisville guard whose dynamic playmaking turned him into a celebrated star in international leagues

Lindsey Pulliam - A WNBA draftee who found significant opportunities and success playing overseas

Marcus Williams - Former NBA guard who discovered fulfilling basketball experiences on international courts

Each athlete's story reveals a different aspect of the overseas experience—from the financial realities to the cultural challenges to the unexpected joy of being celebrated in ways American basketball rarely provides.

Why This Story Matters

"There is a depiction that if you don't play in the NBA you're not a success, right?" says co-producer Jay Williams in an interview with Andscape. Williams himself is an ESPN basketball analyst who wondered what his own career might have looked like overseas.

The documentary challenges the narrow American definition of basketball success. The NBA employs roughly 450 players at any given time. Thousands of other talented players—guys who dominated high school and college—never get that opportunity.

"Imported" asks: Does that make them failures? Or does it make them pioneers who discovered basketball success exists far beyond American borders?

The Cultural Perspective

What makes "Imported" particularly powerful is how it explores identity, culture, and community through the lens of basketball.

Williams emphasizes "how the rest of the world works as opposed to how things are here and the opportunities that exist and some of the challenges that come along with those".

The documentary reveals:

  • How women's basketball overseas often provides better opportunities and respect than the WNBA
  • The intense passion international fans have for basketball, often surpassing American crowds
  • The challenges of navigating foreign business practices, delayed payments, and political instability
  • The transformative power of stepping outside your comfort zone and embracing new cultures

Players don't just adapt—they thrive. They learn languages, build relationships, become celebrities in countries most Americans couldn't find on a map, and discover that basketball is truly a global game.


The Mike Creppy Story: From Player to Producer

Creppy's journey from Blake High School to documentary filmmaker is remarkable.

Coming from a prominent family—his father Michael Creppy Sr. is the longest tenured Chief Immigration Judge in the history of the United States, and his mother Hazel Creppy is a public speaking and English professor at the university level—Creppy had examples of excellence and perseverance throughout his life.

But his path was his own. After his playing career, Creppy didn't just reflect on his experiences—he turned them into art. He became Founder/CEO of Vindicated Sports, an author, and ultimately a filmmaker who funded his own documentary because he believed this story needed to be told.

The fact that "Imported" landed on Hulu and Disney+ with executive producers like Jay Williams and Giannis Antetokounmpo is a testament to both the quality of Creppy's work and the universal resonance of the story.

What Critics and Audiences Are Saying

The response to "Imported" has been overwhelmingly positive.

Viewers describe it as "a solid, insightful look on how basketball players live their lives as professional basketball players overseas, as they step in new countries, adjust to different cultures, and to the leagues they end up in".

The documentary doesn't just tell basketball stories—it tells human stories about resilience, adaptation, reinvention, and finding success on your own terms.

The Bigger Message

"Imported" delivers a message that resonates far beyond basketball:

Your dream might not look the way you originally imagined—and that's okay.

For young athletes watching Creppy's documentary, the lesson is clear: success isn't defined by one league, one opportunity, or one path. The NBA is the dream, but it's not the only dream.

Thousands of players are making great livings, playing the sport they love, experiencing the world, and building meaningful careers overseas. They're not "plan B" athletes—they're professionals who found their stage.

A Documentary That Needed to Be Made

American sports media is obsessed with the NBA and WNBA. We celebrate the stars, analyze the draft picks, debate the All-Stars. But we rarely tell the stories of the players who don't make it—or who make it differently.

Mike Creppy changed that.

By funding his own project, spending a decade documenting these stories, and partnering with visionaries like Jay Williams and Giannis Antetokounmpo (himself an international player who made it to the NBA), Creppy created something culturally significant.

"Imported" continues Andscape's commitment to telling culturally resonant, human-centered stories, joining a legacy of documentaries that challenge mainstream narratives and celebrate underrepresented voices.

Where to Watch

"Imported" is now streaming on Hulu and Hulu on Disney+, making it accessible to millions of viewers who might not know this side of basketball exists.

For young athletes, parents, coaches, and basketball fans, it's essential viewing. It expands the definition of success, celebrates perseverance, and shows that sometimes the greatest journeys take you to places you never expected.

The Legacy

Mike Creppy went from Blake High School to the world, from player to producer, from chasing one dream to building another.

His story—and the stories in "Imported"—prove that basketball success isn't limited to 450 NBA roster spots. It's available to anyone willing to work, adapt, and embrace opportunities wherever they appear.

For every high school player who doesn't make the NBA, there's a world of basketball waiting. And now, thanks to Creppy's vision and determination, their stories are finally being told.

"Imported" isn't just a basketball documentary. It's a story about reinvention, resilience, and refusing to let your dream die—even when it doesn't look the way you thought it would.

And that's a story everyone needs to hear.