I coached in a similar situation.

Although I was/am not a compulsive gambler, I did coach a league similar to this where I coached kids who were from housing projects in new orleans. Coincedentally, i did drive a blue buick roadmaster to pick these kids up. It was pretty rewarding and we did win the league championship. I believe that these kids don't want to live that lifestyle where they are constantly exposed to gang violence, but rather they want to play sports and try to get to another level. I had a kid similar to G-baby on my team, but he wasn't murdered like in the end of the film. A friend of mine who coached in the league DID have a 13-year old who was murdered on his porch though.

"Oh Look, a deli meat!"