In many ways, the games and the practices are the easiest things for the crew to cover. After all, the whole team is in one place at once and the focus is clear. But every day, the crew has to huddle up and figure out where the most interesting stories are developing off the court. Perhaps one player's girlfriend is in town for a day or two. Or another has a doctor's appointment to check out his knee. Or another is disenchanted with his playing time and is itching to speak his mind. There aren't enough cameras to cover them all.

"Down Low" isn't the only sports reality show on the tube. HBO ran a program last fall that tracked the Baltimore Ravens of the NFL through training camp. And ESPN has two other shows that track basketball teams: the Los Angeles Clippers of the NBA and the collegiate squad from St. John's University. Unlike these big-budget programs, "Down Low" is airing on TV while the tiny crew is still filming the action. And since the NBDL is so low on the sports food chain, the producers have gained more complete access than their rich cousins could dream of. The end product is a show that has a more documentary, less packaged feel than anything else of its kind.

In fact, it's a shame more people aren't catching the show, or the NBDL in general. Throughout the league, arenas seem to be dreadfully empty. At the second game I attended, the official attendance was 807, a total that must have included the hot dog vendors, the Marine honor guard and the three hip-hopping cheerleaders. Meanwhile, the show is televised at less-than-prime times. Typically, "Down Low" airs on ESPN on weekday afternoons and late at night -- great for college students and freelance writers, but tough for everyone else. Although the NBDL playoffs have just ended, the show airs through the end of April.

If you're not watching "Down Low," you're missing out on some unusually fine television. Plain and simple, the stories and characters are riveting. The first episode tracks Lowgator hopefuls during tryouts. Of particular interest is guard Tes Whitlock, a devoted but unsuccessful journeyman who hasn't been able to stick with a team, get health insurance or make a real living in five years. The competition at the guard position is particularly fierce and he seems to follow every good play with a bad one. After much introspection and nail-biting, the straight-talking underdog makes the team, for the time being. The episode ends with a triumphant Whitlock enjoying one of the perks of success: his first teeth cleaning in years. Not the usual crap you see millionaire athletes crowing about.

Frankly, "Down Low" is the first reality show I've seen that offers up this much reality. If the cameras go away, these guys are still there at the early morning shoot-around, still riding the bus to Greenville. At least that's how the players see it. "I don't change the things I say or try to candy-coat anything," says Young, as he gets worked over on the trainer's table. "I'm living my everyday life and the cameras just happen to be there."

Not surprisingly, the players say they enjoy watching the show -- and thinking about the recognition it affords. "I know the NBA guys and people all over get to see us, to see what kind of people and what kind of players we are," says House. "Plus, all the people who doubted me can turn on the TV and see that I'm really doing something with my life. People who thought Fred House would be in jail or with some dumb job can see me on ESPN playing professional basketball."

And playing it pretty well at that. Though the Lowgators might not yet be ready for prime time, there's no doubt these dudes can soar and ball. Unlike in the NBA, where the game often turns into a slow, complex dance of big men and outside shooters, the NBDL game is a frenetic track meet. On a bad shooting night, it might look like playground ball, but on a good night it looks like what basketball is supposed to be: a game with lots of transition running, aggressive defense and athletic players taking it to the hole.

In the end, the most compelling reason to tune in is to watch these men scrap for their professional lives. "It's a physical league and guys are hungry just like you. There's so much physical stress and mental anguish to get to the next level," says Young, who feels he's a consistent jump shot away from the dream. "Guys are hungry and competitive to get in here and then get out of here." With the regular season coming to a close, six players from the NBDL had been called up to play in the NBA. None of them were Lowgators.

I can't help but wonder which of these guys will reach the NBA and how long they'll stay there. Will any of them become rich and famous? And what will become of the others?

The players have no time or luxury for such questions. They have to show up at the gym every morning and take their shots and do whatever they can to get straight out of Charleston. "I don't have a master plan. I'll just keep working and waiting on that call," says McKie. "If it comes soon, it'll be good. But if I still need to prove to people that I can play the point guard position, that's OK. I'll come back here next year to prove it."

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