UCLA law school's "top 15" ranking: List published by U.S. News & World Report

Lawrence McAlister's younger sister's rape and murder: Lawrence and the mothers of some of his teammates, seven articles The Bee published between March 1998 and May 2001. In April 2001, Lawrence's stepfather, 40-year-old Leon Chauncey Cooper, was found guilty of rape and murder. He was sentenced to death and remains on death row.

LaMarr Alexander's death: February 2007 Sacramento County district attorney's investigation that cleared Officer Jason Kearsing, Bee archives and LaMarr's mother, Mary McIntyre.

LaMarr's personality: Wyatt Johnson, Wyatt's sister Kisha Johnson, Wyatt's mother, Lorraine Johnson, Lamarr's close friend Jazmine Dennis, his mother, Mary, and other former teammates, including Gary Lewis and Clifford McDowell.

LaMarr's funeral and Wyatt Johnson's role: Mary McIntyre, Wyatt and Lorraine, Gary Lewis and other teammates, video and a printed program from the funeral.

Four-year graduation rates for black and Latinos boys: Dropouts in America, by Gary Orfield. Burbank High statistics: California Department of Education website: http://www.cde.ca.gov/.

CORY GATHING

Getting drawn into the south area's streets: Sacramento County court records, his brother Jason Gathing and his teammates and friends, including: Wyatt Johnson, Gary Lewis and Winston Richards.

Helping his father coach: His father, Cornell Gathing.

His girlfriend, Zakiyyah Hill, becoming pregnant: Zakiyyah and Cory's parents.

Dating Roslyn -- and her impressions of him: Cory's family and Roslyn. (Her last name is not used in the story because, as a witness to Cory's death, she is concerned for herself and her daughter's safety.)

Season playing football at American River College: Roslyn, Jason, Cornell, American River College head coach Jerry Haflich, team photo.

Cory's shooting death: His girlfriend Roslyn, Sgt. Tim Curran of the Sacramento County Sheriff's Department; the immediate aftermath of his death: Roslyn, Sgt. Curran, Wyatt and Bee archives.

Jason and Regina Gathing telling Cory's daughter and Roslyn's daughter that their Daddy was in heaven: Jason, Regina and Cory's daughter, Alayzia.

CLIFFORD McDOWELL

Having his first child at 16 and seven children with five girlfriends by 24: Clifford, his wife, Yaxchi McDowell, his mother, Rosalyn McDowell, and his friends. Yaxchi described her decision to welcome his other children into her life.

Dropping out of high school after getting shot, doing time behind bars in St. Louis and watching football games he never had the chance to join: Clifford.

Involvement with Oak Park Bloods and drug sales: Clifford, Curtie, Clifford's mother, his cousin Dimitrios Champlaie, and other former Raiders.

WYATT JOHNSON

Stint at the school for troubled youth in Nevada: Wyatt, his mother, Lorraine Johnson; his sister Kisha Johnson; and his mentor, Martin Anderson, head freshman football coach at Jesuit High School and Wyatt's coach at Rite of Passage.

Offer of college scholarships and participation in semipro football: Wyatt and Martin Anderson and Wyatt's mother.

Troubles on his return to Sacramento: Wyatt, his mother, his sister, Martin and Sacramento and Placer county court records.

Arrested with Cory on suspicion of stealing a car: Wyatt, Cory's brother, Jason, and Placer County court records.

Lorraine Johnson sending him to Southern California: Wyatt and Lorraine.

Visit with Mike Adelekan in Palos Verdes years earlier: Wyatt, Lorraine and Mike.

Talking on the phone with LaMarr the night he died: Wyatt.

MIKE "BOYEGA" ADELEKAN

Starting law school: Mike.

First impressions of Palos Verdes: Mike.

Success at Peninsula High School: Mike, his mother, Pat Adelekan, and football coach James Small.

Experience and success at the University of Southern California: Mike and his mother; USC registrar.

Southwestern University dean calling him into his office and asking him not to transfer: Mike.

UCLA law degree: Mike and his mother, photos, registrar.

TYRONE RHINEHART

Mother's work as a prostitute: Tyrone, his aunts Brenda Pommer and Barbara Burt, Los Angeles County court records. Court records list his mother being convicted of violating California Penal Code 647(B): "Who solicits or who agrees to engage in or who engages in any act of prostitution" on at least two occasions.

Getting in trouble, going to jail and deciding to leave the streets: Tyrone, his aunts, his wife, Donnisha, his friend Nick Losenicky and Sacramento County court records.

Wedding: Tyrone, his aunts and his wife.

Redemption at This Is Pentecost Ministries: Tyrone, his friend Nick, Tyrone's wife, Donnisha, and his pastor, Tamara Bennett.

Deaths of Damon, David and Tiger, and Tyrone's response: Tyrone, his wife, his aunts and Bee archives.