OGDEN – A screening of a documentary featuring Ogden basketball legend Wataru Misaka will be held Wednesday at Weber State University. 

“Transcending – The Wat Misaka Story” profiles Misaka’s life as he became the first non-white player in the history of the Basketball Association of America, which eventually became known as the NBA. 

The documentary will be shown at 1 p.m. at the WSU Archives. Prior to the film’s showing, the community is invited to meet Misaka from noon to 1 p.m., according to a WSU press release. 

A question and answer session with the filmmakers Christine Toy Johnson and Bruce Johnson will follow from 2-2:30 p.m.

Misaka was born in Ogden and played at Ogden High School where he earned the nickname “Kilowatt.” In 19421 and 1941, he helped lead the Weber State Wildcats to the ICAC championships. He also played for the University of Utah. 

He served for two years in the U.S. Army during World War II. He was the first draft pick of the New York Knicks in 1947, but only played three games and scored seven points before cut from the team. 

Misaka was inducted into the Utah Sports Hall of Fame in 1999 and the Weber State Athletics Hall of Hame in 2011.

In August, a basketball court at 751 21st St. in Ogden was named “Kilowatt Court” in Misaka’s honor.