Billy McGill: How top NBA draft pick ended up homeless

Half a century ago, Billy "The Hill" McGill was living the California dream.

The leading point scorer in college basketball and a pioneer of the jump hook shot, the 6ft 9in (2.05m) centre was the number one pick in the 1962 National Basketball Association (NBA) draft.

But McGill's professional career quickly faltered - a result of an injured knee, he says - and by 1970 his playing days were over. In debt and out of work, he ended up homeless and living on the streets of Los Angeles.

McGill has written about his life in a memoir called Bill, 'The Hill,' and the Jump Hook, with author Eric Brach. McGill spoke to the BBC in Los Angeles.

Produced for the BBC by Kenny Brown and Regan Morris

Picture This is a series of video features published every Thursday on the BBC News website which illustrate interviews with authors about their new books.