Jim Carroll Started Writing His Hit 'Basketball Diaries' at Just 12 Years Old

Jim Carroll started writing what would become 'The Basketball Diaries' when he was just 12 years old. The son of Irish bartenders, Carroll grew up in upper Manhattan. He was a star high school athlete, but he was also drawn to writing, particularly poetry. Scholar Cassie Carter told InsideEdition.com, "Here's an example of somebody who was among the best athletes of his age and he was this poet." Most famous for his teen work, Carroll died at age 60 on Sept. 11, 2009.