INDIANA — Members of the late Bob Knight’s first-ever recruiting class at Indiana University walked the red carpet Wednesday evening for the world premiere of the documentary “First Five” at the Scottish Rite Cathedral during the Heartland Film Festival.
Produced by Watchword Pictures and directed by Grant Guffin, the film captures the journey of five Midwestern players—Steve Ahlfeld, Doug Allen, Steve Green, John Kamstra, and John Laskowski—who joined the program in 1971. The quintet laid the groundwork for a legendary era that yielded multiple Big Ten championships, Final Four appearances, and national prominence.
Building the Foundation
When the five players arrived in Bloomington in the fall of 1971, Knight was a young head coach taking over an Indiana program in need of restoration. Over their four years together through 1975, the group helped transform the program’s culture through demanding practices and rigorous discipline.
“Somebody had to put the first brick down, and we were the bricklayers,” Steve Green reflected on the era.
Former guard John Laskowski noted that the players didn’t initially realize the historic nature of their tenure while it was happening.
“We were playing for Coach Knight, we were winning a lot of games, and we thought that was the end of the game,” Laskowski said. “Your last game’s over, you’re done playing ball, and you go on with life. 50 years go by, and people say, ‘Wait a minute, we think there’s a story there; you’re one of the first five guys he brought to Indiana to start his great run and tell us more about the story.’ And that’s exactly what we did. Not knowing it would be as popular as it was going to be. But we’re grateful that we had the chance to do it.”
A Lasting Legacy
Dr. Steve Ahlfeld—who went on to serve as the Hoosiers’ orthopedic surgeon for nearly 40 years after his playing career—emphasized the authenticity of the project.
“It’s a true, honest look at what it was like to be one of the first five recruits in Coach Knight’s first class,” Ahlfeld said. “We tell it realistically, and I think it’s going to be something that Indiana fans and people in general will really enjoy, and they’ll hear some things they’ve never heard before. It brings back great memories of Big Ten Championships, playing for national championships, number one rankings, and just great memories. So much excitement for the great Indiana fans; it was such an enjoyable period of time and a lot of respect to be part of something bigger than yourself.”
Director Grant Guffin highlighted the personal growth and lifelong bonds formed during those foundational years.
Guffin said, for them, it was a leap of faith to come and let Coach Knight shape them into the young men they became and build the basketball program he envisioned. They grew, they came together, and developed a brotherhood that stands 50 years later.
Following its world premiere in Indianapolis, “First Five” is scheduled for additional screenings through the Heartland Film Festival. While virtual festival passes are available to viewers through October 18, a broader commercial streaming release date has not yet been announced.
