best california high school basketball players of all time

Interestingly, Polee's prep career started at the aforementioned Verbum Dei, before transferring to Manual Arts for his sophomore year. Will Weir A teammate of the aforementioned Jacque Vaughn at Kansas, Pierce ended up in Lawrence thanks to a stellar career at Inglewood High, which retired his No. , This list is so flawed!!! Jason Kidd (St. Joseph, Alameda) 92 Complete package of talent, skill and the burning desire to win, with results. 9. 3. Matt Beauswaert ( (Notre Dame) was McKnight first star. Donald Strong Maurice "Mo" Spillers, Locke (Los Angeles) '92 Wish I had room for both. Find out how you can get access to more exclusive content, one-of-a-kind California high school sports content! Yes, but he also was only a part-time starter as a sophomore at Canyon Springs. "No one knew who he was, but he was great," said Reggie Morris, Sr., then a UC-Irvine assistant. A prep teammate of Hassan Adams at Westchester, Ariza was California's Mr. Basketball in 2003, marking the first time since 1971 and '72 that different players from the same school San Joaquin Memorial's Cliff and Roscoe Pondexter took home the honor in back-to-back seasons. 1. (San Jose, CA), George Washington Preparatory Talented forward edges out Modesto Christians Chuck Hayes and St. Joes Ray Young as final NorCal player to make the cut. Norman "Doc" Shavers States leading scorer for average (Tom Tolbert of Lakewood Artesia was second) was a great shooter and could get to the bucket as quick as anyone Ive ever seen. Paul Pierce (Inglewood) 95 16. "Ray Lew" Raymond Lewis, Verbum Dei (Los Angeles) '71 The 247Sports Composite is a proprietary algorithm that compiles rankings and ratings listed in the public domain by the major media recruiting services, creating the industry's most comprehensive and unbiased prospect and team rankingsMore Info, Powered by innovative technology products, 247Sports employs a staff of more than 50 full time recruiting reporters and evaluators that rank and compile data on the nation's elite high school recruitsMore Info. Luckett holds the state record for non-prep school As a ninth-grader, he played on a nationally-ranked team at L.A. Verbum Dei, where he earned his keep in one-on-one battles with Raymond Lewis and other older players. 21. Shaquille O'Neal named him The Truth.. Robinson also put in work on the playground and was the first-ever professional draft choice out of Long Beach State. Its interesting how players performed or didnt perform after high school can affect this list. After three quarters of the 1992 D1 state final, Jason had outscored the other 2. Best shooter of this group was underrated in other areas and earned everything that came his way after early injury scare. (Riverside, CA), Notre Dame DeMarcus Nelson (Sheldon, Sacramento) 04 1. Casper Ware, Fremont (Los Angeles) '79 A nine-time NBA All-Star, Russell is only one of two players in the history of the NBA to average a triple-double for an entire season. 5. Jermaine "Three Ring" king Former Boston Celtics basketball player Paul Pierce led his team to two NBA Finals and won one NBA championship. 17. That same season, Vaughn dished out 13 assists to earn MVP honors at the McDonald's All-American game. Just a delight to watch and a delight to coach for Tim Kennedy and NorCals most dominant talent since 2000. 7. He teamed with Dorsey's Rickey "Tex" Walker to lead his RSDL team to a title game against a team filled with pros and led "The Shaw" to a two-year 32-0 on-court record before joining the Bruins. Learn more about the author. TK is like in the top 5 in scoring and rebounding all time I believe. 4. He then enjoyed a 12-year NBA career, during which he won a championship with San Antonio. That season, Polee scored 43 points during Manual Arts' 82-69 victory over Crenshaw in the City championship game that reportedly drew more than 14,000 at the nearby Los Angeles Sports Arena. 4. Dominguez also won three state titles (1999, 2000, 2001) during Chandler's high school run, where he averaged 20 points, 12 rebounds, six assists and three blocks as a junior, then 26 points, 15 boards and eight blocks during his senior campaign. Wun "The Shot" Versher Jalen Green (San Joaquin Memorial, Fresno) 20 [1] Many have gone on to play in the NBA. The 6-foot-11 Rabb also doesnt get into foul trouble and can make free throws. Cleveland "Pete" McKinney California has produced a number of Basketball Players who have made it big. Honors. (San Diego, CA), Hillcrest The three-time Chronicle Metro Player of the Year led Mitty to Division II state titles in 2011 and 2012 and a Northern California crown in 2013. Reggie Theus As a senior, he led the Knights to a 31-3 record and was named Cal-Hi Sports Div. MaxPreps. Dominguez went 123-14 during Brunner's prep tenure, which included third-team ParadeAll-American honors. Sam Martin Jeremy Lin (Palo Alto) 06 He was so fast, could jump out of the building and just rip the ball away from other players. Less than two years later, he passed away at age 20 following an acute stroke. High school basketball: Every national player of the year since 1922 From Chet Holmgren to Bobby Thompson, MaxPreps names each year's top player. He got better and better each season. Each voter selects first, second, and third place votes. Klay Thompson (Santa Margarita, Rancho SM) 08 23 was retired. 9 3 1. Its different because its the top 25 of our longtime boys basketball analyst and Southern California grassroots regular Ronnie Flores and also a different top 25 from longtime editor Mark Tennis. 2005-2023 CBS Interactive. The South Central Los Angeles product was a two-time, first-team ParadeAll-American and McDonald's All-American. The offense wasnt in his game yet, but he was a phenomenal defender/shot blocker and we were blown away how he handled everything he went through in his junior year. Eugene Wright, 'It's going to be epic': Stephen Curry and LeBron James face off -- again, Panthers in awe after ousting 'unbelievable' Bruins, Kraken win 1st playoff series, oust champion Avs, Curry sets G7 record with 50 as Dubs move on, Bergeron undecided on future after B's stunner, Harper may return Tue., 160 days post-TJ surgery, Grizz's Brooks doesn't regret verbal jab at LeBron, LB Barrett's 2-year-old daughter drowns in pool, Griner: 1st practice 'everything I wanted it to be', Which teams will reach the NBA conference finals? The 1972-73 season concluded with Johnson averaging 26.4 points and 18 rebounds to be named Los Angeles City Section 4-A Division Player of the Year. An Indiana All-Star and Marion County player of the year, Jones helped lead Ben Davis to the basketball state finals as a senior. He was a smooth jump shooter who could get to the rim effortlessly. wine startup leaves customers with thousands of Two more S.F. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. 20. Arkansas School for the Deaf (Little Rock), Devils Lake/North Dakota School for the Deaf, Top 50 high school quarterbacks of all time, Top 50 high school football dynasties of all time, Top 50 high school running backs of all time, Top 50 high school football defensive players of all time, Five most dominant high school athletes in New Jersey history, Five most dominant high school athletes in Michigan history, Five most dominant high school athletes in California history, Five most dominant high school athletes in Utah history. They all take a backseat to the father of Findlay Prep (Henderson, Nev.) standout Nick Johnson and younger brother of NBA Hall of Famer Dennis Johnson. You might not agree with the list, but there's no doubt all 24 are well-known and talented players on Califronia's vast playground scene. Each year the California Mr. Basketball award is given to the person chosen Ryan T. Higgins ( ryanthiggins.com) is the author and illustrator of the New York Times best-selling Mother Bruce, which received the E. B. Billy "The Hill" McGill Teams. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. King, Riverside) 09 How much did home with views in one of S.F. James Hardy For one list Stanley is higher. High school basketball nears the end of the 2023 season, with many states already crowning champions. 6. From the heart of Los Angeles and Jefferson High School, Lacy was the city's top player and California's Mr. Basketball in 1963. California basketball fans, were ranking the best California Bears of all-time. 24. He makes offensive life at the midfield miserable. 22. Take Bill Russell, who went on to lead USF to consecutive national titles and the Boston Celtics to 11 NBA Championships. Lonzo Ball (Chino Hills) 16 B5. Peyton Watson Long Beach Poly (Long Beach, CA) SF. "Harold always played pick-up at Rogers, Bel-Air, wherever," said former Crenshaw center Danny Griffin. The 10 Best High School Basketball Players of All Time. William Theodore Walton III, popularly known as Bill Walton, is a former basketball player. In the ABA or on the playground, Hillman is remembered just as much for his prodigious dunks as his Afro. I thought Paul Pierce was better in high school than Ricky Price. Edgar Lacey That changed when he improved his game under the tutelage of legendary L.A. basketball figure Joe Weakley at L.A. Southwest College. MB3 only played one year. #20 Best High Schools for Athletes in California. O'Bannon won another championship, of the national variety, at UCLA in 1995, when he was the Wooden Award winner and Final Four Most Outstanding Player. Big weather shift headed to California. The best high school basketball teams of all time had some of the game's greatest players. Muirs Magic is the most exciting player weve seen the past 30 years and one of the brightest, too. Born into a family of basketball players, Ball has attracted the attention of sports outlets since his playing career in high school. Tracy Murray (Glendora) 89 His sad story is well-known in Sacramento, but not many outside the city saw how explosive and how creative he was on the court. Jason Kidd (St. Joseph, Alameda) 92 9. His overall athleticism and ability to take control of a game led to winning California Mr. Basketball in 2002, when Adams averaged 18 points while helping Westchester win the California State Division I-A Championship. Spillers transferred to Utah State, where he developed as a brute forward with guard skills. Carl Ray Harris (Castaic, CA), Jesuit All-time scoring leaders come in all shapes and sizes, as evidenced by the MaxPreps list of the top all-time high school boys basketball scoring leaders from each state. He wasnt tough at first, but the lanky 6-foot-7 kid got bigger and tougher thanks to the Oakland parks, where he would watch the older Robinson and Russell play and then take his lumps. After failing to make the varsity team as a freshman and sophomore, Pierce quickly blossomed into a prep star during his junior campaign. Hes just smooth, said Riordan coach Rich Buckner, whose team lost to ODowd 59-41 this season. Emailed daily. "Wonderous" Willie Wise Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate. In Sacramento, Lee is a legend for leading Kennedy to a 29-1 record as a senior and for his battles with Kevin Johnson, a future NBA guard one year his junior at Sacramento High. The problem was Works seemed to care about basketball as much one does a pimple. Stacy Augmon (Muir, Pasadena) 86 Ryan Anderson (Oak Ridge, El Dorado Hills) 06 John Wooden (Martinsville), Oscar Robertson (Indianapolis Crispus Attucks), Steve Alford (New Castle Chrysler) and Rick Mount (Lebanon) rank among Indiana's best prep players ever. (Beaumont, CA), Dublin 13. Lew Alcindor, Power Memorial, Manhattan, NY. Taylor King beat him out for Mr. Basketball (career achievement), but Harden was as good an offensive playmaker as anyone to come down pike. In 1993, Walton was made an inductee tothe Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Perhaps the best overall defender on this list, Prince was a four-time CIF Champion and helped Dominguez won back-to-back state titles in 1996 and '97. An all-around talented athlete, Lacy could do it all on the court as a prep star, and that ultimately led him to UCLA. DeShawn Stevenson (Washington, Easton) 00 Derrick Martin (St. Anthony, Long Beach) 88 Kanon Catchings, Brownsburg, Jr. He even dropped 52 points in a summer league game against a group of L.A. Lakers before entering college and his 53-point performance against No. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. Kevin "Bean" Bradley II school saw him playing in an Atlanta summer league after failing to qualify academically at Washington. Sean Higgins (Fairfax, Los Angeles) 87 His overall athleticism was obvious during his prep days, and opened the door for a successful run at UCLA, where he was twice selected a first-team All-PCC performer and consensus All-American. Williams is the only ESPNHS National Player of the Year pick from SoCal in the last 40 years. The first-team ParadeAll-American then played two seasons at LSU and was a first-round pick of Washington in the 1986 NBA Draft. Davey Fortson WebTotal number of sports 19. Dane Suttle, Sr. "He was a born-again Christian that would take the bible on road trips just one of those different cats." Compare, contrast and feel free in the comments to list your own top 25. Hernell "Jeep" Jackson Photo: Twitter.com. Schea Cotton is not on this list NOR Corey Benjamin and Olougimi Man. Oglesby is the prep school all-time state scoring leader, playing five years on the varsity at Hamden Hall. One of the states smoothest scorers ever, Mills had a NBA-ready game in high school. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. He did see Crenshaws John Williams in the season before that. Most would say Marques Johnson is the best player ever from Crenshaw, but neither Ronnie or myself were able to see him play. He led Sequoia to the Tournament of Champions before there was a state tournament in 1967 and went on to play for Cal and the Warriors. "He could have played in the NBA, he was unguardable," Bokosky added. He led the Sentinels to Bay League championships in 1974 and '75, and averaged 28.5 points and 15.5 boards during his 1974-75 season, when Inglewood reached the semifinals of the 4A CIF state tournament. Here is our list of the best prep players from L.A. (Los Angeles County, to be more specific). With a rock solid physique and an unstoppable pull-up jumper, Williams is one of the greatest shooters in playground history. Zach "Chestnuts" Fray The way he ran the floor and attacked the basket was special. Narrowed college list to Kentucky, Arizona, Cal, Kansas and UCLA, Averaged 27 points, 14 rebounds and 3.1 blocks as senior, Dennis Awtrey (Blackford-San Jose), Mike Farmer (Richmond), Joe Gardere (McClymonds), Drew Gooden (El Cerrito), Drew Gordon (Mitty), Fred LaCour (St. Ignatius), Todd Lichti (Mount Diablo-Concord), Jeremy Lin (Palo Alto), Damian Lillard (Oakland), Mike Mitchell (Capuchino-San Bruno), Erwin Mueller (Livermore), Lamond Murray (Kennedy-Fremont), Gary Payton (Skyline-Oakland), Jim Pollard (Oakland Tech), Gene Ransom (Berkeley), J.R. Rider (Encinal-Alameda), Darnell Robinson (Emery-Emeryville), Phil Smith (Washington), Nate Williams (McClymonds). "His leaping ability probably was detrimental to the rest of his game," said former USC and L.A. Lakers guard Duane Cooper. He attended six different schools in six years, ending up at UC-Irvine, where he did not finish the 1980-81 season. Carrick DeHart (Santa Monica, CA), Fairfax Senior That ultimately proved to be his downfall when he wasn't selected in the 1987 NBA Draft. Four state titles in highest classification, he willed Monarchs to final one with skill and IQ. As could all of the players on the second team and the honorable mention list. A former Drew League MVP, Brunner also won L.A. NBA Summer Pro League honors in '05 and will tell you exactly what his status is as a Cali legend. Tommie "Tank" Davis The late Johnson, on the other hand, was a 6-footer who made his living inside the paint. 20. 16. Stories of his ability to sky to the top of the backboard are endless and nine years ago, Hillman was No. Perhaps more impressive, Lacy was a two-time, first-team Parade All-American selection. Part of Taylors selection was his career achievements. Vince "Chico" Langston SoCals best all-around player ever. A street-court star, Lewis averaged 24 points and was a second-team ParadeAll-American at Verbum Dei, the Catholic school where he was known for his tremendous ball-handling abilities that helped it win three California Interscholastic Federation Southern Section titles (before the state champions were recognized). Robin "Syk Wit It" Kennedy, Lynwood Aventist (Lynwood) '92 Your email is never published nor shared. 5. He had a great combination of being flashy but controlled while leading the Roadrunners to a state title. Steve "Show Time" Logan Lee attended Clark (Atlanta, Ga.) when the coach at that Div. Steve Thompson (Crenshaw, Los Angeles) 86 "He would take it in the key, hesitate and finger roll or tear-drop it in. James "Gumby" Gray, Westchester (Los Angeles) '92 However, following an ugly contract dispute, he never played in the NBA. Jimmy "Helicopter" Payne Chris is now one of two sons of head coach James Patrick coaching baseball in Clovis. The five-time NBA All-Star is the son of former basketball player Mychal Thompson. Similar to New York's Albert King, Cotton was a basketball prodigy. 14,123 people were at that game, but thousands more claim to have witnessed it. He had a quiet 20 and 12 against us.. The 6-foot-4 Kidd led St. Joseph to state titles in 1991 and 92, averaging 25 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds his senior year to win national Player of the Year honors from Parade and USA Today. Arron Afflalo (Centennial, Compton) 04 That's what hoop gurus that watched Hudson play in high school. (Newport Beach, CA), Donda Academy April 21, 2023 9:00 AM.

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best california high school basketball players of all time