Opting for essentially the most remarkable highschool basketball gamers of all time is as tough as it may be an argumentative stalemate.
It’s no secret that the sport has modified, so having a look at an icon from the Nineteen Sixties may no longer equate to a participant who ruled previously 5 or so years.
However there could also be a controversy throughout the argument (the sport at the back of the sport, if you’re going to) the place ancient skill is…smartly, ancient skill—the truth that it passed off when Twitter didn’t exist has little which means at the total resume. And vice versa.
That concept procedure equipped the basis for answering our questions concerning the 25 biggest of all time. We needed to have a look at dominant gamers all over historical past—ones who may simply go well with up and play the following day and feature the similar effects as they might in any technology.
In fact, the standards wanted extra really extensive parts past that as smartly. So, working out that it could nonetheless finalize as an opinionated rating, we integrated easy elements corresponding to location and pageant, plus weighed what the participant supposed to the workforce’s luck—whilst making an attempt our toughest no longer to believe what each and every participant did after highschool.
As soon as the analysis hoopla settled, we landed at those 25.
(2022’s best possible of the most productive: USA TODAY Top Sports activities Tremendous 25 Boys Basketball)
Honorable Point out
(Big name Information by way of USA TODAY NETWORK)
For the Michael Jordan enthusiasts available in the market, His Airness got here just about making the overall record. We all know that’s rating madness to many of us, however the logjam of skill in the highschool hardwood vault left Mike simply out of doors the highest crop.
A couple of others of word:
O.J. Mayo — Huntington (W. Va.)
Dajuan Wagner — Camden (N.J.)
Tracy McGrady — Mount Zion Christian Academy (Durham, N.C.)
Sebastian Telfair — Lincoln (Brooklyn, N.Y.)
Mike Bibby — Shadow Mountain (Phoenix, Ariz.)
Rasheed Wallace — Simon Gratz (Philadelphia, Pa.)
Invoice Bradley — Crystal Town (Mo.)
Jerry Stackhouse — Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.)
Pete Maravich — Broughton (Raleigh, N.C.)
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25. Invoice Cartwright — Elk Grove Thundering Herd (Calif.)
(Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports activities)
Talking of former Chicago Bulls, Invoice Cartwright opens up the highest 25. The proficient heart was once a three-time All-American and completed his profession averaging over 19 issues according to recreation with over 1100 rebounds. As well as, he gained consecutive Basketball Participant of the Yr honors in California in 1974 and ’75 and was once additionally named the state’s Top College Sports activities Athlete of the Yr (’75).
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24. Danny Manning — Lawrence Top College Chesty Lions (Kan.)
(AP Photograph)
All-State in two states? Manning’s first spectacular mark passed off his junior 12 months at Web page Top College in Greensboro, North Carolina, the place he led the workforce to a 26-0 file and a state name. Then, when his father Ed Manning took the Kansas Jayhawks assistant trainer activity, Danny enrolled at Lawrence Top College, the place he would earn Kansas Participant of the Yr honors.
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23. Monta Ellis — Lanier Bulldogs (Jackson, Omit.)
(AP Photograph/Rogelio Solis)
In his highschool, Ellis was once a scoring system, completing his profession with greater than 4,100 issues. He led the Bulldogs to 2 state titles whilst incomes All-State honors 4 instances and capped off his senior 12 months through being named Parade’s Participant of the Yr.
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22. Isiah Thomas — St. Joseph Chargers (Westchester, Sick.)
(Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports activities)
Within the overdue Nineteen Seventies, Thomas stood out some of the extremely aggressive subject as a top-tier guard with the new hand popping out the Chicago subject. He made the many of the 90-minute travel to St. Joseph’s from the town, main the Chargers to the state finals his junior season and ultimately incomes a Parade All-American nod.
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21. Kevin Durant — Montrose Christian Mustangs (Rockville, Md.)
(AP Photograph/Denis Poroy)
It was once a detailed pageant for the highest highschool basketball participant in 2006, with maximum giving the threshold to Greg Oden over Kevin Durant. However Durant nonetheless merits a place in this record, with a resume that incorporates two Parade All-American honors, Washington Submit’s All-Met Basketball Participant of the Yr and the 2006 McDonald’s All-American Sport MVP.
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20. Greg Oden — Lawrence North Wildcats (Indianapolis, Ind.)
USA TODAY Community
Greg Oden shared the highlight with Durant in 2006, however the total highschool profession was once a tad extra spectacular. Oden led the Wildcats to 3 state titles in 4 years, incomes Parade All-American honors thrice, plus Gatorade State Participant of the Yr (two times) and Nationwide Participant of the Yr (junior 12 months).
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19. Chris Webber — Detroit Nation Day Yellowjackets (Beverly Hills, Mich.)
Syndication: Detroit Unfastened Press
The picture speaks for itself—enthusiasts and gamers alike had been in awe of Webber’s dominance. He led the Yellowjackets to 3 Michigan State championships (MHSAA), completing his senior marketing campaign as Michigan’s Mr. Basketball and the Nationwide Top College Participant of the Yr. Webber would additionally earn MVP honors on the McDonald’s and Dapper all-star video games, which added to the improbable resume.
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18. Ralph Sampson — Harrisonburg Top College Blue Streaks (Va.)
(Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports activities)
Ahead of Sampson’s iconic run on the College of Virginia, the long skill ruled the Virginia highschool basketball courts. The 7-footer gained two state basketball championships (1978 and 1979) whilst additionally incomes Parade All-American honors.
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17. Dwight Howard — Southwest Atlanta Christian Warriors (Atlanta, Ga.)
(Michael A. Schwarz-USA TODAY Sports activities)
Dwight Howard created a mythical resume in highschool, particularly his senior 12 months in 2004. He ruled the Georgia basketball scene that 12 months, main the Warriors to a 31-2 file and a state name whilst averaging just about a triple-double. And the quantity of {hardware} he racked up are compatible the trouble:
Naismith Prep Participant of the Yr Award
Morgan Wootten Top College Participant of the Yr Award
Gatorade Nationwide Participant of the Yr
McDonald’s Nationwide Top College Participant of the Yr honor
Co-MVP McDonald’s All-American Sport
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16. Kenny Anderson — Archbishop Molloy Lions (Queens, N.Y.)
(AP Photograph/Tami Chappell)
Anderson was once getting accolades sooner than he was once an adolescent, and the build-up was once under no circumstances a letdown when he stepped at the court docket in highschool. He would finish his profession as New York state’s main scorer (which held till Sebastian Telfair broke the file in 2004) and with 3 Parade All-American nods to his title. Like Dwight Howard, the awards he racked up had been improbable:
McDonald’s All-American
New York State Mr. Basketball
Gatorade Top College Basketball Participant of the Yr
New York State Sportswriters Affiliation Participant of the Yr
Naismith Prep Participant of the Yr
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15. Invoice Walton — Helix Highlanders (Los angeles Mesa, Calif.)
Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports activities
Whilst a lot of Walton’s notoriety got here at UCLA and as of late as a colourful commentator, his highschool profession is not anything to disregard. The large guy was once a Parade All-American, averaging just about 30 issues his senior 12 months whilst main the workforce to a 33-0 file. Walton added two San Diego sectional championships to the success shelf sooner than making waves in each the NCAA and NBA.
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14. Jerry West — East Financial institution Pioneers (W.Va.)
(AP Photograph/Marty Lederhandler)
When the college you attended ceremoniously adjustments its title to honor your hardwood achievements, it’s an automated addition to this record. Whilst West Virginia’s total pageant may no longer rival many giant town methods, it’s onerous to disregard what Jerry West completed at East Financial institution—which, sure, would alternate its title each and every March to “West Financial institution” in honor of the legend. (And actually, the larger-market comps could be enormously hyped up too.)
West was once All-State in each and every 12 months and an All-American his senior 12 months. He would end with a state name and difference of changing into the primary basketball participant in West Virginia historical past to attain over 900 profession issues.
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13. Alonzo Mourning — Indian River Braves (Chesapeake, Va.)
(Photograph through Mike Powell/Getty Photographs)
The Magnificence of 1988 was once led through Alonzo Mourning—over gamers like Christian Laettner and Shawn Kemp—and his resume subsidized up the sort of distinct honor. The Indian River Braves rattled off 51 instantly victories throughout Mourning’s time, which integrated a state name. As anticipated, his on-court dominance created the off-court buzz, too, with Mourning incomes USA TODAY Participant of the Yr honors, in addition to Parade, Gatorade and Naismith nods as smartly.
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12. Shaquille O’Neal — Cole Cougars (San Antonio)
(USA TODAY Community)
The Cougars and Shaq—who checked in at 6-foot-10 by the point he was once a sophomore—misplaced just one recreation throughout the 1988-89 seasons, with a state name blended within the spectacular run as smartly. O’Neal’s dominance has lengthy been defined in a single otherworldly stat from 1989: 791 rebounds.
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11. Earvin Johnson — Everett Vikings (Lansing, Mich.)
(Lansing State Magazine-USA TODAY NETWORK)
Johnson overcame the unlucky battles with racism throughout his highschool profession to grow to be one of the most best possible gamers in historical past. He excelled early, incomes the now-iconic nickname “Magic” his sophomore 12 months, and would proceed to flourish, finishing his profession with a state name, Michigan Participant of the Yr honors and the Parade Nationwide Participant of the Yr nod.
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10. Patrick Ewing — Cambridge Rindge and Latin Falcons (Cambridge, Mass.)
(AP photograph/W. Polo)
Believe finding out the sport basketball and changing into essentially the most dominant participant within the nation inside of an issue of a couple of years — that’s what came about with Patrick Ewing. The 7-foot heart was once a snappy find out about, honing his basketball acumen to enrich his measurement and power. Consequently, he was once thought to be the highest participant in 1981, a three-time Parade All-American with 3 state titles to his title and just about 1800 issues.
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9. Jerry Lucas — Middletown Middies (Ohio)
(AP Photograph)
Lucas may no longer elevate the title popularity like others in this record, however the guy from Middleton isn’t one to disregard. Right through Lucas’ tenure, the Middies had been unstoppable, profitable two state titles and dropping just one recreation in his ultimate two seasons. And the contest was once no longer meager walkovers; the workforce performed probably the most best possible in Ohio and got here out victorious each and every time. Lucas may rebound, shoot—from the ground and the road—and was once two times named participant of the 12 months whilst incomes two Parade All-American alternatives (each first workforce), with he first one marking Parade’s inaugural record in 1957.
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8. Kevin Garnett — Farragut Admirals (Chicago)
(Anne Ryan-USA TODAY Sports activities)
Garnett was once an enormous skill in highschool, and although off-court problems compelled him to switch from South Carolina’s Mauldin Top College to Farragut in Chicago, his total resume speaks for itself. He led the Admirals to a 28-2 file as a senior, incomes USA TODAY Participant of the Yr honors in addition to Mr. Basketball in Illinois. The Maximum Remarkable Participant of the McDonald’s All-American Sport in 1995, Garnett completed his highschool profession with a enchanting stat line: 2,553 issues, 1,809 rebounds and 737 blocked pictures.
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7. Kobe Bryant — Decrease Merion Aces (Ardmore, Pa.)
Eileen Blass-USA TODAY
Kobe Bryant had superstar energy sooner than ever donning a Los Angeles Lakers uniform. A real phenom at the hardwood, Bryant led Decrease Marion to a state name his senior 12 months, the place he would end a fantastic profession with two Pennsylvania Participant of Yr awards in addition to Parade All-American honors. And his just about 2,900 profession issues is without doubt one of the best possible of all time within the state.
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6. Moses Malone — Petersburg Red Wave (Va.)
(Growth-index.com-USA TODAY NETWORK)
Ahead of Moses Malone, 0 highschool stars went without delay to the professionals. He’s “that” man, a skill who collected an excellent resume at the Virginia courts, profitable two state titles whilst additionally racking up more than one Parade All-American honors. And from there…smartly, the tale is now the stuff of legend. Whilst the College of Maryland awaited the proficient hoopster, it will be the ABA’s Utah Stars (and a $1 million contract) that will function Malone’s subsequent forestall on his basketball adventure.
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5. Oscar Robertson — Crispus Attucks Tigers (Indianapolis, Ind.)
(Maurice G. Burnett/Indianapolis Big name-USA TODAY NETWORK)
Robertson (pictured 2d from the left) helped lead the Tigers to a state name in 1955, making historical past as the primary all-Black college to perform the feat in all of highschool basketball. The follow-up throughout Robertson’s senior 12 months was once similarly groundbreaking, because the workforce went undefeated (45 instantly wins total) whilst profitable a 2d state name. For Robertson’s section, the prolific scorer earned Mr. Basketball in Indiana honors in addition to a Scholastic Trainer All-American nod.
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4. Wilt Chamberlain — Overbrook Panthers (Philadelphia)
(AP Photograph)
Ahead of Chamberlain was once terrorizing defenses within the NBA (and faculty), he was once dominating the Philadelphia-area highschool recreation as the important thing piece to a dynamic Fail to remember Panthers workforce that gained two town titles whilst simplest dropping 3 video games throughout his tenure. A legend within the making, Chamberlain as soon as rattled off consecutive video games of 74, 78 and 90 issues.
It’s no marvel a protection as soon as quadruple-teamed him throughout a recreation.
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3. LeBron James — St. Vincent-St. Mary Preventing Irish (Akron, Ohio)
Brett Hansbauer-USA TODAY Sports activities
LeBron James’ highschool dominance arrived at a time when sports activities tv was once at a pinnacle. So, whilst probably the most different legends in this record had been rumour and newspaper clippings, a lot of the incredible display that James placed on was once one thing the country may briefly flick over to ESPN and watch.
And through the best way, what a display it was once …
Right through his tenure, LeBron ran the desk towards the contest, profitable 3 state titles whilst totaling just about 2,700 issues throughout his profession. As well as, he earned Ohio’s Mr. Basketball honors thrice, matching that overall with 3 Parade All-American nods as smartly.
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2. Jason Kidd — St. Joseph Notre Dame Pilots (Alameda, Calif.)
(John O’Hara/San Francisco Chronicle by way of AP)
In a state that’s traditionally loaded with highschool skill—the sheer measurement and collection of faculties in California is uncanny—Jason Kidd stands proud as one of the most best possible basketball gamers of all time. He led the Pilots to consecutive state titles, completing his profession because the state’s all-time assists chief and within the height 10 in scoring. As anticipated with that form of output, the spectacular collection of accolades had been becoming—Naismith, Parade and USA TODAY Participant of the Yr honors, in addition to more than one state participant of the 12 months awards and a McDonald’s All-American variety.
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1. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (Lew Alcindor) — Energy Memorial Panthers (New York)
(AP Photograph/ Harvey Lippman)
After which, there was once one Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor, who would grow to be a distinguished determine in basketball historical past as the good Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. He’s the most productive participant on arguably the best workforce in highschool basketball historical past. He misplaced six video games his complete highschool profession, of which 5 passed off throughout his freshman 12 months. He earned Parade All-American honors 3 years in a row—as a first-team variety in each and every, thoughts you—and would finish his profession within the height 3 all-time main scorers in New York.
Skyhook high-five, Kareem — you’re the highest of our record!
