John Williams (Crenshaw, Los Angeles) 84 (Playa Del Rey, CA), Sierra Canyon Photo: Twitter.com. Demar DeRozan (Compton) 08 Ricky Price and Paul Pierce are not in the same class. Thank You! In 1993, Walton was made an inductee tothe Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. TK is like in the top 5 in scoring and rebounding all time I believe. Raymond "Circus" King (San Diego, CA), St. Bernard SMH DO BETTER!!!! He even lit up UNLV for 50 and another school for 81. Tommie "Tank" Davis By then, stories told of his performances on playgrounds and gyms across the country were already legendary. Teammate Greg Foster got a lot of honors as well, but Payton had those great hands. Naturally gifted, it seemed Miner could do anything on the court. He attended six different schools in six years, ending up at UC-Irvine, where he did not finish the 1980-81 season. (San Juan Capistrano, CA), Monterey Trail NBA & ABA Players Who Attended High School in California 0:36. Beats out a few at the bottom of this list because his defense complimented his offense so well. After failing to make the varsity team as a freshman and sophomore, Pierce quickly blossomed into a prep star during his junior campaign. One of three Holiday brothers in the NBA, Jrue clearly is the one who had the most impressive high school career. At Carson, he capped a memorable senior season by leading the Colts to the Div. (Sudan, SUDA), St. Augustine 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. A four-time All-Star and six-time All-Defensive Team member, Kawhi Leonard has helped two teams win NBA championships while earning the Finals Most Valuable Player award on both THE occasions. Left his indelible mark on SoCal basketball by leading public school to FAB 50 national title plus 35-0 season in memorable fashion. Obviously, this is a ranking list of the best players weve seen in person during a game or an all-star game. Johnson was born in Louisiana, but eventually moved to Los Angeles, where he was the first true superstar at mighty Crenshaw High School. The South Central Los Angeles product was a two-time, first-team ParadeAll-American and McDonald's All-American. Web2022 Top Basketball Recruits in California. Gene Ransom, Berkeley (Berkeley) '75 Some others that perhaps could have been on either list: Hassan Adams (Westchester, Los Angeles) 03` The first-team ParadeAll-American then played two seasons at LSU and was a first-round pick of Washington in the 1986 NBA Draft. Most sowed their seeds for greatness on the high school level. To compile the All-Time Bay Area High School Basketball Team, The Chronicle surveyed a wide range of sports experts (some who requested anonymity), including former NBA players Jason Kidd, Greg Foster, Gary Payton and Antonio Davis, Cal-Hi Sports founder Mark Tennis, MaxPreps national high school columnist Mitch Stephens, bayareasportsstars.com editor Chris Rogers and longtime journalist Dave Newhouse. Accolades. 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. The players all walk to the baseline to get picked for a historical run down the hardwood. Ed OBannon (Artesia, Lakewood) 90 1 football player, D.J. The problem was Works seemed to care about basketball as much one does a pimple. James Harden (Artesia, Lakewood) 07 "He could have played in the NBA, he was unguardable," Bokosky added. I called up some buddies of mine to get their list, and were going to be talking about it for a while., Vic Tafur is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Big shift in weather is headed to California. Vote now. For one list Stanley is higher. More and more names kept popping up, and the opinions of old-school cats varied greatly from the younger guys still lacing them up. 10. Talented forward edges out Modesto Christians Chuck Hayes and St. Joes Ray Young as final NorCal player to make the cut. 19. No. Jordan Farmar (Taft, Woodland Hills) 04 Many of our panelists had a hard time deciding on 10 players, and several re-voted a time or two before the story went to press. "Jumpin" Joe Caldwell, Fremont (Los Angeles) '60 11. Deke Jordan From the heart of Los Angeles and Jefferson High School, Lacy was the city's top player and California's Mr. Basketball in 1963. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. Robin "Syk Wit It" Kennedy, Lynwood Aventist (Lynwood) '92 16. Kevin "Bean" Bradley He wasn't L.A.'s best high school basketball during his years at Inglewood, but Miner certainly left an impression on his peers and area youth at the time. Jeremiah "Carnival" King (Corona, CA), Sierra Canyon Steve "Show Time" Logan He then enjoyed a 12-year NBA career, during which he won a championship with San Antonio. Archbishop Mitty's Aaron Gordon, center, goes to the basket against Mater Dei at the CIF State Basketball Championships March 23, 2013 in Sacramento, California. Klay Thompson (Santa Margarita, Rancho SM) 08 But the more we talked to people in the know, the further we got from narrowing down the list. (San Ramon, CA), Etiwanda 13. At the foot of the San Gabriel Mountains, Murray was king of the hill while attending Glendora High. Brunner's college career at Georgetown and Fresno State was marred by plenty of issues, but he eventually found modest success in the ABA. 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. Kings equal impressive franchise mark, blow out Warriors to force Game 7, Ime Udoka addresses suspension at Rockets press conference, The 'Most points in an NBA playoff game' quiz, Kraken stun defending champion Avs in Game 7, Steph Curry puts on record-setting Game 7 show in win, Playoff Butler shows out in Game 1 win over Knicks, Phillies manager provides update on Harper's return, MLB implements unusual rule to avoid pitch clock violations, Former Giants wonder if Rodgers can handle NY media, Brooks fined for dodging media, has no regrets over LeBron comments, Zac Taylor on Joe Mixon: 'His future is here with the team'. The 10 Best High School Basketball Players of All Time. Stacy Augmon (Muir, Pasadena) 86 USA Today also ranked Westchester the country's No. (Elk Grove, CA), Rancho Christian 10. 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. California's answer to Jackie Jackson, Hillman is one of the game's greatest leapers on all levels. The key to his game is his ability to score from nearly any angle and spot on the floor. Trevor Ariza (Westchester, Los Angeles) 03 These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. (Napa, CA), Centennial Theus seemed destined for greatness while starring at Inglewood High, just blocks from the famous Great Western Forum (as it was formerly known). VIEW MORE Top Performers View All Leaders Caldwell was known as "Jumpin' Joe" on the playgrounds of L.A. and "Pogo Joe" in the pros. His body control and command of the game were second to none en route to three CIF state titles. Featuring Hall of Fame greats, superstars, and active players, this list of basketball players who were born in California includes Kawhi Leonard, James (Moreno Valley, CA), Crossroads School has one of the most spectacular sites in the world, but its often Dynasty on the ropes? That's what hoop gurus that watched Hudson play in high school. Jrue Holiday (Campbell Hall, North Hollywood) 08 Born into a family of basketball players, Ball has attracted the attention of sports outlets since his playing career in high school. Take Bill Russell, who went on to lead USF to consecutive national titles and the Boston Celtics to 11 NBA Championships. Tony Jackson (Bishop ODowd, Oakland) 82 Essentially all of Goodrich's basketball success was contained to the Los Angeles area. James did help Artesia get those two big wins, but Artesia clearly had a better supporting cast. We've listed the sources for the state record in parenthesis for each state when applicable. By clicking "Accept," you agree to our use of cookies and our, Ep. Photos: Cal-Hi Sports archives & BallisLife.com. WebNBA & ABA Players Who Attended High School in California. He regularly puts up 25 points, 15 rebounds and five blocks without even playing a full game.. He had been cut from the junior varsity squad as a junior and backed up future baseball Hall of Famer Frank Robinson when he did make the varsity team. (Simi Valley, CA), Heritage Christian 19. (Newport Beach, CA), Donda Academy 34. Lenzy Stuart While at Verbum Dei, he was a two-time state player of the year in two divisions. Abrupt closure of S.F. Guy "The Fly" Williams A star in eighth grade. Many feel he never got a fair shot at the pros after his initial contract squabble with the 76ers, but he never lost his swagger until his death in 2001. He also served as head coach at Cal State L.A. and, as of the 2022-23 season, was an assistant coach at Oregon State. 15. It was unbelievable." Listed in chronological order. Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Without further delay, heres our best of the best boys hoops players weve seen from California high schools (listed with senior season): 1. A cinch Mr. Basketball pick if not for Lonzo Ball, the talented forward might be San Diegos best since Bill Walton. United States. Hes Seen (As HS Talents) 1. Jeff Gritchen/Digital First Media/Orange County Register via Getty Images, www.nasljerseys.com/UCLA Athletic Department, www.archaeologychannel.org/info@raymondlewis.com, Brian van der Brug/Los Angeles Times/Getty Images, Scott Varley/Contributing Photographer/Press-Telegram, Lawrence K. Ho/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images, Vince Compagnone/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images, Gary Friedman/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images, Scott Varley/Digital First Media/Torrance Daily Breeze via Getty Images, This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google. 18. 25. 24. Jrue Holiday (Campbell Hall, North Hollywood) 08 Who was the Coasts best girls basketball player during the 2022-23 season? Dynamic wing player stays No. 17. John Staggers, Crenshaw (Los Angeles) '88 Biff Burrell And its ridiculously hard to crack. 3. King, Riverside) 09 "Jumpin" Joey Johnson, Banning (Wilmington) '85 After three quarters of the 1992 D1 state final, Jason had outscored the other 2. "Everybody wants to be like Gumby," Marques Johnson said during a Fresno State telecast. He was three-time all-city at Manual Arts and the watershed moment of his career came when he scored 43 points in a 82-69 championship game victory that ended Crenshaw's three-year stranglehold on the title. In 2015 and 2016, he was named Defensive Player of the Year. "No one knew who he was, but he was great," said Reggie Morris, Sr., then a UC-Irvine assistant. 2022 Top Basketball Recruits in California - 247Sports The current record holder, however, is still a mystery. Honors. Jacque Vaughn (Muir, Pasadena) 93 That success translated to the NBA, where Naulls averaged 15.8 points and 9.1 rebounds for four teams while earning four All-Star nods and winning three league titles. Copyright 2023 YB Media, LLC. MaxPreps is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. 2005-2023 CBS INTERACTIVE ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Schea Cotton is not on this list NOR Corey Benjamin and Olougimi Man. 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. Katie Antony is the all-time leading scorer in high school girls basketball history for 5-on-5 basketball (girls used to play 6-on-6). 14,123 people were at that game, but thousands more claim to have witnessed it. Ronnie wasnt born yet and I was just starting high school when Marques was at Crenshaw. TV: All games on CSNCA unless noted, 10 a.m. Division V girls, La Jolla Country Day-La Jolla (17-11) vs. Eastside College Prep-East Palo Alto (25-5), Noon Division V boys, Sierra Canyon-Chatsworth (25-4) vs. University (28-7), 2 p.m. Division III girls, Brea Olinda-Brea (26-4) vs. Bishop ODowd-Oakland (24-9), 4 p.m. Division III boys, Damien-La Verne (28-5) vs. Campolindo-Moraga (28-4), 6 p.m. Division I girls, Serra-Gardena (23-10) vs. McClatchy-Sacramento (26-7), 8 p.m. Division I boys, Chino Hills (17-14) vs. San Ramon Valley-Danville (26-6), 10 a.m. Division IV girls, Sierra Canyon (24-5) vs. Brookside Christian-Stockton (27-3), CSNBA, Noon Division IV boys, Crespi-Encino (28-7) vs. Capital Christian-Sacramento (27-8), CSN+, 2 p.m. Division II girls, Mark Keppel-Alhambra (26-7) vs. Mitty (24-6), 4 p.m. Division II boys, La Mirada (30-5) vs. Mitty (20-10), 6 p.m. Open Division girls, Mater Dei-Santa Ana (31-2) vs. St. Marys-Stockton (33-1), 8 p.m. Open Division boys, Mater Dei (29-4) vs. Bishop ODowd (27-4), Jason Kidd tops list of Bay Areas all-time basketball team. All rights reserved. Most likely candidates include three-time state Player of the Year Derrick Low of 'Iolani or Alika Smith of Kalaheo. Marvin Bagley 3 ended up being one and done at Duke with big numbers and and the #2 NBA draft pick but only 2 years in California with no championships. The documentary "Raymond Lewis: L.A, Legend" chronicles his life. (Chatsworth, CA), Bishop Montgomery Top Basketball Recruits in California Kenny Brunner (Dominguez, Compton) 97 Big weather shift headed to California. Winters Patterson Michael "Mountain Man" Johnson California basketball fans, were ranking the best California Bears of all-time. Paul dont count. (Sherman Oaks, CA), Prolific Prep Teams beat him up with double and triple teams but they still couldnt stop him. Keith "Ice Cream" Harris There were so many great players out of Oakland alone, when you include the whole Bay Area, thats a serious list, former Skyline-Oakland guard and nine-time NBA All-Star Gary Payton said. An Indiana All-Star and Marion County player of the year, Jones helped lead Ben Davis to the basketball state finals as a senior. Lonzo Ball (Chino Hills) 16 24. Nevertheless, he didn't have a big reputation around the city. A first-team ParadeAll-American and McDonald's All-American, DeRozan starred at USC, then the NBA, where he earned a sixth All-Star nod with the Chicago Bulls in 2023. Don McLean (Simi Valley) 88 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. Part of Taylors selection was his career achievements. The five-time NBA All-Star is the son of former basketball player Mychal Thompson. Twenty years before Kidd, Chenier had taken the East Bay by storm. Jason Kidd (St. Joseph, Alameda) 92 He can be reached atronlocc1977@gmail.com. JEFFERSON Becker used her height to overpower foes, scoring 58.7 points a game as a senior in 1983. 1 Justices went 28-0, captured Class 2 state title and notched big wins over Columbus and Wheeler. However, following an ugly contract dispute, he never played in the NBA. In stark contrast to many playground legends, Lee was obsessed with playing in the NBA. On the playground, "Ed Hud" adjusted his game by pounding opponents underneath, but he's never lost that feathery southpaw touch. There wasn't much Adams couldn't do on the basketball court. Who is the best California Golden Bear ever? 6. (Harbor City, CA), Rancho Verde Kawai Leonard had the big senior season averaging 27 points and 15 boards a game while bringing home the trophy. SoCals best all-around player ever. (Los Angeles, CA), Narbonne Earnest "Worm" Killum, Jr., Lynwood (Lynwood) '90 Stories of his ability to sky to the top of the backboard are endless and nine years ago, Hillman was No. The 6-8 Catchings, a Purdue recruit, is a core Indiana Junior All-Star who averaged 17.5 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.1 steals per Both Ronnie and Mark do agree on one thing: Jason Kidd is the best player from California in the last 40 years. 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. Taylor King was named Mr. Basketball over James. T.J. 14. Before the injury, he could lead the break or dominate on the box. He went to 3 CIF finals and won 1. Kind of the boys hoops version of our No. How much did home with views in one of S.F. He was never the same player, but did help Vegas reach the 1987 NCAA Final Four. The moment that's still talked about came during his team's victorious 1961 Los Angeles City championship, when Goodrich scored 29 points and broke his ankle in the process. Those that saw him play, or played against him, still marvel at just how good he was individually. McClymonds won six TOCs over a span from 1957-1963 that started with Silas and saw it go 110-1. He was so talented." Another Crenshaw superstar, Thompson led the Cougars to a pair of state championships during his prep career, and his No. Despite 5-foot-9, Brunner is one of the most feared and respected streetball players in California. 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). He went for 28 points, 13 rebounds, and seven assists in the regional title game over archrival Banning. 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. He was on USA Todays 1st team. David Greenwood (Verbum Dei, Los Angeles) 75 He was part of the United States national team that won the gold medal at the London 2012 Summer Olympics. He also frequently appears in commercials for brands like Air Jordan. The five-time NBA all-star nearly invented the point forward position with the Milwaukee Bucks. Some states, such as Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, etc., had state record books compiled by the state association.