Within the spirit of the “SportsCenter” quest — modeled after the unique 2005 “SportsCenter Throughout America” tour to hit all 50 states in 50 days — we’re spotlighting a number of the high hoopers repping key stops alongside the best way.
To rank the highest boys’ and ladies’ basketball expertise since 2000, we’re putting a heavy emphasis on highschool accolades — state titles, nationwide honors, particular person awards — together with on-court dominance, long-term legacy, recognition and total affect on the sport.
On this version, we’re headed to Indiana.
From Greg Oden to Skylar Diggins, these hoopers characterize a number of the most interesting to ever play highschool basketball within the Hoosier State.
Boys
1. Greg Oden, Lawrence North Excessive Faculty
His case: Oden had a dominant reign, main the Lawrence North Excessive Faculty Wildcats to 3 consecutive state titles and taking dwelling Indiana’s Mr. Basketball award as a senior in 2006. Oden was additionally named Gatorade Nationwide Participant of the 12 months in 2005 and 2006.
He went on to star at Ohio State as a freshman, averaging 15.7 factors, 9.6 rebounds and three.3 blocks, incomes First-team All-Large Ten, NABC Defensive Participant of the 12 months and All-American honors. Oden was picked No. 1 by the Portland Path Blazers within the 2007 NBA draft however performed within the league for simply three seasons attributable to nagging accidents.
2. DeShaun Thomas, Bishop Luers Excessive Faculty
His case: Thomas powered the Bishop Luers Excessive Faculty Knights to 2 state titles throughout his tenure and averaged 29 factors throughout his senior season in 2010. Thomas, who completed ranked No. 12 within the ESPN 100, is Indiana’s No. 3 all-time scorer with 3,018 profession factors. He snagged first-team Parade All-American and Indiana’s Mr. Basketball honors earlier than heading off to Ohio State, the place he was named to a number of All-Large Ten and All-American groups.
Thomas was drafted No. 58 by the San Antonio Spurs in 2013 and performed two seasons within the NBA.
3. Eric Gordon, North Central Excessive Faculty
His case: Gordon guided the North Central Excessive Faculty Panthers to the state title sport as a senior in 2007, averaging 29 factors, 6.2 rebounds and three.3 assists. Gordon, who completed ranked No. 2 within the ESPN 100, took dwelling Indiana’s Mr. Basketball and Gatorade Participant of the 12 months awards in addition to All-State honors.
He went on to star for the hometown Indiana Hoosiers, averaging 20.9 factors, 3.3 rebounds and a pair of.4 assists as a freshman. That led to him claiming Large Ten Freshman of the 12 months and First Workforce All-American honors. Gordon was picked No. 7 by the LA Clippers within the 2008 NBA draft. In 17 NBA seasons, Gordon has been Sixth Man of the 12 months, 3-point champ, named to the All-Rookie Workforce and averaged 15.3 factors.
4. Jared Jeffries, Bloomington North Excessive Faculty
His case: Jeffries averaged 23.4 factors, 10.4 rebounds and 4.2 assists for the Cougars in 2000. He was named Indiana’s Mr. Basketball and Gatorade Nationwide Participant of the 12 months. Jeffries, who completed No. 5 within the ESPN recruiting rankings, stayed in-state and dominated at Indiana, finally successful Large Ten Participant of the 12 months in 2002, when he was picked No. 11 by the Washington Wizards within the draft. Jeffries went on to play 11 years within the NBA.
5. Sean Might, Bloomington North Excessive Faculty
His case: May had a legendary run with the Cougars as a three-time All-State crew choice and posted averages of 21.8 factors and 13.7 rebounds as a senior in 2002. Might, who completed ranked No. 51 within the ESPN 100, took dwelling Indiana’s Mr. Basketball and Gatorade Participant of the 12 months {hardware} earlier than heading to North Carolina, the place he led the Tar Heels to the nationwide title as a junior.
He was named Most Excellent Participant of the 2005 NCAA males’s match and made the All-American crew. Might was picked No. 13 by the Charlotte Bobcats within the 2005 draft and performed 4 seasons within the NBA.
Ladies
1. Jackie Younger, Princeton Excessive Faculty
Her case: Younger is Indiana’s all-time main scorer — girls and boys — posting 3,268 profession factors. She drove the Princeton Excessive Faculty Tigers to 53 straight wins and a state title in 2015. A 12 months later, as a senior, Younger averaged 34.9 factors, 9.5 rebounds, 5 assists and three.8 steals. She completed ranked No. 11 within the ESPNW 100 and took dwelling Indiana’s Ms. Basketball and Gatorade Participant of the 12 months {hardware} in addition to Naismith Participant of the 12 months honors.
Younger went on to star at Notre Dame, the place she helped the Preventing Irish declare a nationwide title in 2018, made ACC All-Freshman, All-ACC and gained ACC match MVP in her three years. Younger was the No. 1 choose by the Las Vegas Aces within the 2019 WNBA draft and has gained two WNBA titles, made 4 All-Star Video games and been named to the All-WNBA crew twice.
Her case: Diggins led Washington Excessive Faculty to the state title sport every of her 4 years and got here away with one state title. The Panthers posted a 102-7 file throughout her reign and he or she led the state in scoring as a senior, posting 29 factors a sport, whereas including 6.3 rebounds, 6.2 assists, 5.4 steals and a pair of.2 blocks. That led to her taking dwelling Indiana’s Ms. Basketball, Gatorade Nationwide Participant of the 12 months and Naismith Participant of the 12 months in 2009 when she completed ranked No. 3 within the ESPNW 100.
Diggins went on to star at Notre Dame. the place she led the Preventing Irish to 130 wins, three Last Fours, two nationwide title video games and two Large East titles. Diggins made a number of All-Large East groups and was named Large East Participant of the 12 months and All-American twice. Diggins was picked No. 3 by the Tulsa Shock within the 2013 WNBA draft. In 10 years within the WNBA, Diggins has made seven All-Star video games and has been named All-WNBA six instances.
3. Shanna Zolman, Wawasee Excessive Faculty
Her case: Zolman led the state in scoring for 4 straight years at Wawasee Excessive Faculty and sits at No. 2 on Indiana’s all-time scoring record with 3,085 factors. Zolman was named Indiana’s Ms. Basketball and took dwelling co-MVP honors within the 2002 McDonald’s All American Sport. She went on to star at Tennessee, the place she was named to the All-SEC freshman crew and All-SEC. Zolman was drafted No. 16 by the San Antonio Stars (now the Las Vegas Aces) and performed 4 seasons.
4. Amber Harris, North Central Excessive Faculty
Her case: Harris fueled the North Central Excessive Faculty Panthers to 2 state titles throughout her sophomore and junior seasons and averaged 16.5 factors, 9 rebounds and 4 blocks as a senior in 2006 when she took dwelling Indiana’s Ms. Basketball honors.
She starred for the Xavier Musketeers the place she gained Atlantic 10 Rookie of the 12 months, was a three-time First Workforce All-Atlantic 10 honoree and two-time Atlantic 10 Participant of the 12 months. Harris’ jersey was retired after ending her profession with 2,205 factors and 1,226 rebounds, changing into simply the second Musketeer ever to surpass the two,000-point and 1,000-rebound marks.
She was picked No. 4 total by the Minnesota Lynx within the 2011 WNBA draft. In 5 years, Harris helped the Lynx seize two WNBA titles.
5. Ta’Shia Phillips, Brebeuf Jesuit Prep Faculty
Her case: Phillips propelled the Brebeuf Jesuit Prep Faculty Braves to 2 state titles and averaged 21.6 factors, 15.3 rebounds and three.2 blocks throughout her senior 12 months in 2007. That led to her claiming Indiana’s Ms. Basketball and Gatorade Participant of the 12 months honors.
She went on to star at Xavier, the place her jersey hangs within the rafters after she gained Atlantic 10 Rookie of the 12 months, received chosen first-team All-Atlantic 10 3 times and took dwelling Atlantic 10 Participant of the 12 months. Phillips was picked No. 8 by the Washington Mystics within the 2011 WNBA draft.