With the NBA’s most luminous talents preparing for the All-Star Game this Sunday at Inglewood, California’s Intuit Dome, a profound abundance of locally developed skill originating from the Los Angeles area is brought to mind.
Spanning from NBA victors to collegiate icons, Los Angeles’ high school reservoir of aptitude appears virtually inexhaustible.
Through an evaluation of their scholastic accomplishments, we identified a skill-rich lineup of players since 2000 that is formidable enough to present this year’s All-Stars with a challenging match.
Ball’s scholastic tenure was storied, primarily marked by his remarkable 92-point outing during his second year. In that season, his averages were 27.5 points, 9.6 assists, and 4.2 rebounds at Chino Hills High. In the preceding season, the junior Ball sibling, with his older brothers Lonzo and LiAngelo, contributed to Chino Hills achieving an unblemished 35-0 record and securing a state championship. Ball then competed professionally in Lithuania and Australia prior to his NBA journey.
Leonard was recognized nationally later in his development, securing the 56th spot in the SC Next 100 in 2009. Nonetheless, during his final year at Martin Luther King High School in Riverside, California, he compiled impressive statistics, with averages of 22.6 points, 13.1 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and three blocks. He subsequently earned the title of California Mr. Basketball.
Harden guided Artesia High School in Lakewood, California, to consecutive state championships and, during his senior year in 2007, posted averages of 18.8 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 3.9 assists. Recognized as a McDonald’s All-American, he held the 14th position in the SC Next 100 among the 2007 graduating class.
Tyson Chandler
Chandler was a preeminent presence at Dominguez High School in Compton, California, overpowering his rivals by amassing averages of 26 points, 15 rebounds, and eight blocks, culminating in a state championship during his final year. Chandler, ranked fourth in the SC Next 100 among the 2001 cohort, achieved McDonald’s All-American status, opting to bypass college and was selected second overall in the NBA draft by the LA Clippers.
DeRozan, ranked eighth in the SC Next 100, spearheaded Compton High School during his senior season, achieving averages of 29.2 points and 7.9 rebounds. This performance secured his inclusion in the McDonald’s All-American game.
Holiday exhibited supremacy over his rivals while attending Campbell Hall School in L.A., guiding the Vikings to a 31-5 win-loss tally and a state championship, with averages of 25.9 points, 11.2 rebounds, 6.9 assists, and 4.8 steals. Such prowess enabled him to earn the Gatorade National Player of the Year accolade in 2008. Holiday held the fourth position in the SC Next 100.
Jordan Farmar
Farmar tallied in excess of 2,000 points across two seasons at Taft High School in Woodland Hills, California, and in his concluding year in 2004, posted averages of 27.5 points and 6.5 assists. Farmar, designated a McDonald’s All-American, guided Taft to secure its inaugural City championship.
Thompson guided Santa Margarita High School in Rancho Santa Margarita, California, to the Division III state championship match and an impressive 30-5 ledger. He registered 21 points on average in his final season in 2008 and secured the 53rd position in the SC Next 100.
Lonzo Ball
The senior Ball sibling captained Chino Hills High School’s unblemished season, culminating in a 35-0 finish in 2016, while posting averages of 23.9 points, 11.3 rebounds, and 11.5 assists during his concluding year in 2016. Ball, designated a McDonald’s All-American, held the fourth overall spot in the SC Next 100.