The 2nd of the Four Part Series Analyzing the Composition of the NBA. Check out part 1, the BCS Conferences, part 3 and part 4 the Non-BCS Schools.
For the purpose of this High School discussion I wanted to break them up into theoretical teams. Since 33 players are currently playing in the NBA as High Schoolers, with a much higher percentage being Superstars than that of a college conference, I split them into two categories. Players from the Big 12, ACC, SEC portion of the US. And players from the Big East, Big 10, Pac 10 portion of the US. This actually split the two groups to 17 and 16 respectively.
East, North and West (17)
Starting Roster: Shaun Livingston, Kobe Bryant, Lebron James, Kevin Garnett, Tyson Chandler
Bench Players:DeShawn Stevenson, Eddy Curry, Al Harrington, Andrew Bynum, J.R. Smith, Sebastian Telfair, Martell Webster
Players Cut: Andray Blatche, Darius Miles, Robert Swift, Amir Johnson, Dorell Wright
Roster Strength: The Best Three Players in the NBA, Sure you can put Tim Duncan or Nash or a few others into the discussion but one could easily state that Kobe, Lebron and KG are the three best players in the NBA. And while there might be some argument or discussion after said statement there wouldn't be much.
Roster Weakness: Point Guard Play, Shaun Livingston is the Norths best point guard option, and he hasn't even come close to proving himself in the NBA. Plus he's knee went KABOOM last year. I even had to include Bassy on the team just so they had a backup point guard.
State Representation: California (5), Illinois (4), New Jersey (4), New York (1), Ohio (1), Pennsylvania (1), Washington (1)
South, Texas and Great Plains (16)
Starting Roster:Louis Williams, Tracy McGrady, Jermaine O'Neal, Amare Stoudemire, Dwight Howard
Bench Players:Al Jefferson, Travis Outlaw, Monta Ellis, Kendrick Perkins, Rashard Lewis, Josh Smith, Stephen Jackson
Players Cut: Kwame Brown, C.J. Miles, Gerald Green, DeSagana Diop
Roster Strength: Post Play, The High School South Boys have 4 absolute beasts in the paint. All can drop 20 and 10 with ease.
Roster Weakness: Point Guard Play, Just like the 'Northern' squad the Southerners don't have any big time point guards either. Chances are you've never heard of Louis Williams. Probably cause he's on the Sixers and they blow.
State Representation: Texas (4), Virginia (3), Georgia (3), Mississippi (2), Florida (1), North Carolina (1), South Carolina (1), Missouri (1)
Sum Up
For the most part these High School phenoms have that have remained in the NBA have turned into studs. They come from all over the country but mostly heavily populated areas. The one thing High Schoolers haven't give the NBA is the next great point guard.
Overall 23 teams in the NBA have a High Schooler on their roster with Portland and Golden State leading the way with three a piece.
Portland: Darius Miles, Martell Webster, Travis Outlaw
Golden St.: Al Harrington, Monta Ellis, Stephen Jackson
Note: All Player's Location Determined by the Prep School they Attended not by Birth Place
For the purpose of this High School discussion I wanted to break them up into theoretical teams. Since 33 players are currently playing in the NBA as High Schoolers, with a much higher percentage being Superstars than that of a college conference, I split them into two categories. Players from the Big 12, ACC, SEC portion of the US. And players from the Big East, Big 10, Pac 10 portion of the US. This actually split the two groups to 17 and 16 respectively.
East, North and West (17)
Starting Roster: Shaun Livingston, Kobe Bryant, Lebron James, Kevin Garnett, Tyson ChandlerBench Players:DeShawn Stevenson, Eddy Curry, Al Harrington, Andrew Bynum, J.R. Smith, Sebastian Telfair, Martell Webster
Players Cut: Andray Blatche, Darius Miles, Robert Swift, Amir Johnson, Dorell Wright
Roster Strength: The Best Three Players in the NBA, Sure you can put Tim Duncan or Nash or a few others into the discussion but one could easily state that Kobe, Lebron and KG are the three best players in the NBA. And while there might be some argument or discussion after said statement there wouldn't be much.
Roster Weakness: Point Guard Play, Shaun Livingston is the Norths best point guard option, and he hasn't even come close to proving himself in the NBA. Plus he's knee went KABOOM last year. I even had to include Bassy on the team just so they had a backup point guard.
State Representation: California (5), Illinois (4), New Jersey (4), New York (1), Ohio (1), Pennsylvania (1), Washington (1)
South, Texas and Great Plains (16)
Starting Roster:Louis Williams, Tracy McGrady, Jermaine O'Neal, Amare Stoudemire, Dwight HowardBench Players:Al Jefferson, Travis Outlaw, Monta Ellis, Kendrick Perkins, Rashard Lewis, Josh Smith, Stephen Jackson
Players Cut: Kwame Brown, C.J. Miles, Gerald Green, DeSagana Diop
Roster Strength: Post Play, The High School South Boys have 4 absolute beasts in the paint. All can drop 20 and 10 with ease.
Roster Weakness: Point Guard Play, Just like the 'Northern' squad the Southerners don't have any big time point guards either. Chances are you've never heard of Louis Williams. Probably cause he's on the Sixers and they blow.
State Representation: Texas (4), Virginia (3), Georgia (3), Mississippi (2), Florida (1), North Carolina (1), South Carolina (1), Missouri (1)
Sum Up
For the most part these High School phenoms have that have remained in the NBA have turned into studs. They come from all over the country but mostly heavily populated areas. The one thing High Schoolers haven't give the NBA is the next great point guard.
Overall 23 teams in the NBA have a High Schooler on their roster with Portland and Golden State leading the way with three a piece.
Portland: Darius Miles, Martell Webster, Travis Outlaw
Golden St.: Al Harrington, Monta Ellis, Stephen Jackson
Note: All Player's Location Determined by the Prep School they Attended not by Birth Place
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