High school basketball has long been a breeding ground for future NBA stars, with some of the most hyped prospects going on to have legendary professional careers. Every year, various scouting services and organizations rank the top high school players, highlighting their dominance in the prep ranks.
However, not all #1-ranked players find the same success in college and some drop off significantly when it comes to their NBA career. Some go on to fully realize their early potential to become Hall of Famers while former prep stars fade into obscurity due to injury, motivation, bad luck or other factors.
In recent years, few high school players have generated as much excitement as Zion Williamson and Cooper Flagg. The then 16-year old Williamson became a viral sensation with his jaw-dropping athleticism and highlight-reel dunks, drawing comparisons to LeBron James and becoming one of the most followed high school athletes of all time. And his electrifying play at Duke and eventual selection as the #1 pick in the 2019 NBA Draft only fueled the hype.
Another Dukie Flagg, has emerged as one of the most complete prospects in recent history, dominating both ends of the floor and showcasing a skill set reminiscent of NBA greats before even playing a college game. With the rise of social media, new scouting technologies and NIL, the exposure for elite high school players has reached unprecedented levels, making their journeys even more scrutinized.
We’ll look at the #1 ranked high school basketball players since 1990, focusing specifically on winners of the Mr. Basketball USA award, a well-known honor recognizing the best male high school basketball player in the country. From Patrick Ewing to Kevin Garnett to LeBron to Chet Holmgren, we’ll explore the impact of these elite prospects and where their careers took them.
Being the Best High School Hooper Isn’t Always Great
Being ranked #1 in high school basketball is both a honor and a burden. Being the top ranked high school player comes with immense expectations, pressure, national media attention, and comparisons to past legends. Some players handle the pressure well and continue to thrive, while others struggle under the weight of expectations. While they’re advanced basketball players, high school players — no matter how great they are — are still teenagers after all.
For example, LeBron James embraced the spotlight and ultimately exceeded expectations at every level (though he never played in college). Shaquille O’Neal was a dominant high school player, was even more dominant in college, and went on to be one of the NBA’s most-dominant of all-time. while Greg Oden was beset by injuries and failed to meet the lofty projections set for him as the #1 overall pick in the 2007 NBA Draft. The increased exposure from platforms like Ballislife, Overtime, and ESPN has intensified the scrutiny that young athletes face today. This makes mental toughness and work ethic just as important as talent when transitioning from high school to the professional level.
Interestingly, this level of hype and expectation doesn’t just impact a player’s career trajectory—it also influences outside markets, including sports betting. In regions like Japan, bookmakers that accept punters to bet on NBA in Japan often adjust their odds based on player legacies, rankings, and public sentiment, as high school phenoms transition to the next level. The immense following of top prospects creates a ripple effect, extending well beyond the court into global betting trends and fan engagement.
#1 Ranked High School Player By Year
Over the years, some #1-ranked high school basketball players have lived up to the immense hype surrounding them, while others have struggled to make a lasting impact at the next level. Few players in history have entered the NBA with as much fanfare as LeBron, who was dubbed “The Chosen One” while still in high school. I mean, LeBron was named the state of Ohio’s Tournament MVP as a Freshman (and would win three high school state championships)! LeBron’s dominance, national TV appearances, and even a Sports Illustrated cover as a teenager set the stage for a seamless transition to the NBA, where he became a multiple-time MVP and champion. He remains the only player since 1980 to win the Mr. Basketball USA award twice.
However, for every LeBron, there have been highly touted prospects who couldn’t sustain the same level of dominance in the pros. Kenny Anderson was a New York City basketball icon, mesmerizing crowds with his ball-handling and playmaking. Though he had a solid NBA career, he never quite reached superstardom. Lew Alcindor, later known as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, is the gold standard for high school dominance, winning 71 consecutive games and becoming arguably the greatest center of all time.
Those who follow hoops, sometimes we forget how great Kareem was. So for those hoop heads who better than KAJ, one of the NBA’s greatest players of all-time, to kick off our list of the #1 ranked, top high school players list?
| Year | Player | High school | After High School | Next Best |
| 2024 | Cooper Flagg | Nokomis Regional / Montverde | Duke | Dylan Harper |
| 2023 | Cameron Boozer | Christopher Columbus High School | Duke | Isaiah Collier |
| 2022 | Dariq Whitehead | Montverde | Duke | Keyonte George, Dereck Lively |
| 2021 | Chet Holmgren | Minnehaha | Gonzaga | Jabari Smith Jr. |
| 2020 | Cade Cunningham | Bowie / Montverde | Oklahoma State | Evan Mobley, Jalen Green |
| 2019 | Isaiah Stewart | McQuaid Jesuit / La Lumiere | Washington | Cole Anthony |
| 2018 | RJ Barrett | St. Marcellinus / Montverde | Duke | Zion Williamson |
| 2017 | Michael Porter Jr. | Father Tolton / Nathan Hale | Missouri | Deandre Ayton |
| 2016 | Lonzo Ball | Chino Hills | UCLA | Josh Jackson |
| 2015 | Ben Simmons | Box Hill Senior / Montverde | LSU | Jaylen Brown |
| 2014 | Cliff Alexander | Curie | Kansas | Stanley Johnson |
| 2013 | Andrew Wiggins | Vaughn / Huntington | Kansas | Jabari Parker |
| 2012 | Shabazz Muhammad | Bishop Gorman | UCLA | Jabari Parker |
| 2011 | Mike Gilchrist | St. Patrick | Kentucky | Austin Rivers, Bradley Beal |
| 2010 | Harrison Barnes | Ames | North Carolina | Jared Sullinger |
| 2009 | Derrick Favors | South Atlanta | Georgia Tech | DeMarcus Cousins, Avery Bradley, Jr. |
| 2008 | Brandon Jennings | Dominguez / Oak Hill Academy | Lottomatica Roma | Samardo Samuels |
| 2007 | O. J. Mayo | Huntington | USC | Kevin Love, Derrick Rose |
| 2006 | Greg Oden | Lawrence North | Ohio State | Kevin Durant |
| 2005 | Monta Ellis | Lanier | Golden State Warriors | Greg Oden |
| 2004 | Sebastian Telfair | Lincoln | Portland Trailblazers | Dwight Howard |
| 2003 | LeBron James | St. Vincent – St. Mary | Cleveland Cavs | Chris Paul |
| 2002 | LeBron James | St. Vincent – St. Mary | — | Carmelo Anthony |
| 2001 | Dajuan Wagner | Camden | Memphis | Tyson Chandler, Eddy Curry |
| 2000 | Darius Miles | East St. Louis | Los Angeles Clippers | Zach Randolph, Gerald Wallace |
| 1999 | Jonathan Bender | Picayune | Indiana Pacers | Donnell Harvey |
| 1998 | Rashard Lewis | Elsik | Seattle Sonics | Ronald Curry, JaRon Rush |
| 1997 | Tracy McGrady | Auburndale / Mount Zion | Toronto Raptors | Lamar Odom |
| 1996 | Mike Bibby | Shadow Mountain | Arizona | Kobe Bryant, Tim Thomas |
| 1995 | Kevin Garnett | Mauldin / Farragut | Minnesota Timberwolves | Ron Mercer, Stephon Marbury |
| 1994 | Felipe López | Rice | St. John’s | — |
| 1993 | Rasheed Wallace | Simon Gratz | North Carolina | Jerry Stackhouse, Randy Livingston |
| 1992 | Jason Kidd | St. Joseph | California | Rodrick Rhodes |
| 1991 | Chris Webber | Country Day | Michigan | Glenn Robinson |
| 1990 | Damon Bailey | North Lawrence | Indiana | Ed O’Bannon |
| 1989 | Kenny Anderson | Archbishop Molloy | Georgia Tech | — |
| 1988 | Alonzo Mourning | Indian River | Georgetown | Shawn Kemp, Billy Owens |
| 1987 | Larry Johnson | Skyline | UNLV | Marcus Liberty |
| 1986 | J. R. Reid | Kempsville | North Carolina | Rex Chapman, Terry Mills |
| 1985 | Danny Ferry | DeMatha | Duke | Jeff Lebo |
| 1984 | John Williams | Crenshaw | LSU | Danny Manning, Delray Brooks |
| 1983 | Reggie Williams | Dunbar | Georgetown | Dwayne Washington |
| 1982 | Wayman Tisdale | Washington | Oklahoma | Billy Thompson |
| 1981 | Patrick Ewing | Rindge & Latin | Georgetown | — |
| 1980 | Doc Rivers | Proviso East | Marquette | Patrick Ewing, Earl Jones |
| 1979 | Clark Kellogg | St. Joseph | Ohio State | Isiah Thomas, Ralph Sampson |
| 1978 | Mark Aguirre | Westinghouse | DePaul | Dwight Anderson |
| 1977 | Albert King | Fort Hamilton | Maryland | Magic Johnson, Gene Banks |
| 1976 | Darrell Griffith | Male | Louisville | Albert King |
| 1975 | Bill Cartwright | Elk Grove | San Francisco | David Greenwood, Darryl Dawkins |
For the full list, refer to Wikipedia’s Mr. Basketball USA page.
Chris Webber was as dominant a high school big man in Michigan as there was in the early ‘90s, carrying his talent from talent Detroit Country Day to the Fab Five at the University of Michigan and an impressive NBA career, but some still feel he never fully lived up to his sky-high potential. Dejuan Wagner was a scoring phenom, dropping 100 points in a high school game, but injuries derailed what could have been a legendary career. Felipe Lopez was another player who carried massive expectations, gracing the cover of Sports Illustrated as a high schooler, but he never became an NBA star. Lopez’s rollercoaster story was covered in a 30 for 30 documentary.
Kevin Garnett (1995, Farragut Academy) was a game-changer in high school basketball, bringing an intensity and skill set that was rare for a player of his size. His dominance earned him the #1 ranking, and he made history by becoming the first player in two decades to jump straight from high school to the NBA. Garnett’s decision paved the way for future prep-to-pro stars like Kobe and James. His legendary career included an NBA MVP award (2004), multiple All-Star selections, and an NBA championship (2008), solidifying his place among the greatest power forwards of all time.
O.J. Mayo was once hailed as the next great shooting guard, drawing comparisons to Kobe Bryant, but his NBA career was short-lived. Similarly, Sebastian Telfair carried the weight of New York City’s basketball legacy and was even featured in a documentary before turning pro, but he never became the star many projected.
As with Mayo and Telfair, the journey from high school stardom to professional success is never guaranteed. While some, like LeBron and Kareem, exceeded even the loftiest expectations, others found the transition to the NBA far more challenging, proving that high school dominance is only part of the equation in achieving basketball greatness.
The Evolution of High School Basketball Rankings
The way high school players are ranked has evolved significantly over the years. In the 1990s and early 2000s, recruiting rankings were largely based on word-of-mouth from scouts, game film, and occasional national tournaments. Today, social media, high-level AAU circuits, and advanced analytics play a significant role in a player’s ranking. Platforms like YouTube and Instagram have made it easier for players to gain exposure, with highlights reaching millions of viewers.
The increasing presence of elite prep schools such as Montverde Academy, Oak Hill Academy, and IMG Academy has also changed the landscape, as these institutions routinely produce top-tier talent that dominates the rankings.
These schools provide top-tier coaching, state-of-the-art facilities, and rigorous national schedules that help players develop against elite competition. As a result, prospects coming from these programs are often more polished and prepared for the next level, whether it’s college or the NBA. Additionally, the rise of grassroots scouting services and ranking platforms like 247Sports, Rivals, and ESPN has made the evaluation process more data-driven, incorporating advanced metrics and in-depth player analysis. NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) deals have also begun to influence rankings, as top prospects are now viewed not only for their on-court talent but also their marketability. This shift has added another layer of complexity to how high school players are assessed and valued in today’s evolving basketball landscape.
How Players Are Ranked
There are numerous services that rank high school basketball players, including ESPN, Rivals, and 247Sports. However, for the purpose of this article, we are using the Mr. Basketball USA award as our standard. The award has been presented annually to the top-performing U.S. high school basketball player, as determined by Ballislife.com. Over the years, the award has changed hands between different organizations:
- 1996–2002: Presented by Student Sports
- 2003–2009: Presented by EA Sports
- 2010–2012: Presented by ESPN HS
- 2013–Present: Presented by Ballislife.com
Additionally, in 2012, the award was retroactively given to players dating back to 1955, recognizing legendary figures such as Wilt Chamberlain (1955).
High school basketball rankings have become an essential part of the sport’s culture, providing a glimpse into the future of the game. The Mr. Basketball USA award has honored some of the most elite talents in history, many of whom have gone on to have legendary careers. However, being ranked #1 is not a guaranteed ticket to superstardom—it requires resilience, work ethic, and a bit of luck.
As high school basketball continues to evolve with new talent, scouting methods, and media exposure, the next generation of top-ranked players will have even greater opportunities—and challenges—to live up to the hype.
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