The Top 20 HS to NBA Players
I've had a crazy obsession since Jr HS with high school players jumping from HS to the NBA. I even wrote a paper on Kendrick Perkins in 8th grade (Got an A) on why he benefits from going pro instead of playing college basketball. So I'm dropping my top 20 players who went from HS to the NBA.
Some Notes
Moses Malone was drafted from HS to ABA in 1974 Utah Stars (On list)
Shawn Kemp enrolled in college but didn't play (not on the list)
1st two players drafted from HS to NBA were Darryl Dawkins #5 pick by the 76ers in 1975 and Bill Willoughby in 2nd Rd #19 by the Hawks in the same year.
HS players not in the draft after the 05 draft (Amir Johnson #56 in 05 last HS player picked)
LeBron James #1 pick Cleveland Cavaliers 2003 St Vincents St Marys
Cleveland Cavaliers (2003-10, 2014-18) Miami Heat (2010-14) Los Angeles Lakers (2018-present)
2007-08 Scoring Champ
2019-20 AST Champ
4x NBA Champ
18x All-NBA
2003-04 All-Rookie
2003-04 ROY
3x AS MVP
6x All-Defensive
4x MVP
4x Finals MVP
NBA 75th Team
18x All-Star
2. Kobe Bryant #13 pick Charlotte Hornets 1996 Lower Merion
Los Angeles Lakers (1996-2016)
Hall of Fame 2020
18x All-Star
2x Scoring Champ
5x NBA Champ
15x All-NBA
1996-97 All-Rookie
12x All-Defensive
4x AS MVP
2007-08 MVP
2x Finals MVP
NBA 75th Team
2018 Oscar Winner
3. Moses Malone RD3 #22 pick Utah Stars ABA 1974 Petersburg
Utah Stars (1974-75) Spirits of St. Louis (1975-76) Buffalo Braves (1976) Houston Rockets (1976-82) Philadelphia 76ers (1982-86, 1993-94) Washington Bullets (1986-88) Atlanta Hawks (1988-91) Milwaukee Bucks (1991-93) San Antonio Spurs (1994-95)
Hall of Fame 2001
13x All-Star
6x TRB Champ
1983 NBA Champ
8x All-NBA
1974-75 All-Rookie
2x All-Defensive
3x MVP
1982-83 Finals MVP
ABA All-Time Team
NBA 75th Team
4. Kevin Garnett #5 pick Minnesota Timberwolves 1995 Farragut Academy
Minnesota Timberwolves (1995-2007, 2015-16) Boston Celtics (2007-13) Brooklyn Nets (2013-15)
15x All-Star
4x TRB Champ
2008 NBA Champ
9x All-NBA
1995-96 All-Rookie
12x All-Defensive
2002-03 AS MVP
2003-04 MVP
2007-08 Def. POY
NBA 75th Team
Hall of Fame 2020
5. Dwight Howard #1 pick Orlando Magic 2004 Southwest Christian Academy
Orlando Magic (2004-12) Los Angeles Lakers (2012-13, 2019-2020, 2021-2022) Houston Rockets (2013-16) Atlanta Hawks (2016-17) Charlotte Hornets (2017-18) Washington Wizards (2018) Philadelphia 76ers (2020-2021)
8x All-Star
5x TRB Champ
2x BLK Champ
2020 NBA Champ
8x All-NBA
2004-05 All-Rookie
5x All-Defensive
3x Def. POY
6. Tracy McGrady #9 pick Toronto Raptors 1997 Mt Zion Christian Academy
Toronto Raptors (1997-2000) Orlando Magic (2000-04) Houston Rockets (2004-10) New York Knicks (2010) Detroit Pistons (2010-11) Atlanta Hawks (2011-12) San Antonio Spurs (2013)
Hall of Fame 2017
7x All-Star
2x Scoring Champ
7x All-NBA
2000-01 Most Improved
