Impact
Records
Valdez (VJ) Edgecombe
Long Island Lutheran High School
Impact Statement
Edgecombe, a five star recruit, will immediately impact Baylor.
Biography
Edgecombe, a five star recruit, was named the NIBC Player of the Year (National Invitational Basketball Conference). He was also the Leading Scorer in NIBC and Selected to NBPA Top 100 Camp.
His senior season, he averaged 17.3 points a game. He was selected to the 2024 McDonald’s All Star game where the East narrowly knocked off the West 88-86. Additionally, he was named the Gatorade New York Player of the Year his junior and senior years.
Edgecombe will continue his academic and athletic career at Baylor University.
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Professional Achievements
Personal Honors
Ben Davis High School
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Don Carlisle
Ben Davis High School
Impact Statement
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Biography
Coach Carlisle led Ben Davis to Indiana’s 4A championship with a perfect 33-0 record. Carlisle’s team finished No. 10 in the MaxPreps.com Top 25.
According to the Indiana High School Athletic Association, Ben Davis is only the 14th team in Indiana basketball history to win a state title while going undefeated.
Carlisle, a 1997 graduate of Ben Davis, also won a title as a player for the Giants. He was a player on the 1995 and 1996 teams that won single-class state titles.
“As a player, you just go along for the ride. You work hard, and, hopefully, come out and put out a good product,” said Carlisle, who was in his fifth year at the head of program. “As a coach, you’re in control of a lot more. A lot more stress, and a lot more things you’ve got to go about being in charge of. Especially the kids. As a coach, it’s a tougher gig. These kids, we’re 33-0. The first time that’s happened. I’m so incredibly proud of them.”
The championship also led to Carlisle being named the Coach of the Year of the Indiana High School Awards.
North Laurel High School
“I don’t care what anybody says— he’s the best playmaker in the country.” -North Laurel head coach Nate Valentine
“I don’t care what anybody says— he’s the best playmaker in the country.” -North Laurel head coach Nate Valentine
Reed Sheppard
North Laurel High School
Impact Statement
“I don’t care what anybody says— he’s the best playmaker in the country.” -North Laurel head coach Nate Valentine
Biography
Sheppard closed-out his scholastic career by winning Kentucky’s coveted Mr. Basketball Award. The 4-star college basketball prospect, who will attend the University of Kentucky, averaged 22.5 points per game, 8.5 assists per contest with 8.4 rebounds during his senior campaign.
For his career, Sheppard finishes as the third all-time leading scorer with 3,727 points. He’s second in assists with 1,214 and first in steals with 653.
After the season, played in the McDonald’s All-American Game. Additionally, after his junior year, he was named Gatorade’s Kentucky Player of the Year.
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Professional Achievements
Personal Honors
Bristol Central High School
Clingan ended his high school career by leading his school to Connecticut’s Division II state championship.
Clingan ended his high school career by leading his school to Connecticut’s Division II state championship.
Donovan Clingan
Bristol Central High School
Impact Statement
Clingan ended his high school career by leading his school to Connecticut’s Division II state championship.
Biography
Clingan ended his high school career by leading his school to Connecticut’s Division II state championship with a perfect 28-0 record. In the championship game, Clingan scored 25 points and grabbed 24 rebounds. For the season, the 7-foot-2-inch center averaged 30.1 points, 18.4 rebounds and 6.2 blocks per game.
The two-time Connecticut Gatorade Player of the Year shot posted six triple-doubles as a senior. In one game, he scored 51 points and grabbed 31 rebounds.
The future University of Connecticut Husky, finished his career with 2,268 points and 1,518 rebounds. The 4-star recruit is considered the 44 th best college basketball recruit in the Class of 2022 by 247Sports.
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Personal Honors
Milton High School
“You always try to welcome the culture that has been built before you and add on to it. I just want to add on to the Milton legacy and continue to work and help kids.” -Allen Whitehart
“You always try to welcome the culture that has been built before you and add on to it. I just want to add on to the Milton legacy and continue to work and help kids.” -Allen Whitehart
Allen Whitehart
Milton High School
Impact Statement
“You always try to welcome the culture that has been built before you and add on to it. I just want to add on to the Milton legacy and continue to work and help kids.” -Allen Whitehart
Biography
This past season, Whitehart led Milton to Georgia’s 7A state championship with a 28-2 record. The Eagles won their final 26 games in-state and were invited to the prestigious GEICO High School Nationals Tournament in Florida where they lost to powerful IMG Academy of Florida 73-68 in the tournament’s opening round. Milton finished the season ranked No. 6 in America.
One of the highlights of the 2020-21 season for Coach Whitehart was his 300th career victory. He was chosen as the Class 7A Coach of the Year by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and the Bobby Cremins Georgia Coach of the Year by the Atlanta Tip-Off Club.
After 14 seasons as a head basketball coach, Whitehart owns as 323-106 record, which includes six Final Four appearances and four trips to the state finals. This year’s state championship was Coach Whitehart’s first.
Whitehart is the third Georgia coach to be named the NHSCA National Boys’ Basketball Coach of the Year. Sharman White of Miller Grove High School won the award for the 2015-16 school year. Wheeler High’s Dan Lipscomb won it for the 2011-12 sports season.
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Records
Minnehaha Academy
Impact Statement Placeholder
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Chet Holmgren
Minnehaha Academy
Impact Statement
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Biography
Holmgren closed-out his brilliant high school career by helping Minnehaha to its fourth straight Minnesota state championship. The 7-foot-1-inch center with incredible ballhandling skills scored 18 points, grabbed 13 rebounds, handed-out seven assists and blocked two shots in the AAA championship game.
Holmgren, who is considered the top college basketball recruit in the Class of 2021, averaged 20.8 points per game during his senior season. He also averaged 12.6 rebounds per contest, 4.5 assists and 4.7 blocks while shooting 80% from the field.
For his outstanding season, Holmgren was also named the winner of the Naismith Award that is given to the top boys’ high school basketball player in the country.
Earlier this month, Holmgren announced he was accepting a scholarship to Gonzaga, which finished runner-up this past season in NCAA Tournament.
Records
Professional Achievements
Personal Honors
Paul VI Catholic High School
Roach has had success on many courts throughout his career from Paul VI to internationally to Duke University.
Roach has had success on many courts throughout his career from Paul VI to internationally to Duke University.
Jeremy Roach
Paul VI Catholic High School
Impact Statement
Roach has had success on many courts throughout his career from Paul VI to internationally to Duke University.
Biography
After missing his entire junior season with a knee injury, Roach closed-out his scholastic career by leading Paul VI Catholic to a Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association state championship with a 27-8 record.
Roach averaged 17.9 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 2.9 steals this past season, which earned him a spot on the McDonald’s All-American Game roster. ESPN0020 ranked Roche as the nation’s No. 18 recruit in the Class of 2020. He also was named first team All-Met.
Roach won a gold medal while playing for the United States’ National Under-16 team at the 2017 FIBA Under-16 Americas Championship. He averaged 10.6 points, 1.4 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game.
Roche was also successful in the classroom where he maintained a 3.06 GPA. Roach will continue his academic and basketball career at Duke University.
Roach is the first Virginia student-athlete to win the NHSCA Senior Boys’ Basketball Athlete of the Year Award.
In his first season as a Blue Devil, Roach made an immediate impact. He is the seventh all- time Duke freshman to have a game with seven or more assists and no turnovers.
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Professional Achievements
Personal Honors
Mountain Brook High School
“I believe in giving your very best effort. You play hard or don’t play at all!”
-Bucky McMillan
“I believe in giving your very best effort. You play hard or don’t play at all!”
-Bucky McMillan
Bucky McMillan
Mountain Brook High School
Impact Statement
“I believe in giving your very best effort. You play hard or don’t play at all!”
-Bucky McMillan
Biography
McMillan, who just finished his 10th year as Mountain Brook’s head coach, led the school to its second straight Class 7A state championship this past season.
It was the Spartans fourth state championship in the last six years. Mountain Brook finished the 2017-18 season with a 34-3 record and ranked No. 20 in the USA TODAY Super 25 national rankings. Mountain Brook won 23 straight games at the end of the season with a 15-point average margin of victory.
Over the last six seasons, Mountain Brook has gone 163-44. McMillan was named the Over the Mountain Journal’s Coach of the Year.
McMillan led Mountain Brook for another year and another state title in 2019. In April of 2020, McMillan was hired as the Samford University Men’s coach.
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Professional Achievements
Mater Dei High School
“I get on the freeway at Mission Viejo and I enjoy doing it and as long as I enjoy doing it, I’m gonna do it.” -Gary McKnight
“I get on the freeway at Mission Viejo and I enjoy doing it and as long as I enjoy doing it, I’m gonna do it.” -Gary McKnight
Gary McKnight
Mater Dei High School
Impact Statement
“I get on the freeway at Mission Viejo and I enjoy doing it and as long as I enjoy doing it, I’m gonna do it.” -Gary McKnight
Biography
Coach McKnight, who has a .921 winning percentage in 32 seasons as the head coach at Mater Dei, led the Monarchs to their fourth straight California state championship this past season.
McKnight led Mater Dei to a perfect 35-0 record during the 2013-14 season, and now owns 995 overall victories, which puts him 13th on the all-time wins list, according to the National Federation of State High School Associations.
McKnight’s teams have won 31 league titles, 22 Southern Section titles and 11 overall state titles. Each of his last ten teams have won 30 games or more.
Since being honored, McKnight has continued to add to his accolades. In December of 2014, McKnight notched his 1,000th career victory. As of February 28, 2020, he now boasts a career record of 1161-117. His records makes him the second winningest coach based on his record and his winning percentage.
Additionally, his teams have won 36 league titles in his 39 years. Mater Dei also claims 23 CIF-SS Championships and 11 State titles.
McKnight was honored as the 2014’s Morgan Wooten Award for Lifetime Achievement in Coaching High School Basketball by the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. He was nominated to be inducted in to this hall of fame in 2019.
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Professional Achievements
Pinnacle High School
“It’s not about where you’re drafted, it’s about how you fit the team that takes you.” -Nico Mannion
“It’s not about where you’re drafted, it’s about how you fit the team that takes you.” -Nico Mannion
Nico Mannion
Pinnacle High School
Impact Statement
“It’s not about where you’re drafted, it’s about how you fit the team that takes you.” -Nico Mannion
Biography
Mannion closed-out his high school career by leading Pinnacle to its second straight Arizona Class 6A title. The 6-3, 180-pound guard, who is considered the No. 1 point guard in the Class of 2019, will attend the University of Arizona in the fall on a basketball scholarship.
This past season, Mannion averaged 30.4 points per game, 6.2 rebounds, 6.2 assists and 2.8 steals per contest. Mannion, who scored 30 points or more in 17 of his team’s 30 games, was named to the second team of USA TODAY’S All-USA Basketball squad. In addition, he was named a third team Naismith All-American. Mannion, who carries a 3.66 GPA in the classroom, is Gatorade’s two-time Arizona Player of the Year and also played in this year’s McDonald’s All-American Game.
Mannion played one season as a Wildcat. He was named to the Pac-12 All-Freshman Team. He finished the year with 169 assists, landing him third overall on Arizona’s record list, and averaged 14 points a game.
After the season, Mannion entered the 2020 NBA Draft where he was selected in the second round by the Golden State Warriors.
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Personal Honors
Apple Valley High School
“It’s all off of instincts. I like to play fast and I feel like if I get the rebound we can start the break right away.” -Tre Jones
“It’s all off of instincts. I like to play fast and I feel like if I get the rebound we can start the break right away.” -Tre Jones
Tre Jones
Apple Valley High School
Impact Statement
“It’s all off of instincts. I like to play fast and I feel like if I get the rebound we can start the break right away.” -Tre Jones
Biography
Jones, who was a two-time winner of Gatorade’s Minnesota Boys’ Basketball Player of the Year award, won two state championships during his incredible career at Apple Valley that concluded in March with a runner-up finish in the Class 4A state championship game. As the team’s point guard, he averaged 23 points per game with over eight rebounds per contest and over six assists per game.
Jones, who carries a 3.53 grade point average, volunteers as a youth basketball coach and is part of an elementary school literacy outreach program. He was selected for the McDonald’s All-American Game and was named the Star Tribune Metro Player of the Year.
Jones, who has accepted a scholarship to Duke University, is the younger brother of Tyrus Jones, who currently plays for the NBA’s Minnesota Timberwolves.
Jones played at Duke for two seasons before entering the Draft. As a sophomore, he was named the ACC Player of the Year and the Defensive Player of the Year. He entered the 2020 NBA Draft and was selected 41st overall by the San Antonio Spurs.
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Professional Achievements
Personal Honors
Wheeler High School
“I want to understand everything so I can put myself in a position to be successful.”
-Jaylen Brown
“I want to understand everything so I can put myself in a position to be successful.”
-Jaylen Brown
Jaylen Brown
Wheeler High School
Impact Statement
“I want to understand everything so I can put myself in a position to be successful.”
-Jaylen Brown
Biography
Jaylen Brown closed out his high school career by leading Wheeler to a Georgia AAAAAA state championship.
The 6-7, 220-pound forward averaged 28 points, 12 rebounds and five assists, plus he was named to the McDonald’s All-American Game and Jordan Brand Classic.
Brown was also a member of the 2014 USA Basketball Men’s U18 National Team. Brown will play his college ball at the University of California at Berkley.
After one year and being named Pac-10 Freshman of the Year, Brown entered the 2016 NBC draft. He was the third overall selection by the Boston Celtics. His rookie year he was named to the Second Team All-Rookie team. Brown’s contract was extended through the 2023-24 season with the Celtics.
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St. Joseph High School
“Anytime someone expects something from me, I expect about five times more from myself.”
-Karl-Anthony Towns
“Anytime someone expects something from me, I expect about five times more from myself.”
-Karl-Anthony Towns
Karl-Anthony Towns Jr.
St. Joseph High School
Impact Statement
“Anytime someone expects something from me, I expect about five times more from myself.”
-Karl-Anthony Towns
Biography
Karl-Anthony Towns, Jr., St. Joseph High’s 7-1 big man, always came-up big on the court during his high school career.
Towns, who will play his college ball at Kentucky, closed out his career by helping his team win the New Jersey Interscholastic Athletic Association’s Tournament of Champions. Towns averaged 20.9 points per game, 13.4 rebounds and 6.2 blocked shots per contest. For a big man, Towns has quite a touch, shooting 66.1% from the field and 82.2% from the foul line, while knocking down 127 three-pointers over the last three seasons.
Towns, who carried a 3.66 GPA, is a member of the Dominican Republic National Team. He was Gatorade’s National Player of the Year and two-time Gatorade New Jersey Player of the Year.
Towns is the second New Jersey player to be honored by the NHSCA as its National Boys’ Basketball Player of the Year. Samardo Samuels of St. Benedict’s Prep, who is currently playing professional basketball in Italy, was the 2008 NHSCA Player of the Year in boys’ basketball.
Towns played for the Wildcats for one year. He was the SEC Rookie of the Year before declaring entry into the 2015 NBA Draft. He was the overall number 1 pick by the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Towns was named the 2016 NBA Rookie of the Year and was on the All- Rookie First Team. Towns is a two time NBA All Star in 2018 and 2019.
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Professional Achievements
Personal Honors
Simeon High School
Jabari Parker leaves the Chicago high school basketball scene the way he entered it – a champion.
Jabari Parker leaves the Chicago high school basketball scene the way he entered it – a champion.
Jabari Parker
Simeon High School
Impact Statement
Jabari Parker leaves the Chicago high school basketball scene the way he entered it – a champion.
Biography
Jabari Parker leaves the Chicago high school basketball scene the way he entered it – a champion.
Parker, who will attend Duke in the fall, led Simeon to its fourth straight Illinois Class 4A championship during the 2012-13 season. What made Parker’s senior season special was the fact that he was able to battle back from a broken foot that he suffered during last summer.
Even though he wasn’t 100 percent at the start of the season, Parker led his team to a 30-3 record while averaging 18 points and 10 rebounds per game.
Parker attended Duke University and played for one year. As a freshman, he was named the 2014 ACC Rookie of the Year. He was also named first team All-ACC-Team. After the season, he declared his entry to the NBA Draft. He was subsequently the second overall pick by the Milwaukee Bucks.
Parker was traded a handful of times and is now playing for the Sacramento Kings as of 2020.
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Personal Honors
Wichita Heights High School
Ellis excelled in both the classroom and on the court while at Wichita Heights High School and the University of Kansas.
Ellis excelled in both the classroom and on the court while at Wichita Heights High School and the University of Kansas.
Perry Ellis
Wichita Heights High School
Impact Statement
Ellis excelled in both the classroom and on the court while at Wichita Heights High School and the University of Kansas.
Biography
The 6-foot-8, 225-pound post player led Wichita Heights to four 6A state championships and became the first player to be named All-State four times by The Wichita Eagle. Ellis scored 2,231 career points, breaking a Wichita City League record that had stood since 1981, and had 987 career rebounds as he led the Falcons (23-2) on a state-record 62-game winning streak that was set this season. Ellis averaged 25.8 points, 9.4 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.0 blocks and 1.0 steals as a senior and shot 67 percent from the field, including 43 percent from three-point range, and 78 percent from the free-throw line, hitting 195 free throws.
The McDonald’s All-American had 29 points and seven rebounds in the Falcons’ 67-60 title-game victory over Overland Park Blue Valley Northwest High. Named to the All-USA Today Second Team, Ellis, the Gatorade Kansas Player of the Year, is the first player in the award program’s 27-year history to be a four-time state Player of the Year selection.
Also an outstanding student, Ellis ranks No. 1 in his class with a 4.0 grade-point average, and serves as secretary of his school’s National Honor Society chapter. The University of Kansas recruit has volunteered locally on behalf of the Wichita Children’s Home, with the Real Men, Real Heroes Teen Hero program, as part of youth literacy-outreach initiatives and as a motivational speaker to youth athletes, addressing the importance of education.
Ellis played for the Kansas Jayhawks all four years earning four trips to the NCAA Championships. In addition, the Jayhawks made a trip to the Elite Eight as a senior. Off the court, Ellis was the Big 12 Scholar Athlete of the Year both his junior and senior years.
After college, Ellis has played the past few years in the NBA’s G-League overseas. He’s played for Turkey, Italy, Germany and Australia. In July of 2019, Ellis was injured during a summer tournament and required surgery. He is now back at Kansas rehabbing and completing his degree. He was named the video coordinator for the 2019-2020 season.
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Personal Honors
Winter Park High School
Rivers has had an impact on every team he’s been a part of. He set a school record of 2,957 points while at Winter Park.
Rivers has had an impact on every team he’s been a part of. He set a school record of 2,957 points while at Winter Park.
Austin Rivers
Winter Park High School
Impact Statement
Rivers has had an impact on every team he’s been a part of. He set a school record of 2,957 points while at Winter Park.
Biography
The 6-foot-4 point guard led Winter Park to its second consecutive 6A state title, averaging 28.6 points, 5.9 rebounds and 2 assists per game. The Duke University commitment scored 2,957 points in his career.
His biggest games as a senior included a 46-point performance against Montverde Academy and a 38-point outing against highly-ranked Elizabeth (N.J.) St. Patrick High. Named the Morgan Wootten Player of the Year by McDonald’s, Rivers had 14 points, five rebounds and four assists in the McDonald’s All-American Game.
A four-time First Team All-State selection, Rivers was named the Naismith High School Player of the Year, and Player of the Year by Parade and USA Today. He also averaged 20.2 points and 2 steals per game to lead the USA Basketball Under-19 National Team that won the FIBA Americas World Championship in 2010.
The son of Boston Celtics head coach Glenn “Doc” Rivers, Austin Rivers will become the third collegiate athlete in his family next year. His brother, Jeremiah, was a senior starter at Indiana University this season and his sister, Callie, is a standout volleyball player at the University of Florida.
Rivers only spent one season at Duke as he entered the 2012 NBA Draft. He was the 10th overall pick, selected by the New Orleans Hornets (now Pelicans). He made his NBA debut in the season opener. He spent three season in New Orleans before being traded to the Los Angeles Clippers.
Rivers is the first player to be coached in the NBA by his father, Doc Rivers. He played for the Clippers for another three seasons before being traded to the Washington Wizards for a brief stint before ending up in Houston. He is currently a Rocket.
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Professional Achievements
Ames High School
“Believe in yourself no matter what. When you have a dream there’s only one person who can achieve it.”
-Harrison Barnes
“Believe in yourself no matter what. When you have a dream there’s only one person who can achieve it.”
-Harrison Barnes
Harrison Barnes
Ames High School
Impact Statement
“Believe in yourself no matter what. When you have a dream there’s only one person who can achieve it.”
-Harrison Barnes
Biography
Some are calling Ames High, which has gone 53-0 the last two years and won back-to-back 4A state titles, the greatest boys’ basketball team in Iowa high school history. Barnes, a 6-foot-8, 210-pound forward and a University of North Carolina recruit, is the main reason. Barnes was named Player of the Year by USA Today and earned Mr. Basketball honors from ESPN RISE – the first Iowa player to earn the honor in the award’s 56-year history – after averaging 26.1 points, 10 rebounds, 3.1 steals and three assists per game.
Barnes was named the state tournament MVP after averaging 19.7 points in three Ames double-digit tourney wins and the Little Cyclones (27-0) finished with a No. 3 ranking from USA Today and a No. 10 ranking from ESPN RISE. He also earned MVP honors in the McDonald’s All-American Game (18 points, 7-of-10 shooting, five rebounds) and the Jordan Brand Classic (20 points, 15 rebounds), and hit a three-pointer and led a fourth-quarter rally to help the USA Junior National Select team to victory in the Nike Hoop Summit.
Barnes was name as the ACC Rookie of the Year his freshman year as a Tar Heel. He then declared his intent to enter the 2012 NBA Draft, where he was the 7th overall pick by the Golden State Warriors. He was named to the NBA’s All Rookie team and was a member of the 2015 NBA Championship Team.
Barnes was traded to the Dallas Mavericks in 2016, where he played until 2019. Barnes was traded to the Sacramento Kings and signed a four year extension.
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Professional Achievements
South Atlanta High School
Favors went from the basketball courts of Georgia to New Jersey to Utah to Louisiana thus far in his career.
Favors went from the basketball courts of Georgia to New Jersey to Utah to Louisiana thus far in his career.
Derrick Favors
South Atlanta High School
Impact Statement
Favors went from the basketball courts of Georgia to New Jersey to Utah to Louisiana thus far in his career.
Biography
The 6-foot-9, 235-pound power forward, a Georgia Tech recruit, averaged 28.1 points, 13.3 rebounds, five blocks, four steals and three assists per game while leading South Atlanta to a 29-3 record and the Class 3A state championship as a senior. In the Hornets’ 81-62 championship-game victory over Albany Westover High, Favors racked up 38 points, 15 rebounds, eight blocks and four assists. Considered by many the nation’s top recruit, Favors followed up his state championship season with three other national honors.
He was named National Player of the Year by USA Today and Parade Magazine, and also claimed Most Valuable Player honors in the McDonald’s All-America high school basketball game. Playing just 18 minutes, Favors scored a team-high 19 points, shooting 9-of-13 from the field, and snared a game-high eight rebounds to rally the East team past the West, 113-110.
Favors played one season for Georgia Tech before entering the draft. He was the ACC Rookie of the Year and made the ACC All Rookie Team. He entered the 2010 NBA Draft and was the third overall pick by the New Jersey Nets.
After a year Favors was traded to the Utah Jazz where he remained until 2019 when he was traded to the New Orleans Pelicans.
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Personal Honors
St. Benedict's Preparatory School
Samuels led St. Benedict’s to a 24-1 record and the No. 2 spot in the USA Today Super 25.
Samuels led St. Benedict’s to a 24-1 record and the No. 2 spot in the USA Today Super 25.
Samardo Samuels
St. Benedict's Preparatory School
Impact Statement
Samuels led St. Benedict’s to a 24-1 record and the No. 2 spot in the USA Today Super 25.
Biography
The 6-foot-9 power forward had a spectacular senior season, averaging 24.2 points, 10.7 rebounds and 4.1 blocked shots per game while shooting 67 per cent from the floor. He led St. Benedict’s to a 24-1 record and the No. 2 spot in the USA Today Super 25.
A member of the USA Today All-USA First Team, Samuels was selected by the newspaper as its Player of the Year. He also was a Parade magazine First Team All-American, a McDonalds All-American and the New Jersey Gatorade Player of the Year.
The University of Louisville commitment was voted the Most Valuable Player of three major tournaments this season: the City of Palms Classic in Fort Myers, Fla., the Bojangles Shootout in Charlotte, N.C. and the Nike Super Six in New York City.
Samuels played for two years for Louisville before deferring eligibility to go into the 2010 NBA Draft. Samuels played in Cleveland from 2010 until 2013 and has since been playing overseas.
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Professional Achievements
Personal Honors
Lake Oswego High School
“Take your time. It’s the biggest decision of your young life.”
-Kevin Love, on college recruiting
“Take your time. It’s the biggest decision of your young life.”
-Kevin Love, on college recruiting
Kevin Love
Lake Oswego High School
Impact Statement
“Take your time. It’s the biggest decision of your young life.”
-Kevin Love, on college recruiting
Biography
The 6-foot-10 power forward led Lake Oswego to the 2005 Class 6A state championship and scored 813 points, a state record for a junior. He exceeded that as a senior, averaging 33 points, 17 rebounds, four assists and three blocks per game while shooting 67 per cent from the field as he led the Lakers back to the state title game.
His 2,628 career points broke the state record that had stood for 50 years, and he became the first Oregon boys player to earn state Player of the Year honors three times. Love, whose father, Stan, played for the NBA’s Baltimore Bullets and Los Angeles Lakers, was the Gatorade National Player of the Year, and also was named Player of the Year by Parade magazine and USA Today. He will attend UCLA.
Love played for UCLA one season and led the Bruins to the Final Four. He was named the Pac-10 Freshman of the Year.
In 2008, Love was the 5th pick in the first round at the NBA Draft by the Minnesota Timberwolves. Love played with the Timberwolves until 2014 when he was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers. He was part of the 2016 Championship team that ended Cleveland’s 52 year drought.
In addition, Love won a Gold medal at the 2012 Olympic Games. He also won Gold at the FIBA Games in Turkey in 2010.
In June of 2020, Love was honored with the Arthur Ashe Courage Award at the ESPY’s. This award is presented to an individual(s) whose contributions “transcend sports”.
Photos
Articles
Community Service
The Kevin Love Fund, is joining in the fight to prioritize mental wellness alongside physical health.
Records
Professional Achievements
Personal Honors
Lawrence North High School
“I am a basketball player through and through and I got my degree, but I don’t want to be looked at as just a basketball player.” -Greg Oden
“I am a basketball player through and through and I got my degree, but I don’t want to be looked at as just a basketball player.” -Greg Oden
Greg Oden
Lawrence North High School
Impact Statement
“I am a basketball player through and through and I got my degree, but I don’t want to be looked at as just a basketball player.” -Greg Oden
Biography
The 7-foot center is the second player in two years from the talent-rich Indianapolis area to be named NHSCA National High School Senior Boys Basketball Athlete of the Year. Oden averaged 22 points and 10.5 rebounds per game as a senior, shooting 74 per cent from the field, and led Lawrence North to three consecutive Class 4A state titles, a feat accomplished by just two other Indiana schools.
A two-time USA Today and Gatorade National Player of the Year, Oden also was named Player of the Year by the James Naismith Foundation and Parade magazine. He will attend Ohio State University.
Oden only played one season as a Buckeye in which Ohio State finished second at the NCAA Division I Championships. Oden was the #1 overall draft pick in 2007, landing with the Portland Trailblazers. Oden was plagued by injuries to his knee throughout his career.
He has recently re-enrolled at Ohio State and graduated in the spring of 2019 with his Bachelor’s degree. Oden was recently hired as an athlete adviser and hopes to help future athletes with the nuances of a career in sports.
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Professional Achievements
Personal Honors
Carmel High School
One of the nation’s top prospects, McRoberts played fourteen years in the NBA.
One of the nation’s top prospects, McRoberts played fourteen years in the NBA.
Josh McRoberts
Carmel High School
Impact Statement
One of the nation’s top prospects, McRoberts played fourteen years in the NBA.
Biography
The 6-foot-10, 240-pound McRoberts is one of the nation’s top post players. A three-time All-State selection, the Duke University recruit averaged 17.9 points, 11.4 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 2.9 blocks per game as a senior. McRoberts was the MVP of the prestigious Nike All-American Camp in 2004 and also starred in the McDonald’s All-American Game this spring. Shooting 7-of-8 from the field, including a pair of three-pointers, McRoberts scored 17 points and grabbed 12 rebounds to lead the East squad to a 115-110 victory, also earning MVP honors.
McRoberts went on to play basketball at Duke with the 2005 NHSCA Football Athlete of the Year for two years before declaring himself eligible for the NBA Draft in 2007. He was selected by the Portland Trailblazers as the 37th selection. He played in the NBA from 2008 until his 2018 when he was placed on the inactive list.
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Professional Achievements
Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy
“Basketball has brought me a lot of joy, brought me a lot of good things. Just that side of it has really affected me.” -Dwight Howard
“Basketball has brought me a lot of joy, brought me a lot of good things. Just that side of it has really affected me.” -Dwight Howard
Dwight Howard
Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy
Impact Statement
“Basketball has brought me a lot of joy, brought me a lot of good things. Just that side of it has really affected me.” -Dwight Howard
Biography
On the basketball court, the NHSCA Senior Athlete of the Year is Dwight Howard of Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy . Howard, who has declared for the NBA draft and is a projected top five selection, has received numerous national player of the year awards. He finished his high school career with 2,146 points, 1,728 rebounds and 811 blocks.
As a senior in high school the 6’10” Howard led his team to the Class 1A Georgia state championship. averaging 25.5 points, 18.3 rebound, 3.5 assists and eight blocks per game at center.
Howard was indeed the #1 draft pick in 2004 by the Orlando Magic. He played with the Magic until 2014 when he was traded to the Lakers for a season, to the Houston Rockets from 2013-2016, to the Hawks for the 2016-17 season, to the Charlotte Hornets for the 2017-18 season to Wizards for the 2018-19 season before heading back to LA Lakers in 2019.
He is an eight-time All Star and was named five times as All-NBA First Team member.
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Professional Achievements
Deering High School
“If you truly dedicate yourself, when March rolls around you will always have an edge over your opponents who took short cuts and didn’t make the same sacrifices.”
“If you truly dedicate yourself, when March rolls around you will always have an edge over your opponents who took short cuts and didn’t make the same sacrifices.”
Nik Caner-Medley
Deering High School
Impact Statement
“If you truly dedicate yourself, when March rolls around you will always have an edge over your opponents who took short cuts and didn’t make the same sacrifices.”
Biography
“”Athletes like Nik Caner-Medley are among the success stories produced in high school athletics today,” NHSCA executive director Bob Ferraro said. “He has worked extremely hard to develop his skills and has become one of the best basketball players not only in the state of Maine, but the entire nation, and we are proud to be honoring him.”
A 6-foot-7 small forward, Caner-Medley was named his state’s Mr. Basketball as well as its Gatorade Player of the Year after averaging 34.6 points and 15.4 rebounds per game this season. He led Deering High to a pair of Western Class A state titles and earned an invitational to the Capital Classic all-star game in Washington, D.C.
After starring at the adidas ABCD Camp last summer, Caner-Medley earned plenty of scholarship offers, selecting reigning NCAA champion Maryland over Missouri, UConn, Kansas, and Virginia. Sports Illustrated magazine also recognized Caner-Medley’s distinguished career with a mention in its “Faces in the Crowd” section this year.
Caner-Medley is one of five Terrapin’s to score more then 1500 points, assist over 200 times and have over 500 rebounds during his tenure at Maryland.
Though Caner-Medley has never played in the NBA, he has had an illustrious career playing overseas. He has played on teams in France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Kazakhstan, and Spain.
Caner-Medley just signed with Cyberdyne Ibaraki Robot, a team in the B2 league of Japan. He is contracted until 2021.
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Professional Achievements
Personal Honors
Northwestern High School
“Make a decision and be content with your choice and make it happen” -Kelvin Torbert
“Make a decision and be content with your choice and make it happen” -Kelvin Torbert
Kelvin Torbert
Northwestern High School
Impact Statement
“Make a decision and be content with your choice and make it happen” -Kelvin Torbert
Biography
“Athletes like Kelvin Torbert are among the success stories produced in high school athletics today,” NHSCA executive director Bob Ferraro said. “He has worked extremely hard to develop his skills and has become one of the best basketball players not only in the state of Michigan, but the entire nation, and we are proud to be honoring him.”
The 6-foot-4, 215-pound Torbert, who will attend Michigan State University, ended his career as Northwestern High’s all-time leading scorer with 1,978 points. As a senior, he averaged 26 points, 8.2 rebounds, 3.8 blocked shots, 3.5 assists, and 2.5 steals per game, shooting 52 per cent from the floor. He was selected as the Gatorade High School Player of the Year and was a USA Today First Team selection.
After his four years at Michigan State, Torbert went on to spend the following years playing in the NBA until 2012.
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Professional Achievements
Personal Honors
Coronado High School
Spivey aided Coronado High School during his high school career and continued to do so at Sacred Heart University.
Spivey aided Coronado High School during his high school career and continued to do so at Sacred Heart University.
Zach Spivey
Coronado High School
Impact Statement
Spivey aided Coronado High School during his high school career and continued to do so at Sacred Heart University.
Biography
The 6-feet-10, 225-pound Spivey was voted his district’s Class 5A Most Valuable Player as a senior after averaging 13 points, 8 rebounds, and nearly 4 blocked shots per game.
A member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, he has accepted a scholarship to Sacred Heart University.
“Athletes like Zach Spivey are among the success stories produced in high school athletics today,” NHSCA executive director Bob Ferraro said. “He has worked extremely hard to develop his skills and has become one of the best athletes not only in the state of Texas, but the entire nation, and we are proud to be honoring him.”
Spivey was a four year starter for Sacred Heart University.
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Personal Honors
South Central High School
This past season Coach Chery led South Central to the Class 4A State Championship, the first in the school’s history!
This past season Coach Chery led South Central to the Class 4A State Championship, the first in the school’s history!
Chris Cherry
South Central High School
Impact Statement
This past season Coach Chery led South Central to the Class 4A State Championship, the first in the school’s history!
Biography
This past season, Coach Cherry led South Central to the Class 4A state championship, the first in the school’s history.
The team capped off the season finishing 6th on USA TODAY Super 25 rankings with a 30-1 record. In eight of the nine years as South Central’s head coach, Cherry’s teams have won at least 20 games. His career record in 20 years as a head coach is 455-103 with 15 regular season conference championships.
Cherry led South Central to a Class 3A state runner-up finish in 2011. When he was head coach at Plymouth High School (North Carolina), he led the school to a state runner-up finish in Class 1A.
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Records
Blanche Ely High School
I’m always looking to get better!
I’m always looking to get better!
Melvin Randall
Blanche Ely High School
Impact Statement
I’m always looking to get better!
Biography
Melvin Randall led Blanche Ely High School to its third Florida 7A championship in the last four years during the 2014-15 season. His team finished 28-0 and was ranked in the Top 5 of several national ranking services. His team played in the Dick’s Sporting Goods National in April, losing its only game of the season in the quarterfinals to Nevada-power Findlay Prep. Coach Randall has won six Florida state basketball titles (four at Blanche Ely and two at Deerfield Beach) during his 23-years as a head basketball coach in the state. His overall coaching record is 482-141. Randall also named All-USA Boys Basketball Coach of the Year. Coach Randall is the first coach from Florida to win the NHSCA’s National Boys’ Basketball Coach of the Year Award.
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Professional Achievements
Personal Honors
Miller Grove High School
White continues to make an impact on each team he’s a part of.
White continues to make an impact on each team he’s a part of.
Sharman White
Miller Grove High School
Impact Statement
White continues to make an impact on each team he’s a part of.
Biography
This past season, Coach White led Miller Grove to its seventh Georgia state basketball championship in eight years with a 30-2 season record.
In the past decade at Miller Grove, White complied an overall record of 264-47. Throughout his tenure as a coach, he amassed a record of 372-90.
White, who in 2014 was named the USA TODAY All-USA Coach of the Year, was recently named as an assistant coach for the 2016 USA Basketball Men’s U17 World Championship Team that will compete in the FIBA World Championship. He won two gold medals with USA Basketball in the past (U16 and U17).
He was recently named the new assistant coach at Georgia State University.
Since being honored, White only remained at GSU for two season before being hired as the head coach at Pace Academy in 2018. Within two season under White’s direction, Pace brought home it’s third ever state championships with a 48-35 victory over Jefferson in early 2020.
On November 12, 2019, Miller Grove High School named the court in White’s honor.
In 2020, White will head his ninth USA Basketball coaching assignment. He will be the head coach of the 2020 USA Nike Hoop Summit Team. White was an assistant coach in 2019, where the U16 National Team won a gold medal at the World Cup.
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Records
Chino Hills High School
“If you want to be a good shooter, you’ve got to shoot.” -Lonzo Ball
“If you want to be a good shooter, you’ve got to shoot.” -Lonzo Ball
Lonzo Ball
Chino Hills High School
Impact Statement
“If you want to be a good shooter, you’ve got to shoot.” -Lonzo Ball
Biography
Lonzo Ball led Chino Hills to the #1 ranking in the nation during his season year.
Chino Hills, led by Ball captured the State Championships by a margin of 20 points over De La Salle. This season the team finished 35-0 with many thanks to the talented Ball brothers whom Lonzo shared the court with. Ball averaged 25.4 points per game, 12.9 assists and 11.5 rebounds per game.
Ball has won many national awards including the Nasmith National Player of the Year Award and was a participant in the elusive McDonald’s game held in Chicago. He will continue both his basketball career and academics at UCLA in the fall.
His freshman year, Ball earned First Team All-America honors. He broke the UCLA record for most assists and lead the nation with 274.
After one season at UCLA, Ball entered the NBA Draft. He was the second overall pick by the Los Angeles Lakers in 2017. He was selected to the 2018 All Rookie Second Team. In 2019, Ball was traded to the New Orleans Pelicans, where he currently plays.
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