Impact
Records
Tyrone Slaughter
Whitney Young Magnet High School
Impact Statement
Slaughter’s lifetime record is 262-96 with 33 young men gaining college scholarships under his coaching.
Biography
This past season, Tyrone Slaughter led Whitney Young to the Illinois Class 4A state championship, finishing No. 25 in the nation in the USA TODAY Super 25. It was the third time the Dolphins had won a state title under Slaughter, who said after the game, “Everyone on this roster is a star. Everybody on this roster does something that makes our team good.” Coach Slaughter is known for playing one of the toughest schedules in the country year-in and year-out. This year, aside from its rugged Chicago Public League schedule, Whitney Young played teams from six different states. Slaughter’s lifetime record is 262-96 with 33 young men gaining college scholarships under his coaching. Slaughter is the second coach from Illinois to win the Boys’ Basketball Coach of the Year award. Bob Williams of Schaumburg High School won the award in 2001.
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Nathan Hale High School
Porter finished his four-year career in high school with 3,427 points.
Porter finished his four-year career in high school with 3,427 points.
Michael Porter, Jr.
Nathan Hale High School
Impact Statement
Porter finished his four-year career in high school with 3,427 points.
Biography
Michael Porter had an outstanding senior season leading his team to a perfect 29-0 record and a Washington Class 3A state championship.
Porter, who will attend the University of Missouri in the fall, finished the 2016-17 season averaging a double-double with 36.2 points per game and 13.6 rebounds with five assists, 3.2 steals and 2.7 blocks. Porter, who transferred from Father Tolton High School Missouri before his senior season when his father was hired as a coach at the University of Washington, finished his four-year career in high school with 3,427 points.
Gatorade and USA TODAY have also named Porter the Player of the Year, plus he won the Naismith Player of the Year Award as the top college recruit in the nation. Porter maintained an A-average in the classroom, plus he volunteered on behalf of his church’s youth ministry.
Porter is the first athlete from Washington to win the NHSCA Boys’ Basketball Senior Athlete of the Year Award.
Porter played for one season at Missouri after undergoing back surgery. He declared his intent to enter the NBA draft at the conclusion of the NCAA tournament. He was the 14th selection in the first round being scooped up by the Denver Nuggets.
On December 29, Porter made his first career start for the Nuggets.
Photos
Videos
Records
Professional Achievements
Personal Honors
St.Vincent-St. Mary High School
“You have to be able to accept failure to get better.”
–LeBron James
“You have to be able to accept failure to get better.”
–LeBron James
LeBron James
St.Vincent-St. Mary High School
Impact Statement
“You have to be able to accept failure to get better.”
–LeBron James
Biography
LeBron James of St. Vincent – St. Mary High School in Akron, Ohio has been selected the National High School Senior Boys Basketball Athlete of the Year for 2003, the National High School Coaches Association announced today.
“With so many outstanding young athletes in the United States it is truly an achievement when one player can be such a clear choice as the best in his or her sport – Lebron James is that player,” said NHSCA executive director Bob Ferraro. “The NHSCA is proud to honor him as its National High School Senior Boys Basketball Athlete of the Year.”
In a senior season that brought about a new era in press coverage for high school athletics, James never failed to impress anyone that saw him play. Under the most difficult, pressure-filled expectations perhaps ever seen by a high school student-athlete, the nation’s best young basketball player averaged 30.4 points, 9.7 rebounds and five assists a game. During a high school career in which his team won four state titles, James set a new standard with regard to excellence on a prep basketball court.
And in the 2003 NBA draft, the Cleveland Cavaliers made the obvious move official. Many outstanding collegiate and international talents were passed on for James. He was the number 1 over pick.
James remained in Cleveland from 2003 until 2010 when he was traded to the Miami Heat. He remained in Miami until 2014, when he returned to Cleveland for the next 4 years. In 2018, James was traded once again to the Los Angeles Lakers.
James has had an illustrious career to say the least. He also has 3 Olympic medals: a Bronze in 2004, Gold in 2008 and 2012.
Photos
Videos
Community Service
Recognizing the life-changing importance of education, The LeBron James Family Foundation invest its time, resources, and attention in the kids of LeBron's hometown of Akron, Ohio.
www.lebronjamesfamilyfoundation.org/
Records
Professional Achievements
Montwood High School
Harper continues to lead Centennial. He boasts over 1,000 career wins and is the second winningest coach in the nation.
Harper continues to lead Centennial. He boasts over 1,000 career wins and is the second winningest coach in the nation.
Tony Harper
Montwood High School
Impact Statement
Harper continues to lead Centennial. He boasts over 1,000 career wins and is the second winningest coach in the nation.
Biography
Tony Harper is the 2013 National High School Coaches Association’s National High School Boys’ Basketball Coach of the Year after becoming the fourth boys’ basketball coach in America to win 900 wins during the 2012-13 school year.
Harper, who led Montwood to a 27-6 record this past season, ended the year with 908 lifetime victories. He, who took-over at Montwood in 1990, was named the University Interscholastic League’s Texas Boys’ Basketball Coach of the Year in 2012. Montwood named the gymnasium in his honor in 2010.
In April, Harper resigned at Montwood to take the head coaching job at Cathedral High School.
Harper has continued his success on the court since being honored in 2013. He hit another milestone in his coaching journey on February 10, 2017 with a 47-33 victory to garnish his 1,000th career victory. He’s the second winningest coach in the nation.
In 2018, he was inducted into the Texas High School Basketball Hall of Fame.
Photos
Records
Professional Achievements
Wheeler High School
Lipscomb has impacted his players and his community. After stepping away from coaching, he’s now trying to grow the sport with the aide of his podcast.
Lipscomb has impacted his players and his community. After stepping away from coaching, he’s now trying to grow the sport with the aide of his podcast.
Douglas Lipscomb
Wheeler High School
Impact Statement
Lipscomb has impacted his players and his community. After stepping away from coaching, he’s now trying to grow the sport with the aide of his podcast.
Biography
An All-State basketball player in high school and a 1984 graduate of Middle Tennessee State University, Lipscomb served seven seasons as an assistant coach at his alma mater, Gainesville (GA) High, before taking the reins at Wheeler, which finished 4-20 the season prior to his arrival.
He guided the Wildcats to a 15-12 record in his first season, then to the first of his five 5A state championships in 1994. Wheeler claimed four more state titles in the past decade – in 2002, 2003, 2005 and 2009 – and in 2005 became the first Georgia school in 54 years to claim three state titles in a four-year span.
That year, Lipscomb was named National Boys Coach of the Year by StudentSports.com and coached the Boys East squad in the McDonald’s All-American Game. He was named Pinholster Coach of the Year by the Atlanta Tipoff Club in 1995 and 2003 and 5A Coach of the Year by the Georgia Sports Writers Association in 2003, 2005 and 2009.
Lipscomb’s teams have a record of 493-111 and have won 12 region titles, made eight trips to the state’s Final Four and have been nationally ranked by USA Today six times. Over 30 of Lipscomb’s players have earned Division 1 scholarships, and three, Sharif Abdur Rahim (Memphis Grizzlies, Atlanta Hawks, Portland Trail Blazers, Los Angeles Kings), Jamario Davidson (Charlotte Bobcats, Golden State Warriors) and J.J. Hickson (Cleveland Cavaliers), have played in the NBA.
Lipscomb led Wheeler to another state title in 2015, his 6th championships overall, and holds over 600 career victories. After the 2016-2017 season, Lipscomb stepped away from coaching but he’s not that far away. Lipscomb now has a podcast where instead of coaching, he talks about basketball and other related topics on “Real Life Basketball”.
Photos
Records
St. Joseph High school
Montelli led St. Joseph to 878 wins and 11 State Championships over his 50 year career. He is the most winning coach in New England’s basketball history.
Montelli led St. Joseph to 878 wins and 11 State Championships over his 50 year career. He is the most winning coach in New England’s basketball history.
Vito Montelli
St. Joseph High school
Impact Statement
Montelli led St. Joseph to 878 wins and 11 State Championships over his 50 year career. He is the most winning coach in New England’s basketball history.
Biography
The state’s all-time leading winner with a record of 853-329 (a .722 winning percentage), Montelli, 78, the only basketball coach St. Joseph has ever had, completed his 49th season with a record 10th state title. With a 79-53 victory over Fairfield College Preparatory School in the Class LL title game, Montelli’s Cadets (23-3) became the only Connecticut team to win state titles in all four classifications.
He previously coached St. Joseph to five titles in Class L and two each in Class M and Class S. St. Joseph previously won titles in 1975, 1977, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1992, 1993, 1996 and 2001, and have advanced to 16 state title games. That included 10 appearances in a 13-year span from 1985-1997.
In 1992, Montelli was named National Coach of the Year by the National High School Athletic Coaches Association, and in 1995, he was inducted into the Connecticut High School Coaches Association Hall of Fame. In 1998, he received the Gold Key Award when he was inducted into the Connecticut Hall of Fame by the Connecticut Sports Writers Alliance.
In 2002, Montelli received the Frank Maguire Foundation Award from the New York Athletic Club. He was inducted into the New England Basketball Hall of Fame in 2003. He has had 25 players receive McDonald’s All-American recognition, and he coached the East squad in the McDonald’s All-American Game in 1990. He was featured in the Faces in the Crowd section of Sports Illustrated magazine in April.
Montelli coached for an addition year after being honored, retiring after his 50th season and 11th State Championship in 2012. He boasts 878 career victories, the most in all of New England’s history. In 2013, Montelli was presented with the Morgan Wooten Lifetime Achievement Award.
Photos
Records
Professional Achievements
Fairfax High School
“I just want to teach basketball and I’m excited to see the kids learning and improving.”
-Harvey Kitani
“I just want to teach basketball and I’m excited to see the kids learning and improving.”
-Harvey Kitani
Harvey Kitani
Fairfax High School
Impact Statement
“I just want to teach basketball and I’m excited to see the kids learning and improving.”
-Harvey Kitani
Biography
Kitani has guided Fairfax, one of southern California’s storied programs, to the state playoffs in each of his 29 seasons as head coach, as well as several appearances in national rankings.
In 30 years on the bench – his first year was at San Fernando High – he owns a career record of 620-209, including a 607-197 mark at Fairfax. His teams have won 16 league championships, three Los Angeles City championships and two Division 1 state titles. Kitani is a two-time winner of the John R. Wooden Award, as California Coach of the Year in 1999 and as National Coach of the Year in 2004, after guiding Fairfax to the state championship.
He also led Fairfax to the 2007 state title. Kitani earned Coach of the Year honors from the California Coaches Association in 2005. In 2006, he was the head coach of the West team in the McDonald’s All-American Game. Kitani has been part of the coaching staff for the Nike All-American Camp for 10 years and more than 100 of his players have gone on to earn college scholarships.
Since being honored in 2010, Kitani continued to coach Fairfax until he stepped down in May of 2016 after 35 years and a 853-284 record. Kitani also retired from his L.A. Unified School District teaching position. Kitani was hired at Rolling Hills Preparatory prior to the 2016-2017 season as the Head Coach for the Boys’ Basketball team and is the assistant Athletic Director.
Kitani led Rolling Hills Prep to their first CIF Division 5 State Championship. This feat was only completed by one other coach in California’s history.
In 2018 Kitani was named as court coach the USA Men’s U17 World Cup Team Training Camp.
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Articles
Records
Professional Achievements
Archbishop Molloy High school
“I like working with kids this age. You have more effect on them than you do at other ages.”
-Jack Curran
“I like working with kids this age. You have more effect on them than you do at other ages.”
-Jack Curran
Jack Curran
Archbishop Molloy High school
Impact Statement
“I like working with kids this age. You have more effect on them than you do at other ages.”
-Jack Curran
Biography
Curran, 78, just finished his 51st year at Archbishop Molloy where he established Hall of Fame coaching credentials in two sports, boys’ basketball and baseball. After succeeding Lou Carnesecca, who went on to cement his own Hall of Fame career as head coach at St. John’s University, as head coach in 1958, Curran became New York’s all-time leading winner with more than 900 victories. His teams captured five Catholic League city titles. Eight of his players became collegiate All-Americans, five played professionally and over 500 received college scholarships. His baseball teams have won over 1,600 games and 17 city titles.
In 1966 Curran coached Molloy baseball to 68 consecutive victories, a national record that stood for 39 years. Curran is the only coach to be named National Coach of the Year in two different sports: baseball (1988) and boys’ basketball (1990).
The Catholic High School Athletic Association Coach of the Year 22 times in basketball and 25 times in baseball, Curran has been inducted into nine Halls of Fame. In 2007 Curran was the inaugural recipient of the Morgan Wootten Award for basketball coaching excellence.
Curran continued to coach both basketball and baseball until the end of his career. Curran passed away March 14, 2013 as a basketball and baseball legend.
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Articles
Videos
Records
Professional Achievements
Personal Honors
Denver Christian High School
“He has set the standard for high school basketball in the state of Colorado.” — Rudy Carey, East coach
“He has set the standard for high school basketball in the state of Colorado.” — Rudy Carey, East coach
Dick Katte
Denver Christian High School
Impact Statement
“He has set the standard for high school basketball in the state of Colorado.” — Rudy Carey, East coach
Biography
With a 77-60 victory over Lafayette Peak Academy Feb. 20, Katte, 71, Colorado’s all-time leading winner, earned his 800th career victory. He is in his 44th season and is the 10th active coach in the nation to do so. His career record is 803-205 and his teams have won seven state titles, most recently back-to-back Class 3A crowns in 2005 and 2006. He also has a record 22 Denver Metro League crowns even though he hasn’t had a Division 1 player on his roster in 26 years.
A seven-time Coach of the Year selection by the Colorado High School Coaches Association, Katte was inducted into theirHall of Fame in 1999, the Colorado High School Activities Association Hall of Fame in 2000 and the National Federation of State High School Associations Hall of Fame in 2005.
Currently Denver Christian’s assistant principal, Katte was the school’s athletic director for 35 years and also served brief stints as head coach of its football, baseball and track and field teams. He was the Dave Sanders Colorado Coach Award honoree in 2000. The Dave Sanders award was named in honor as the teacher and coach lost his life during the mass shooting at Columbine High School.
Since being honored, Katte continued to lead Denver Christian for another few years until his retirement in 2012. He finished with a career record of 873-233, which is tops in Colorado.
Photos
Records
Professional Achievements
St Anthony High School
“St. Anthony’s is all I’ve ever done. And I think 50 years was enough.”
-Bob Hurley Sr. on life after St. Anthony’s
“St. Anthony’s is all I’ve ever done. And I think 50 years was enough.”
-Bob Hurley Sr. on life after St. Anthony’s
Bob Hurley Sr.
St Anthony High School
Impact Statement
“St. Anthony’s is all I’ve ever done. And I think 50 years was enough.”
-Bob Hurley Sr. on life after St. Anthony’s
Biography
Hurley has become a coaching institution in 35 years at the helm of the St. Anthony’s program. This season he became the first coach in New Jersey’s storied basketball history to record his 900th career victory. His overall record is 901-102 and his teams once compiled a 66-game winning streak, a state record. His teams at St. Anthony have won nine Meet of Champions overall state titles and 24 Parochial B state crowns, both tops among New Jersey schools.
St. Anthony most recently won both titles in 2001, 2002 and 2004, and his 2002 and 2004 teams finished No. 2 in the USA Today Super 25. This year’s team finished 28-1, advanced to the Parochial B final, and was ranked No. 7 by USA Today. Hurley’s sons, Bobby and Danny, starred at Duke University and went on to NBA careers. His program was profiled in a 2004 book, The Miracle of St. Anthony, written by Adrian Wojnarowski.
After being honored in 2007, Hurley remained at St. Anthony’s until the school closed in 2017. Over the years he amassed more then 1,200 wins and 28 State Titles. His teams also won 13 Tournament of Champions.
Upon the school’s closing, Hurley still spends his days on the court. Back to the basics with his wife, Chris. The Hurley’s started and now run an after- school basketball program.
Photos
Articles
Videos
Records
Professional Achievements
Lawrence North High School
“When people think of Lawrence North, they think of Jack Keefer and they think of basketball, because he’s been so successful for so long,” -Mike Penrose, Athletic Director
“When people think of Lawrence North, they think of Jack Keefer and they think of basketball, because he’s been so successful for so long,” -Mike Penrose, Athletic Director
Jack Keefer
Lawrence North High School
Impact Statement
“When people think of Lawrence North, they think of Jack Keefer and they think of basketball, because he’s been so successful for so long,” -Mike Penrose, Athletic Director
Biography
Keefer has been a high school coach for 34 years, and few coaches have enjoyed a three-year run as successful. His Lawrence North team finished 29-0 and won its third consecutive Class 4A state title, a feat only two other schools in Indiana’s distinguished basketball history have matched. Lawrence North finished the season with a 45-game overall winning streak, tying the state record.
Keefer’s team became the first Indiana school in the 25-year history of USA Today’s Boys Basketball Super 25 to finish the season ranked No. 1, and the newspaper also named Keefer its National Coach of the Year. His career record is 583-227 and his teams have won four state titles, six regional titles and 14 sectional titles.
Since being honored in 2006, Keefer continues to lead Lawrence North.
January 29, 2018 was a special night as Lawrence North High School named the gym in Keefer’s honor before the game.
In December of 2019 Keefer recorded his 800th career victory.
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Articles
Videos
Records
Professional Achievements
Dunbar High School
“It was a great, great 47 years for me. If I had the money, I would have paid to be the coach.”
-Robert Hughes
“It was a great, great 47 years for me. If I had the money, I would have paid to be the coach.”
-Robert Hughes
Robert Hughes
Dunbar High School
Impact Statement
“It was a great, great 47 years for me. If I had the money, I would have paid to be the coach.”
-Robert Hughes
Biography
Hughes, 76, retired this season as the nation’s all-time winningest coach with 1,333 victories and a winning percentage of .840. His 47-year coaching career saw him win five state titles overall – in 1993 and 2003 at Dunbar High and in 1963, 1965 and 1967 at Fort Worth Terrell High. He was inducted into the NFHS National High School Hall of Fame in 2003 and also has been enshrined in the Southwestern Athletic Conference Hall of Fame and the Texas Sports Hall of Fame.
Hughes began his career at I.M. Terrell High School, an all-black high school in Fort Worth, Texas in 1958. He coached there until the school was closed in 1973. He then took the job at Dunbar High School where he finished his career in 2005.
He is the winningest coach in America, a record that still stands.
In 2017 Hughes was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame Museum in Springfield, Massachusetts.
Photos
Professional Achievements
Peabody Magnet High School
“Education + Basketball + College = Success”
-Charles Smith’s equation he tells his players
“Education + Basketball + College = Success”
-Charles Smith’s equation he tells his players
Charles Smith
Peabody Magnet High School
Impact Statement
“Education + Basketball + College = Success”
-Charles Smith’s equation he tells his players
Biography
Charles Smith of Peabody Magnet High School in Alexandria, Louisiana is the 2004 Coach of the Year. Smith, who has over 500 coaching wins in his career, led Peabody to its fourth Class 4A boys’ state title and its first national ranking at No. 5 after the school finished with a perfect 41-0 record.
Since honoring Smith in 2004, he has continued to lead the Warhorses on the same path. He has seven state championships under his belt and more then 1,000 wins. During his career over 60 of his players have received college scholarships, an important issue for Coach Smith.
Most recently, in 2020 Smith was selected to coach at the McDonald’s All Star Game in April.
Photos
Articles
Videos
Records
Professional Achievements
Philomath High School
“You couldn’t ask for anything more. When you raise that net up, it is over and there is nothing anyone can do about it. It is a great feeling.” -Dave Garvin
“You couldn’t ask for anything more. When you raise that net up, it is over and there is nothing anyone can do about it. It is a great feeling.” -Dave Garvin
Dave Garvin
Philomath High School
Impact Statement
“You couldn’t ask for anything more. When you raise that net up, it is over and there is nothing anyone can do about it. It is a great feeling.” -Dave Garvin
Biography
“Dave Garvin has put together the type of coaching career that most coaches dream about,” said NHSCA executive director Bob Ferraro. “The NHSCA is proud to honor Dave Garvin as the National High School Boys Basketball Coach of the Year.”
Garvin has twice been named the state of Oregon coach of the year and has led his teams to eight conference titles, six district championships and five state finals appearances. With two state titles under his belt at Philomath, Garvin now has a career coaching mark of 371-231.
Garvin went on to take over the Philomath Girls’ Basketball team from 2013 until he resigned in 2017.
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Loogootee High School
“You become appreciative of your fellow coaches because you know how much work you put into it and you know how much work they put into it.” -Jack Butcher
“You become appreciative of your fellow coaches because you know how much work you put into it and you know how much work they put into it.” -Jack Butcher
Jack Butcher
Loogootee High School
Impact Statement
“You become appreciative of your fellow coaches because you know how much work you put into it and you know how much work they put into it.” -Jack Butcher
Biography
Butcher retired from coaching this year as the all-time leading winner in basketball-crazy Indiana. In 45 seasons as the head coach at Loogootee High, the school from which he himself graduated in 1951 as its all-time leading scorer, Butcher won 806 games, an average of 18 victories per season. Coaching at one of the state’s smallest schools, with a four-year enrollment this year (2002) of 324, Butcher’s 1975 team reached the title game of Indiana’s single-class state tournament and also qualified for the tournament in 1970.
Loogootee High had only two losing seasons during his 45-year career. Butcher was inducted into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame in 1991, and Sports Illustrated magazine also recognized Butcher’s distinguished career with a mention in its “Faces in the Crowd” section this year.
On December 23, 2015, the Indiana Pacer honored Butcher during their Hickory Night, which honors individuals that have contributed to Indiana basketball.
Photos
Records
Professional Achievements
Schaumburg High School
“I knew I wouldn’t be playing organized ball forever. I knew I would be coaching for the rest of my life.” -Bob Williams
“I knew I wouldn’t be playing organized ball forever. I knew I would be coaching for the rest of my life.” -Bob Williams
Bob Williams
Schaumburg High School
Impact Statement
“I knew I wouldn’t be playing organized ball forever. I knew I would be coaching for the rest of my life.” -Bob Williams
Biography
In his 10th season, Williams led Schaumburg High to a 29-3 record and the state’s Class AA basketball championship. Without a Division I prospect on his team, Williams guided the Saxons to a 66-54 championship-game victory over South Holland Thornwood High, which featured 6-foot-11 superstar Eddy Curry who was projected to be a high lottery pick in the upcoming NBA Draft. One Chicago columnist compared Williams’ coaching ability to that of the state’s all-time leading winner, Virgil Fletcher of downstate Collinsville High. He also led Schaumburg High to a fourth-place state finish in 1999 and made the Elite Eight in 2008.
In 2009, Williams retired from Schaumburg as one of the most successful coaches in Illinois history. He complied a career record of 443-273 in 18 seasons while at Schaumburg. Williams then went to West Nile High School for the 2009-2017 season before becoming the Head Coach at the Benedictine Military School in 2017.
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Articles
Records
Professional Achievements
Personal Honors
Dominguez High School
Otis lead Dominguez to five state championships while at the helm.
Otis lead Dominguez to five state championships while at the helm.
Russell Otis
Dominguez High School
Impact Statement
Otis lead Dominguez to five state championships while at the helm.
Biography
“Russell Otis is an outstanding example for successful high school basketball coaches,” NHSCA executive director Bob Ferraro said. “They place a high value on the teamwork skills players learn for success in the classroom and on the field, and we are proud to be honoring him.”
Otis coached Dominguez High to a second consecutive Southern Region Division II state title, led by one of the nation’s great big men, Tyson Chandler. Otis’ team won its final 28 games of the season to finish with a 35-2 record. The Dons finished the season rated No.1 nationally in the USA Today final Super 25 High School Boys Basketball team rankings in 2000.
Otis is the most winningest coach in Dominguez’s history.
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