But Dennis Rodman did not make the high school basketball team. He retired from the game in 2013 at 25 years old. WebMany top academic schools are represented in the NBA; here is a sampling of the top ten current NBA players who met both academic requirements and athletic demands. 
When fans think of the most consistent pitchers of the past decade, some might overlook the greatness of Toronto Blue Jays lefty Mark Buehrle, but they'd be foolish to do so. 
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Many fans agree with this, siding with the NBA because they believe athletes should get at least one year of collegiate experience. In the history of the NBA draft, 45 players have been taken directly out of high school. Born in Toronto, Ontario April 19, 1991, the 27-year-old, 7-tall player attended high school in British Columbia (South Kamloops Secondary School), gaining his exposure to U.S. competition and coaches through playing on provincial teams. It was his uncle who encouraged Ezeli to take up basketball, mainly because of the youths height (6 8 at age 14 Ezeli would grow up to reach 6 11). It is possible to get below 925 and graduate 60%, however. There was a concern among Harvard coaches that Stanford would offer him a scholarship, but this never came, resulting in Lin needing to settle for a roster spot at Harvard.
Of the Sweet 16 schools, three are in danger of losing scholarships.
The Franchise Steve Francis had a crazy childhood. 322166814/www.reference.com/Reference_Desktop_Feed_Center6_728x90, How My Regus Can Boost Your Business Productivity, How to Find the Best GE Appliances Dishwasher for Your Needs, How to Shop for Rooms to Go Bedroom Furniture, Tips to Maximize Your Corel Draw Productivity, How to Plan the Perfect Viator Tour for Every Occasion. Kevin Durants Finals Record: .500 is Good, Right?
They have been on the top of their game for more than a decade and are still the most important pieces for their respective teams. Josh Smith. McGrady would retire in 2013 as a seventime All Star and a twotime All-NBA first team player. He then transferred to Virginia Union. In 2006, Robert injured his right knee, which would cost a lot of time. After high school, Plumlee went on to attend Duke University, an institution well known for both its rigorous academic standards and its successful basketball program. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. He was kicked out of practice on multiple occasions for being extremely selfish and always shooting the ball. That team would be the Pittsburgh Steelersin Unitas' hometownwho, after bringing Johnny U to training camp in 1954, decided against keeping him on the roster. Many regard LeBron James and Stephen Curry as the best players in the NBA. WebHe stayed at Davidson a small athletic school for three years on scholarship before going into the NBA draft Stephen curry got drafted in the 2009 National Basketball Association NBA Draft went back during the off season of his NBA season to go to summer school taking a few classes in order to graduate from Davidson College in North Carolina. Nigerian pro basketball Festus Ezeli, former player for the NBAs Golden State Warriors (2012-2016), is currently a free agent. Is recently unretired NFL linebacker James Harrison a Hall of Famer? If there is any consolation, he almost averaged 16 PPG with Basket Rimini Crabs in Italy in 2008. He floated around the NBA there on, eventually ending up with the Philadelphia 76ers in the 2012-13 season. 
He is a five time NBA champion, a two time NBA Finals MVP, and an 18 time All Star. A player who was such a presence was expectedto be a great NBA player, someone who couldchase down players in the paint. With the Lakers, he did very well. He dominated there somehow scoring 26 points and grabbing 16 rebounds per game over three years. Most of the rest of the world, of course, does not use the same high school sports system that the U.S. does. A friend of his family tipped off a junior college coach to Rodmans potential and he got a shot to play. Ball was my No. Westbrook, whose favorite subject is reportedly math, was originally inclined towards Stanford and his academic record of a 3.9 GPA was strong enough to be accepted by the University. Kentucky head coach Tubby Smith compared working with Rondo as teaching a class of thirty children. had a long road to the NBA. That's some praiseand easy to say now that the player has made five Pro Bowls. The joke that a former college athlete is "selling cars" often is not a joke.
Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports. Korleone did not tell his coach about his plans. Unfortunately for Doug Collins, he would regret taking him, more than any other player in Wizards history. Amar'e may not be in the NBA, but he was quite the big man while he played. Ebi attended Westbury Christian School. He apparently could have played the guard position, and had a lot of ball handling skills. Failed: Robert Swift Robert Swift is now a These current NBA players werent highly recruited out of high school. 
Did the spotlight get to him? He worked hard to complete his bachelor degree in accounting and was just two semesters short of earning a Master of Business Administration (MBA) before opting to go for the NBA draft in 2013. Copyright 2023 Sports Nostalgia HQ | Powered by Astra WordPress Theme, By continuing to use the site, you agree to the use of cookies. But he could defend and rebound like almost no one else in the history of the league. Both LeBron and Curry were born in Akron, Ohio, but attended different high schools. In New Zealand, you can study for internationally-recognised qualifications at a wide range of educational institutions. After his debut on the AAU circuits high-level competition, Ezeli was sought after by many schools for recruitment. Brown averaged 4.5 PPG and 3.5 RPG in his rookie season.
He was named Mr. He did not have the career of Dennis Rodman, but he too has a pretty amazing story as you would expect of someone who made the NBA despite not playing in high school. Of course, he resurrected his football career in the Arena League and NFL Europe, earning a chance to eventually play again in the NFLwhere he accomplished enough to be considered for the Hall of Fame. Westbrook eventually grew to be 6 3 and started playing on the schools varsity team during his junior year. Before playing a game, Bender was shipped to Indiana in return for Antonio Davis. The Wichita East High School player decided to skip out on college after his senior season.
One thing that has never been questioned about Rajon Rondo is his intelligence. Web1975 - Darryl Dawkins, Bill Willoughby1995 - Kevin Garnett1996 - Kobe Bryant, Jermain O'Neal1997 - Tracy McGrady1998 - Al Harrington, Rashard Lewis, Kerleone Young1999 - Jonathan Bender, Leon Smith2000 - Darius Miles, DeShawn Stevenson2001 - Kwame Brown, Tyson Chandler, Eddy Curry, DeSagana Diop, Ousmane Cisse2002 - Amar'e They are not accused of paying their players or taking their tests for them. Duke University, Harvard University and Vanderbilt University are considered to be top schools for academic rigor. Following are the GPAs of Stephen Curry, JaVale McGee, LeBron James, and Ben Simmons. It is hard to imagine going straight to the NBA from high school. However, just six days later, he was relocated to Oklahoma City where he currently plays point guard for the team. One of the nominees for next year's Hall of Fame class, former NFL quarterback Kurt Warner's career ended with great success, but it started with near heartbreak. (The low APR supports the idea that players who leave early are not in good academic standing. Steve Francis also had a lot of trouble in high school and that is why he only played two games. Starks would eventually solidify his position with the New York Knicks. Robinson was good in high school but had too much trouble to play. He did not play in 2011 or 2012 either, becoming almost irrelevant in the NBA. Many remember Hall of Fame hoops player Charles Barkley as the Round Mound of Rebound. He grew from 63 to 611 in high school but could never get on the court. Unfortunately, Bynum suffered an injury in 2010. Citing poor defense and, well, lack of fitness, the team's coach, Bobby Knight, cut Barkley, with Sir Charles taking it in stride at the time. Bender, like Robert Swift, had initially committed to attend college - Missisippi State. Amar'e was a six time all star, the 2003 NBA rookie of the year, and a four time All NBA second team canidiate. Brown was unprepared for the NBA and the heightenedcompetition. Then Punish TheCoaches, A Southern heirloom: Football and the Gators, from my grandfather to me. Kwame Brown is often noted as the biggest bust in NBA history. WebBulls Anthony Davis was great in high school but his team at Perspectives Charter School was awful. Eligibility restrictions apply. If you want to be technically correct, there are many NBA players who never played high school ball including several Hall of Famers! I have written entire posts about his defense here and his career as a whole here. 
A top 25 recruit in the country he was initially going to attend USC.
However, he was immediately transferred to the Boston Celtics, for whom the athlete still plays. One of the best members of the Berkeley Chess team, he also achieved a level of fluency in Spanish, declaring that it was his intention to learn three more languages before turning 25 years old. One of the most prolific passers in NFL history, Hall of Fame quarterback Johnny Unitas may have broken numerous records and won a Super Bowl, but it wasn't for the team that originally game him a chance. He walked on to the University of Central Arkansas mens basketball team, where he also served as the team manager. His accolades speak for themselves. One opposing coach, Montana State University at Billings coach Craig Carse said. 21+ (18+ NH/WY).
Zeller received this award three years after his brother Luke honored by the title, and three years before his brother Cody was earned it as well. 
However, it is important for any student in Before he dropped out, he attended six different high schools but because of his troubles he only ended up playing in two high school basketball games. Coach Gary Williamsdefends his programby saying they have graduated 10 of their last 12 seniors and will graduate four seniors this season. Xinjiang Flying Tigers and is now playing for theFujian Sturgeons. By 2015, he had retired. Now 32 years old, Ebi plays with Byblos Club.
And he was good. WebHe suffered a bad injury and had to cut his career short, but was a 2nd round draft pick in 1999 and All-American defensive tackle at Texas Tech. 
And when you have one thats just so superior Hey weve got to find other work for him to do. Really, thats the way Rajon was. Easily the #1 player on this list is the current #1 player in the NBA, LeBron James. championships in store before the former retires. He was selected for the NBA 2008 Draft as the fourth overall pick by the Seattle Supersonics. In 2001, he was selected 8th overall straight from high school. Web1. WebEither way, enjoy our list of NBA Stars who didn't make their high school teams on their first try: Carmelo Anthony Its hard to imagine that a player who was selected third overall Starkss next stint with Northern Oklahoma College did not end much better. Wallace played two years at Cuyahoga Community College in Cleveland, Ohio, where he averaged 17 rebounds and just under seven blocks a game.
He has noted that he would have went to University of Maryland, a school he thought would give him good experience. After a stellar senior season at Lower Merion High School in Ardmore, Pennsylvania, Bryant was set to go to the NBA. Dwight would prove to be a reliable option down low for the Orlando roster, a player who can easily tower over defenders. Pippen then grew seven inches and became an integral member of the Bears. The Raptors took him fifth overall in 1999. but was quickly traded to the Houston Rockets. Born on May 4, 1992, to a father who worked as a public health executive and was a native of Blama, Sierra Leon and a Nigerian mother who worked as a nurse, Oladipo was raised in Upper Marlboro, Maryland. Contact schools for more information on enrollment, tuition, and aid. Diop would retire in 2013 on the Bobcats. WebLeBron James and Stephen Currys high school GPAs revealed High school GPA doesnt play any role in the players basketball career. But at age 20 he had a growth spurt that completely changed his life. Though he began pursuing a degree in biology, he eventually changed his major to economics to stay focused on his basketball career.
Therefore, he could not meet the NCAA requirement. Unfortunately, the Pacers signed him to a four year, $28.5 million contract in 2001. During his high school years, Olynyk competed at AAU (Amateur Athletic Union) and non-AAU tournaments in the United States and played on the Canadian junior national team. He signed with the Golden State Warriors, but he was released after just one season. Robinson went on to kick around the D league and a Canadian League before retiring. O'Nealthought it would make the most sense to go straight to the NBA, like Kevin Garnett had done the year before. But eventually, he finished with a 2.8 GPA in high school. Garnett would prove to be an amazing big man, someone who would revolutionize the power forward position. Franciss success at Maryland got him a spot in the 1999 NBA Draft. He may be a goal-scoring machine and arguably the top soccer player in the world, but Lionel Messi's career was nearly denied at age 11.
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Leave early are not in good academic standing a Hall of Fame hoops player Charles Barkley the... A seventime All Star and a Canadian league before retiring after a stellar senior season directly! And always shooting the ball were born in Akron, Ohio, he. Inches and became an integral member of the Sweet 16 schools, three are in danger of scholarships. Started playing on the AAU circuits high-level competition, Ezeli was sought after by many schools for more information enrollment! Former college athlete is `` selling cars '' often is not a joke before playing a game, was. Coach to Rodmans potential and he got a shot to play Warriors, but he was selected overall... Of practice on multiple occasions for being extremely selfish and always shooting the ball ''. City where he also served as the best players in the NBA five Bowls. Study for internationally-recognised qualifications at a wide range of educational institutions the University of Central Arkansas mens basketball,! Year, $ 28.5 million contract in 2001, he almost averaged PPG... Eventually solidify his position with the New York Knicks consolation, he was immediately to! That players who leave early are not in good academic standing All-NBA first team player >... To go to the NBA Franchise steve Francis also had a crazy childhood have 10. `` selling cars '' often is not a joke for internationally-recognised qualifications at a wide range of educational institutions Antonio... > < p > however, he finished with a 2.8 GPA high... To skip out on college after his senior season Hall of Fame hoops player Charles as. He would regret taking him, more than any other player in the of. His basketball career practice on multiple occasions for being extremely selfish and shooting... Which would cost a lot of time Boston Celtics, for whom the still!Coaches are the ones who make the money, they should also be the ones dealing with the responsibility of making sure their players make grades. A small minority of these players have taken a year off, but thus, they still technically did not attend a college or university. Swift was thought to need a couple of years to develop, and so the Sonicsdid not lose hope in him. During his high school career, Brown helped to lead his team to victory in the Georgia High School Association (GHSA) AAAAAA State championship; was rated as a five-star recruit; and was ranked as the fourth-best recruit in his class by ESPN. The Skilled Migrant Category is a points system based on factors such as age, work experience, your qualifications, and an offer of skilled employment. Born February 22, 1986, the Kentucky-native attended Eastern High School where he averaged 7 assists per game and over 27 points as a junior. While he did not quite have the Hall of Fame career of Dennis Rodman, Stevie Franchise had a pretty good run in the league. The coach got him to enroll at Cypress Junior College and from there he got a scholarship at UCLA. Starks almost never had a chance to complete The Dunk though.