NBA BASKETBALL
High-Schoolers Finding Success going Pro
<January 10, 2002>

By Darren Miles

Webster's Dictionary lists the adjective definition of patient as "tolerating delay, provocation, annoyance, etc., without complaint or anger." NBA general managers, head coaches and even fans should take note of this interpretation especially when it comes to the league's fastest growing phenomenon-high school ballers.

Much has been made about the NBA robbing the cradle of America's high schools and forsaking the importance of a college education in an attempt to fortify their line-up a few years down the road. Wishful thinking? Maybe not. When examining the active players in the league that skipped campus life for immediate riches, an odd but seemingly consistent formula occurs over and over again. For those teams interested in taking a gamble on immature yet spirited talent, the third season of play seems to be the watershed for NBA excellence.

With youngsters Tyson Chandler and Eddy Curry for the Bulls and Wizard Kwame Brown attempting to bust out of mediocrity and the Clippers' Darius Miles on the cusp of NBA all-stardom, a closer look at those who have proved profitable to the front office is merited.

The Indiana Pacers are the first team that jumps out upon reflection as they carry three players that skipped college. Forward Jermaine O'Neal is the most experienced, playing in his sixth year but he had a humble beginning after coming out of East Claire High School in South Carolina. O'Neal began with Portland where he played well but was stifled by the strike season and lack of opportunity before blowing people out in Indiana. During that breakout season he scored 12.9 points and just under 10 rebounds per game.

Forward Al Harrington left St. Patrick's High School four years ago and his career follows the three year formula almost verbatim. After setting aside his rookie season of 1998-99 due to the strike shortened season, he put up respectable numbers his next two season before exploding this season doubling his scoring average to 13.5 points per game and upping his rebounds to 6.3 per game.

The final forward from the Hoosier State, third year player Jonathan Bender, is following the phenomena this season. He has doubled his points per game, rebounds per game while tripling his minutes played from his rookie season.

Alief Elsik High School in Texas can boast preparing forward Rashard Lewis for the NBA and the Seattle Sonics. Lewis' rookie year he scored 2.4 points and 1.3 rebounds per game before absolutely transforming himself last season-his third. He scored 14.8 points and pulled down 6.9 boards a game while transforming the "new-look" Sonics.

Possibly the most high profile, or perhaps the highest paid, among this group is Tracy McGrady who currently creates magic in Orlando. T-Mac put up very good numbers his rookie year in Toronto with 7 points per game in 18.4 minutes. But alas, he would double both of those stats during his third year throwing down over 15 points per game. McGrady earns an asterisk, though, as Toronto let him go to make room for some guy that actually went to college - Vince somebody - and he added another 10 points per game in Orlando.

This study would not be complete without examining the "old-timers" that left high school before it was in vogue. Shawn Kemp made the jump in 1989 and was successful from the start playing in 81 games and scoring 6.5 per game. He more than doubled that his next season. But even Kemp is not immune from the three-year bug. It was in his third season that he flourished, adding 10.4 rebounds per game with his 15.5 points.

The other exception is Kevin Garnett. He stormed out of the Farragut Academy in Chicago in1995 and shocked the NBA establishment posting sick numbers. 10.4 points and 6.3 rebounds per game made up his rookie year and became the first new face of what would be the post-Jordan era (well we thought). But Garnett also bloomed his third year scoring 18.5 points per game and breaking the 10 rebound per game plateau. Garnett has also started every game his team has played since then.

So what does it all mean? Should teams jump at talented high school athletes and bank on a three-year return? Or do these players thrive after three years because that would have been the equivalent to three plus years of vital college experience had they stayed the usual course for successful players? For now these questions are moot as GMs will continue to gamble with young players' futures as long as it translates into the almighty Win-no matter what year it comes.