Kentucky's Patrick Patterson and Cincinnati's Lance Stephenson have a chance to put their respective high schools in elite company tonight at the NBA Draft in New York.
Barring a draft-night surprise, both are expected to be selected in the first round. Should that transpire, Patterson and Stephenson will give Huntington (Huntington, W.Va.) and Lincoln (Brooklyn, N.Y.), respectively, multiple first-round draft picks since 2004.
In the 10 drafts prior to the 2010 edition, 22 high schools produced two or more top 30 selections.
Lance Stephenson could join Sebastian Telfair as a first-round pick out of Brooklyn's Lincoln High School on Wednesday night.
Photo by Lonnie Webb
Both hopefuls will follow prominent players from their high school into the NBA.
Patterson played with current Memphis Grizzlies guard O.J. Mayo for a year at Huntington, winning a state title. Mayo beat Patterson to the NBA after spending just a year at USC.
Stephenson replaced Sebastian Telfair as the next big thing at a school that also claims Stephon Marbury. While they didn't play together at the Brooklyn powerhouse, Stephenson also replaced Telfair as the Empire State's all-time leading scorer.
Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.) is the leader when it comes to high schools churning out first-round talent en masse. While most of Oak Hill's student-athletes start their careers elsewhere, seven top 30 picks coming through the program since 2001 is an impressive run no matter how it's viewed.
Carmelo Anthony (2003 draftee), Michael Beasley (2008), Brandon Jennings (2009) and Rajon Rondo are a few of head coach Steve Smith's recent pupils at the Virginia school.
The only other schools with more than two first-round picks from 2000 to 2009 are Dominguez (Compton, Calif.) and Rainier Beach (Seattle, Wash.).
Dominguez and Oak Hill Academy have Jennings in common as the current Bucks point guard left the former for the latter prior to his junior season.
Tayshaun Prince and Tyson Chandler also called Dominguez home during their high school days.
Mike Bethea has coached three first-round picks at Rainier Beach.
Photo by Nicholas Koza
Rainier Beach might be the most unlikely pipeline to the pros. A public school in south Seattle with just 524 students, first-rounders Jamal Crawford, Nate Robinson and Terrence Williams all wore the Vikings' blue and orange.
Dominguez and Rainier Beach faced each other at the 2009 King Holiday Hoopfest in Seattle, with the California school winning a classic, 90-84.
Pipelines to the Pros
Archbishop Spalding (Severn, Md.)
Rudy Gay, No. 8, Rockets, 2006
Sasha Pavlovic, No. 19, Jazz, 2003
Blair Academy (Blairstown, N.J.)
* Charlie Villanueva, No. 7, Raptors, 2005
Luol Deng, No. 7, Suns, 2004
Bloomington North (Bloomington, Ind.)
Sean May, No. 13, Bobcats, 2005
Jared Jeffries, No. 11, Wizards, 2002
Brentwood Academy (Brentwood, Tenn.)
Brandan Wright, No. 8, Bobcats, 2007
David Harrison, No. 29, Pacers, 2004
Christ the King (Middle Village, N.Y.)
Speedy Claxton, No. 20, 76ers, 2000
Erick Barkley, No. 28, Blazers, 2000
Detroit Country Day (Beverly Hills, Mich.)
* JaVale McGee, No. 18, Wizards, 2008
Shane Battier, No. 6, Grizzlies, 2001
Dominguez (Compton, Calif.)
* Brandon Jennings, No. 10, Bucks, 2009
Tayshaun Prince, No. 23, Pistons, 2002
Tyson Chandler, No. 2, Clippers, 2001
Episcopal Academy (Newtown Square, Pa.)
Gerald Henderson, No. 12, Bobcats, 2009
Wayne Ellington, No. 28, Timberwolves, 2009
Kimball (Dallas, Texas)
Acie Law IV, No. 11, Hawks, 2007
Jeryl Sasser, No. 22, Magic, 2001
Laurinburg Prep (Laurinburg, N.C.)
* Shawne Williams, No. 17, Pacers, 2006
* Renaldo Balkman, No. 20, Knicks, 2006
Lawrence North (Indianapolis, Ind.)
Greg Oden, No. 1, Blazers, 2007
Mike Conley Jr., No. 4, Grizzlies, 2007
Montrose Christian (Rockville, Md.)
* Kevin Durant, No. 2, Sonics, 2007
* Linas Kleiza, No. 27, Blazers, 2005
Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.)
* Brandon Jennings, No. 10, Bucks, 2009
* Ty Lawson, No. 18, Nuggets, 2009
* Michael Beasley, No. 2, Heat, 2008
* Rajon Rondo, No. 21, Suns, 2006
* Josh Smith, No. 17, Hawks, 2004
* Carmelo Anthony,No. 3, Nuggets, 2003
DeSagana Diop, No. 8, Cavaliers, 2001
Proviso East (Maywood, Ill.)
Shannon Brown, No. 25, Cavaliers, 2006
Steven Hunter, No. 15, Magic, 2001
Rainier Beach (Seattle, Wash.)
Terrence Williams, No. 11, Nets, 2009
Nate Robinson, No. 21, Suns, 2005
Jamal Crawford, No. 8, Cavaliers, 2000
San Joaquin Memorial (Fresno, Calif.)
Brook Lopez, No. 10, Nets, 2008
Robin Lopez, No. 15, Suns, 2008
Seattle Prep (Seattle, Wash.)
Spencer Hawes, No. 10, Kings, 2007
Martell Webster, No. 6, Blazers, 2005
Southwest Atlanta Christian (Atlanta, Ga.)
Javaris Crittenton, No. 19, Lakers, 2007
Dwight Howard, No. 1, Magic, 2004
St. Joseph (Metuchen, N.J.)
* Andrew Bynum, No. 10, Lakers, 2005
Jay Williams, No. 2, Bulls, 2002
St. Mary's (Phoenix, Ariz.)
Jerryd Bayless, No. 11, Pacers, 2008
Channing Frye, No. 8, Knicks, 2005
Washington (Tulsa, Okla.)
Ryan Humphrey, No. 19, Jazz, 2002
Etan Thomas, No. 12, Mavericks, 2000
Washington Union (Fresno, Calif.)
Chris Jefferies, No. 27, Lakers, 2002
DeShawn Stevenson, No. 23, Jazz, 2000
* Attended multiple schools
