High school teammates who go on to star in the same sport are plentiful at the professional level, with Alex Smith and Reggie Bush of Helix (Calif.), Eddie Murray and Ozzie Smith of Locke (Los Angeles) and Eddie Johnson and Mark Aguirre of Westinghouse (Chicago) among the more famous duos across the NFL, MLB and NBA.
However there are also a number of high school teammates who take different paths to stardom. MaxPreps presents a list of 25 sets of teammates who played together at the prep level before making their mark in other pro sports.
Trayce Thompson, far left, and brother Klay Thompson, far right, wait for introductions in the 2007-08 CIF state championship game. The Thompsons are among a group of 25 who played prep sports together but starred in different pro sports.
File photo by Dennis Lee
Clayton Kershaw and Matt Stafford
School: Highland Park (Dallas)Years: 2005-06
Kershaw career: In 13 seasons with the Dodgers, Kershaw is an eight-time All-Star, a three-time Cy Young Award winner and led Los Angeles to a World Series championship in 2020.
Stafford career: The No. 1 overall pick in the 2009 NFL draft, Stafford has made one Pro Bowl and has thrown for 43,901 yards.
Together: Kershaw and Stafford both pitched for Highland Park as sophomores in 2004. Stafford did not play baseball the following two seasons while Kershaw was third team all-state as a junior and the Class 4A state Player of the Year as a senior. Stafford was a two-time all-state quarterback and he was the state football Player of the Year as a senior.
Donovan McNabb and Antoine Walker
School: Chicago Mt. Carmel (Chicago)Years: 1993-94
McNabb career: Played 13 seasons in the NFL, made six Pro Bowls and threw for 37,276 yards.
Walker career: Played 13 seasons in the NBA with five different teams. He was a three-time All-Star and won a championship with the Heat.
Together: Mt. Carmel reached the sectional finals two years in a row, losing on a last-second shot both times. In 1994, Walker and McNabb's final season, Brother Rice defeated Mt. Carmel 69-66, leaving the Caravan with a 25-4 record. The next day, Walker committed to play at Kentucky. McNabb had already committed in January to play football at Syracuse. McNabb averaged in double figures as a starter while Walker earned Parade All-American first team honors.
Frank Robinson and Bill Russell
School: McClymonds (Oakland, Calif.)Years: 1951-52
Robinson career: A 14-time All-Star, he was MVP in both the National League and the American League, won the Triple Crown, and is in the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Russell career: Russell won 11 NBA championships and was a 12-time All-Star. Russell is a member of the Basketball and College Basketball halls of fame.
Together: Two of the greatest all-time players in their respective sports were not even among the top three players on the McClymonds team that won the 1952 Northern California TOC. Russell didn't mature until his senior year and he only played 12 games before graduating early at the end of January. Russell was the third-leading scorer on the team when he graduated. Robinson was a starter for McClymonds in the TOC, but wasn't one of the three Warriors to make the all-tournament team (for the record, they were Willie Rock, Ray Goodwin and Robert Hodges).
Andre Rison — Glen Rice
School: Northwestern (Flint, Mich.)Years: 1984-85
Rison career: Played 12 seasons in the NFL and was a five-time Pro Bowl selection. He won a Super Bowl with the Green Bay Packers.
Rice career: An NBA champion with the Lakers in 2000, Rice played 15 seasons in the league and was a three-time All-Star.
Together: Rice was Mr. Basketball in Michigan on a Flint Northwestern team that won the Class A state championship and was considered one of the greatest teams in state history. Rison was the starting point guard on the team and earned second team all-state honors by the Detroit Free Press. Rison was also an all-state receiver in football.
Jason Williams and Randy Moss
School: DuPont (Belle, W.Va.) (now closed)
Years: 1993-94
Williams career: A member of the NBA champion Heat in 2006, Williams played 12 seasons in the NBA.
Moss career: A Hall of Fame receiver, Moss made the Pro Bowl six times and had 156 career touchdown receptions.
Together: Moss and Williams teamed up in basketball and reached the state finals in 1994. Williams was Mr. Basketball in West Virginia in 1994 while Moss was the state Player of the Year in football and basketball during the 1994-95 school year.
Anthony Bennett and Amir GarrettSchool: Findlay Prep (Henderson, Nev.)Years: 2010-11
Bennett career: After one season at UNLV, Bennett was the No. 1 overall pick in the NBA draft in 2013. He played four season in the NBA.
Garrett career: Although he did not play baseball at Findlay Prep, Garrett did play at two other high schools. He has played for the Cincinnati Reds for four seasons as a relief pitcher.
Together: Bennett and Garrett played one year together at Findlay Prep, helping the team post a 28-4 record.
Alex Groza and Lou Groza
School: Martins Ferry (Ohio)Years: 1942
Alex's career: Alex led Kentucky to a pair of NCAA championships and was the Final Four Most Outstanding Player twice. The No. 2 overall pick in the 1949 NBA draft, Groza was a two-time NBA first team All-Pro before he was banned due to his involvement in a college point-shaving scandal.
Lou's career: An offensive lineman and kicker, he played 21 seasons in the NFL. He made the Pro Bowl nine times and is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Together: Martins Ferry was the state Class A champion in 1941 when Lou was a junior and made the all-tournament team. Alex played varsity as a sophomore in 1942 during Lou's senior season. The team started the year 16-0 with Lou averaging 14 points and Alex averaging 12 points per game. Martins Ferry didn't win the state title that year, but Lou made the all-state second team. Alex made the all-state first team two years later as a senior while leading Martins Ferry to the semifinals.
Steve Garvey and Chip Glass
School: Chamberlain (Tampa, Fla.)Years: 1963-64
Garvey's career: One of the premier first basemen in Major League Baseball during the 1970s and 80s, Garvey was a 10-time All-Star and a National League MVP during a 19-year career.
Glass career: Glass played tight end in the NFL, including five seasons with the Browns and one with the Giants.
Together: Garvey was the quarterback at Chamberlain and Glass was his main receiver. Glass earned All-City first team honors by the Tampa Tribune while Garvey was honorable mention. Garvey finished as Chamberlain's leading scorer with 48 points on the season.
Tim Stoddard and Junior Bridgeman
School: East Chicago Washington (Ind.) (closed in 1986)
Years: 1970-71
Stoddard career: In college, Stoddard played in a Final Four in basketball and the College World Series in baseball. He played 15 MLB seasons as a closer, including seven seasons with the Orioles when he won a World Series.
Bridgeman career: Considered one of the top "Sixth Men" in NBA history, Bridgeman played 12 seasons in the league including 10 with the Milwaukee Bucks.
Together: The 1970-71 East Chicago Washington team is considered one of the greatest teams in Indiana high school history after going 29-0 and finishing the season ranked No. 1 in the nation by the National Sports News Service. Bridgeman and Stoddard were both on the state tournament's all-tourney first team along with teammate Pete Trgovich, a future UCLA Bruin. Ironically, Bridgeman was honorable mention all-state while Stoddard made second team and Trgovich made first team.
Hale Irwin and Dick AndersonSchool: Boulder (Colo.)Years: 1962-63
Irwin career: One of the top money winners on the PGA tour during the 1970s, Irwin has won three US Opens. He is the all-time wins leader on the PGA Champions Tour with 45 victories.
Anderson career: A three-time Pro Bowl selection, Anderson was the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 1973 and a member of the NFL's 1970s All-Decade Team.
Together: Irwin and Anderson were a deadly combination in football and basketball at Boulder. Irwin, a senior quarterback, was considered one of the top passers in the state and led Boulder to one of its best seasons in school history at 9-1. He earned All-Northern Colorado honors along with Anderson, a junior defensive back. Anderson and Irwin helped lead the basketball team to its best season in 14 years at 14-4. Anderson was the team's leading scorer while Irwin also started.
Ken Anderson and Dan IsselSchool: Batavia (Ill.)Years: 1965-66
Anderson career: Anderson made the Pro Bowl four times and was the NFL's Most Valuable Player in 1981. He led the NFL in completion percentage three times.
Issel career: Issel played 16 seasons in the NBA and was a seven-time All-Star. He is a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame.
Together: Issel was an All-American while leading Batavia to a sectional championship and a 26-3 record. He averaged 25.8 points per game and signed with Wisconsin. Anderson was a starter on the 1966 team and averaged 16 points per game on the 1967 team that went undefeated in league play.
Ryan Harris and Joe Mauer
School: Cretin-Derham Hall (St. Paul, Minn.)Years: 2000
Harris career: Harris played 10 seasons in the NFL as an offensive lineman and won a Super Bowl as a member of the Denver Broncos.
Mauer career: Mauer played 15 MLB seasons and was a six-time All-Star. He was also a three-time American League batting champion.
Together: Harris was a starting offensive tackle as a sophomore when Mauer was named the USA Today Player of the Year in 2000. Mauer led Cretin-Derham Hall to the state finals before falling to Eden Prairie. As a senior in 2002, Harris was considered one of the top linemen in the nation and the top prospect in Minnesota.
Aaron Pointer, Paul Silas and Wendell Hayes
School: McClymonds (Oakland, Calif.)
Years: 1959-60
Pointer career: Played three seasons for the Houston Colt .45's. He eventually became an NFL referee and is the older brother of the four sisters who formed the musical group "The Pointer Sisters."
Silas career: Silas spent 17 seasons in the NBA, winning three NBA championships (Celtics, Sonics) and making two All-Star games.
Hayes career: Hayes played 12 seasons in the NFL and rushed for 3,758 yards in his career. He won a Super Bowl with the Chiefs.
Together: McClymonds won the Northern California TOC with a win over Acalanes and ended the year with a 46-game win streak. Silas and Pointer both made the all-tournament team along with teammate, and leading scorer, Charles McKinney. Hayes was the starting point guard on the team.
Artimus Parker and Jerry Royster
School: Sacramento (Calif.)Years: 1969-70
Parker career: Played four seasons in the NFL and had five interceptions. He was a consensus All-American at Southern California.
Royster career: Spent 16 seasons in the Major Leagues, batting .249 with 40 home runs and 352 RBI.
Together: Parker and Royster played both football, basketball and baseball together at Sacramento. Parker was the league Player of the Year as a senior and both Parker (WR) and Royster (DB) were named All-City by the Sacramento Bee. Royster also made all-conference in basketball and was one of the top baseball and track stars in the city during the spring.
Drew Barry and Amani ToomerSchool: De La Salle (Concord, Calif.)Years: 1990-91
Barry career: The son of Hall of Famer Rick Barry, Drew played five seasons in the NBA after an All-ACC career at Georgia Tech.
Toomer career: Toomer played 13 seasons in the NFL with the New York Giants, winning one Super Bowl. He had 668 career receptions for 9,497 yards.
Together: While Toomer was one of the top prep wide receivers in the nation, he was also a member of the De La Salle basketball team along with Barry. Toomer was an honorable mention All-Bay Area selection by the San Francisco Examiner while Barry made the second team.
Doug Williams and Barry Larkin
School: Archbishop Moeller (Cincinnati)Years: 1980
Williams career: A second-round pick out of Texas A&M, Williams, an offensive lineman, played six seasons in the NFL with the Oilers.
Larkin career: Larkin played 19 seasons with the Cincinnati Reds, making 12 All-Star games. He was the National League MVP in 1995 and is a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Together: In Gerry Faust's final season, Moeller went 13-0 and earned the No. 1 national ranking. Williams was an all-state offensive lineman and was named the state lineman of the year. Larkin was a junior defensive back on the team and earned all-state honors the following season.
Willie McGinest and Tyus Edney
School: Long Beach Poly (Long Beach, Calif.)Years: 1989-90
McGinest career: The No. 4 overall pick in the 1994 draft, McGinest won three Super Bowls with the Patriots and appeared in two Pro Bowls in 15 seasons in the NFL.
Edney career: Edney had a 15-year career — four seasons in the NBA and 11 overseas. He was the Euroleague Final Four MVP in 1999.
Together: One of the top football players in the country, McGinest was also a talented basketball player. He earned All-South Coast honors while averaging 13.8 points and 12.6 rebounds. Edney averaged 14 points per game in helping Poly go 28-3. He signed a year later to play basketball at UCLA.
Gene Washington and Mack Calvin
School: Long Beach Poly
Years: 1964-65
Washington career: One of the NFL's top receivers during the early 1970s, making four Pro Bowls and four All-Pro teams. He had 385 receptions and 6,856 yards in his career.
Calvin career: A 13-year NBA/ABA veteran, Calvin was a five-time ABA All-Star and is a member of the All-time ABA team.
Together: Calvin and Washington were both members of Poly's 1965 CIF championship team and were named to the All-City team by the Independent Press-Telegram. Chuck Moore of Poly was the Player of the Year, but Calvin was a first-team member while averaging 15.6 points per game. Washington, a forward, was a second-team member and one of the team's top rebounders.
Joseph Forte, Keith Bogans and Brian Westbrook
School: DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.)Years: 1996-97
Forte career: A first-round pick of the Celtics in 2001, Forte played two seasons in the NBA and 12 seasons in Europe.
Bogans career: Played 11 seasons in the NBA with eight different teams.
Westbrook career: Westbrook played for nine seasons in the NFL and rushed for 6,335 yards while making two Pro Bowls.
Together: Westbrook was honorable mention all-state in football as a senior, but he also played on the DeMatha basketball team in 1997 with Forte and Bogans, both of whom were sophomores. Two years later, Forte and Bogans earned Parade Magazine first team All-American honors.
Dan Footman and Carl Everett
School: Hillsborough (Tampa, Fla.)Years: 1988-89
Footman career: A second-round pick in the 1993 NFL draft, he played six seasons in the NFL before an injury ended his career.
Everett career: A two-time MLB All-Star and a World Series champion with the Chicago White Sox, Everett played 14 professional seasons.
Together: Footman was one of the top athletes in the Hillsborough County his senior year while Everett was a junior running back. Footman went on to a solid career at Florida State while Everett was All-County honorable mention in football the following year.
Mike Hershberger and Jim Houston
School: Washington (Massillon, Ohio)Years: 1955-56
Hershberger career: In 11 seasons as a Major League Baseball outfielder, Hershberger batted .252 with 26 home runs and 344 RBI.
Houston career: A 13-year NFL veteran with the Cleveland Browns, Houston made four Pro Bowls. He's also a member of the College Football Hall of Fame as member of the Ohio State Buckeyes.
Together: After finishing No. 1 in the AP poll from 1948 to 1954, Washington (Massillon) finished behind Canton McKinley in 1955 and 1956. Hershberger (a junior) and Houston (a senior) were supposed to play together on the 1955 team, but Hershberger broke his leg early in the season. Houston earned all-state honors as a defensive end while Hershberger returned the following season and earned all-state honors as a defensive back.
Nick Williams and Mike Evans
School: Ball (Galveston, Texas)Years: 2011
Williams career: A second round draft pick by the Phillies, Williams played three seasons in Philadelphia as an outfielder, batting .254.
Evans career: A three-time Pro Bowl player with the Buccaneers, Evans has 507 catches for 7,823 yards in seven seasons.
Together: Despite having two future pro athletes on the team, Ball went just 1-9 in 2010 when both Evans and Williams were on the team. The two also played basketball, however, and led Ball to a 34-4 record with Evans averaging 19 points per game. Williams also played baseball in 2012 and hit 13 home runs.
Damien Richardson and McKay Christensen
School: Clovis West (Fresno, Calif.)Years: 1992-93
Richardson career: Played safety for seven seasons in the NFL with the Carolina Panthers.
Christensen career: Played four seasons in the Major Leagues as an outfielder, batting .250.
Together: Clovis West won the Central Section championship two seasons in a row with Christensen and Richardson leading the way. Christensen was an all-state running back while Richardson played defensive back. Both were named to the Shrine All-Star Game for the summer of 1994. Christensen went on to play baseball at Stanford while Richardson played football at Arizona State.
Trayce Thompson and Klay Thompson
School: Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.)Years: 2007-08
Trayce's career: Trayce has played six seasons at the Major League level with six different teams. The outfielder has batted .206 with 22 home runs.
Klay's career: One of the NBA's top three-point shooters, Thompson is a five-time All-Star and a three-time NBA champion.
Together: Klay's 3-point shooting was on center stage in the 2008 CIF state championship when he hit seven 3s en-route to a 37-point effort in leading Santa Margarita to the championship over Sacramento. Trayce added eight points in the win, including two three-pointers. Klay was named the Division III state Player of the Year by Cal-Hi Sports.
Eric Bieniemy, Mazio Royster, Troy Auzene and J.R. Philips
School: Bishop Amat (La Puente, Calif.)Years: 1985-86
Bieniemy career: After playing nine seasons in the NFL, Bieniemy has been an assistant coach in the NFL for the past 15 seasons.
Royster career: Played three seasons in the NFL with the Buccaneers.
Auzene career: Played five seasons in the NFL, mostly with the Chicago Bears.
Phillip career: Phillips played seven seasons at the Major League level with a .188 batting average and 23 home runs.
Together: Bieniemy had an All-American season in leading Bishop Amat to an 11-1 record and a No. 8 ranking by USA Today before falling to Eisenhower in the second round of the Southern Section playoffs. Bieniemy ran for 2,001 yards and 30 touchdowns while Philips was the quarterback and threw for 919 yards. Auzene was an all-area offensive lineman while Royster was a junior running back who rushed for 707 yards.
