View source for NBA high school draftees

{{Short description|National Basketball Association players}}
The '''NBA high school draftees''' are players who have been drafted to the [[National Basketball Association]] (NBA) straight out of [[high school]]. The process of jumping directly from [[high school basketball]] to the professional level is also known as going '''prep-to-pro'''. Since 2006, drafting high school players has been prohibited by the [[NBA collective bargaining agreement]], which requires that players who enter the [[NBA draft|draft]] be 19 years of age or older and at least one year removed from high school.<ref>{{cite web|last=Nance|first=Roscoe|title=Teen draftees grounded until 19 under new deal|url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/basketball/nba/2005-06-21-teens-cba_x.htm|work=USA Today|date=June 21, 2005|access-date=July 28, 2010}}</ref>

The NBA has long had a preference for players who played [[college basketball]],<ref>{{cite news|last=Knight|first=Athelia|title=NBA Ponders New League; It Would Develop College-Age Players|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=March 23, 2000|page=D1|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/2000/03/23/nba-ponders-new-league/7762f646-b094-48bf-be16-fe0618f92e65/|access-date=13 October 2020}}</ref> and the vast majority of players who play in the NBA attended college beforehand. Out of the thousands of people who have played in the NBA, only forty-one went prep-to-pro, not including international players. 

==History==

===Early years===
In the early years of the [[National Basketball Association draft|NBA draft]], a player had to finish his four-year college eligibility to be eligible for selection. [[Reggie Harding]], who had graduated from high school but did not enroll in a college, became the first player drafted out of high school when the [[Detroit Pistons]] selected him in the fourth round of the [[1962 NBA draft|1962 draft]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=UUc0AAAAIBAJ&sjid=QWUEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5883,5866146|title=Royals Snap Up Lucas|date=March 27, 1962|newspaper=Sarasota Herald-Tribune|access-date=July 28, 2010}}</ref> However, the NBA rules at that time prohibited a high school player to play in the league until one year after his high school class graduated.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=-j0yAAAAIBAJ&sjid=W-UFAAAAIBAJ&pg=4020,137498|title=Pistons Can't Use 7-Foot Prep|newspaper=Lawrence Journal-World|date=July 3, 1962|access-date=July 28, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/suns/news/oneononedebate_080711.html|title=Doesn't the Extra Year Help Teams?|first=Dan|last=Hilton|date=July 14, 2008|access-date=July 28, 2010|work=NBA.com/Suns|publisher=Turner Sports Interactive, Inc}}</ref> Thus, he spent a year playing in a [[minor league]] before he was re-drafted in the [[1963 NBA draft|1963 draft]] by the Pistons.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=JmwUAAAAIBAJ&sjid=agEEAAAAIBAJ&pg=1894,2007295|title=This Game Called What's The Name|date=January 7, 1963|newspaper=Toledo Blade|access-date=July 28, 2010}}</ref> He finally entered the league in the [[1963–64 NBA season|1963–64 season]] and played four seasons in the NBA and [[American Basketball Association]] (ABA).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/h/hardire01.html|title=Reggie Harding Statistics|work=basketball-reference.com|access-date=July 28, 2010}}</ref>

In 1971, the [[U.S. Supreme Court]] decision ''[[Haywood v. National Basketball Association]]'' ruled against the NBA's requirement that a player must wait four years after high school graduation (which in most cases was spent playing in college) before turning professional. This ruling allowed players to enter the NBA draft without waiting four years,<ref name=rhoden_06292016>{{cite news|first=William C.|last=Rhoden|title=Early Entry? One and Done? Thank Spencer Haywood for the Privilege|date=June 29, 2016|newspaper=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/30/sports/basketball/spencer-haywood-rule-nba-draft-underclassmen.html|access-date=May 29, 2022}}</ref> provided they could give evidence of hardship to the NBA office.<ref name=haywood>{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/history/players/haywood_bio.html|title=Spencer Haywood Bio|work=NBA.com|publisher=Turner Sports Interactive, Inc|access-date=July 28, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100901171704/http://www.nba.com/history/players/haywood_bio.html|archive-date=September 1, 2010}}</ref> The NBA's rival, the ABA,  had already instituted a hardship exemption in 1969.<ref>{{cite news|first=Gilbert|last=McGregor|title=Spencer Haywood: The story of a groundbreaking NBA legend, through his words|date=April 22, 2021|work=Sporting News|url=https://www.sportingnews.com/ca/nba/news/spencer-haywood-the-story-of-a-groundbreaking-nba-legend-through-his-own-words/xm5a39ove83bzliofmq46ziy|access-date=May 29, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first=Nick|last=Kosmider|title=Fifty years later, it's time for Denver to give Spencer Haywood his due|date=September 26, 2019|work=The Athletic|url=https://theathletic.com/1234179/2019/09/26/fifty-years-later-its-time-for-denver-to-give-spencer-haywood-his-due/|url-access=subscription|access-date=May 29, 2022|quote=But they had a hardship exception, and Haywood, whose mother raised 10 children while making $2 per day picking cotton in Mississippi, met the criteria.}}</ref> 

[[Moses Malone]] was the first to play professionally directly out of high school in 1974, though with an ABA team before the merger of that association with the NBA. Two high school players, [[Darryl Dawkins]] and [[Bill Willoughby]], applied for hardship and were declared eligible for the [[1975 NBA draft|1975 draft]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=mtoxAAAAIBAJ&sjid=H-UFAAAAIBAJ&pg=5979,1285813|title=Burden, Dantley top list|date=May 9, 1975|newspaper=Lawrence Journal-World|access-date=July 28, 2010}}</ref> They had applied and gave evidence of financial hardship to the league, which granted them the right to start earning a living by starting their professional careers earlier.<ref name=haywood/> Dawkins was selected 5th by the Philadelphia 76ers while Willoughby was selected 19th by the [[Atlanta Hawks]]. Dawkins played 14 seasons and averaged 12 points and 6 rebounds per game. Willoughby played 8 seasons with 6 different teams and averaged only 6 points per game. Neither player reached the level of success that was expected. It is argued that they could have been better players if they had college basketball experience before entering the NBA.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/11/16/sports/why-pros-spent-20-years-shunning-high-schoolers.html|title=Why Pros Spent 20 Years Shunning High Schoolers|first=Chris|last=Broussard|date=November 16, 2003|work=The New York Times|access-date=July 28, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1006749/2/index.htm|title=Hoop Dream|first=Jack|last=McCallum|date=June 26, 1995|magazine=Sports Illustrated|access-date=July 28, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100116053933/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1006749/2/index.htm|archive-date=January 16, 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="garnettdailynews">{{cite web|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/sports/1995/03/22/1995-03-22_garnett_is_no_gem_for_nba.html|title=Garnett Is No Gem For NBA|first=Michael|last=James|date=March 22, 1995|work=Daily News|access-date=July 28, 2010}}</ref>

After Dawkins and Willoughby, no high schoolers were drafted for 14 years, though several players entered the league without playing college basketball. One player, [[Shawn Kemp]], enrolled in college but never played any games due to personal problems. In [[1989 NBA draft|1989]], a year after his high school graduation, he was drafted by the [[Seattle SuperSonics]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/playerfile/shawn_kemp/bio.html |title=Shawn Kemp Bio |work=NBA.com |publisher=Turner Sports Interactive, Inc |access-date=July 28, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040215185218/http://www.nba.com/playerfile/shawn_kemp/bio.html |archive-date=February 15, 2004 }}</ref> He played 14 seasons in the NBA and was selected to 6 All-Star Games and 3 All-NBA Teams.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/k/kempsh01.html|title=Shawn Kemp Statistics|work=basketball-reference.com|access-date=July 28, 2010}}</ref>

===1995–2005===
[[File:Kevin Garnett 2008-01-13.jpg|right|thumb|150px|alt=A man, wearing a green jersey with a word "BOSTON" and the number "5" written in the front, is standing in front of the crowd.|[[Kevin Garnett]]'s high-profile migration from high school to the NBA in 1995 prompted many high schoolers to follow in his footsteps]]
In 1995, [[Kevin Garnett]], ''[[USA Today]]'''s [[USA Today All-USA high school basketball team|high school basketball player of the year]], announced his intentions to forgo college, and declared himself eligible for the [[1995 NBA draft]]. The move was highly controversial; the conventional wisdom at the time was that high-schoolers were neither emotionally nor physically mature enough for the rigors of the NBA game. On draft day, Garnett was selected with the #5 pick in the first round by the [[Minnesota Timberwolves]].  Garnett led the Timberwolves to eight consecutive playoff berths and made 10 All-Star teams in his 12 years with the team.  In 2004, the Wolves advanced to the Western Conference Finals before losing to the Lakers; Garnett was named Most Valuable Player that year. After a trade in the 2007 offseason to the [[Boston Celtics]], he was a core player in the Celtics' [[2008 NBA Finals|first NBA title in over 20 years]].

In [[1996 NBA draft|1996]], two notable players made the jump from high school to the NBA.  The first was [[Kobe Bryant]], selected by the [[Charlotte Hornets]] with the 13th pick of the NBA draft, but traded almost immediately to the [[Los Angeles Lakers]].  The second was [[Jermaine O'Neal]], selected by the Trail Blazers with the 17th pick.  O'Neal was traded in 2000 to the [[Indiana Pacers]] (and later to the [[Miami Heat]]).  In [[1997 NBA draft|1997]], another All-Star caliber player, [[Tracy McGrady]], was selected by the [[Toronto Raptors]].  In [[1998 NBA draft|1998]], three high-schoolers were drafted with [[Al Harrington]] and [[Rashard Lewis]] experiencing the most success. [[Darius Miles]] became the highest high school player selected with the third pick in the [[2000 NBA draft]], until the following year when [[Kwame Brown]] was selected first overall. Further into the 2000s, draftees out of high school who would see success in the NBA included [[Tyson Chandler]] in 2001, [[Amar'e Stoudemire]] in 2002, [[LeBron James]] and [[Kendrick Perkins]] in 2003, [[Dwight Howard]] and [[Shaun Livingston]] in 2004, and [[Andrew Bynum]] in 2005.

===2005–present===
In 2005, both the NBA and the [[National Basketball Players Association|players' union]] started to discuss the possibility of implementing a new age requirement. The league lobbied for an age minimum of 20 while the union was against an age requirement.<ref name="green">{{cite web|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F05E6DB153AF93BA15755C0A9639C8B63|title=Draft Will Close Book on High School Stars|work=The New York Times|date=June 28, 2005|access-date=August 8, 2010|first=Howard|last=Beck}}</ref> Finally in July 2005, both sides compromised in the new [[collective bargaining]] agreement, requiring that the minimum age for entry into the NBA be 19 and that entrants be at least one year removed from high school.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/news/CBA_050730.html|title=NBA Collective Bargaining Agreement Ratified and Signed|date=July 30, 2005|work=NBA.com|publisher=Turner Sports Interactive, Inc|access-date=July 28, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101202233937/http://www.nba.com/news/CBA_050730.html|archive-date=December 2, 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref> 

Some players support the new age limit. [[Gerald Green]] called it "a smart move", saying that "[not everybody is] LeBron James ... He came in ready and he dominated the league. There's a lot of players that have to get developed. Me, I've got to get developed. But I guess that age limit, that one year of college experience, can get you more developed and I think that's pretty good."<ref name="green"/> Others, however, strongly criticize the rule. [[Andrew Bynum]] said "That's something I'll never understand. Because in no other business can the owner, or a stock trader, or a CEO of a company try to protect themselves by putting rules like that."<ref>{{cite news |url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C03E5DC113DF931A25754C0A96F9C8B63|title=Few High School Stars Expected to Follow European Detour to N.B.A. |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=July 12, 2009|access-date=August 8, 2010|first=Pete|last=Thamel |author-link=Pete Thamel }}</ref> Former [[Florida Gators men's basketball|Florida Gators]] and current [[Chicago Bulls]] head coach [[Billy Donovan]] believed that the rule made high schoolers feel like they were being punished.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/20/sports/basketball/20rhoden.html|title=Growing to Appreciate the N.B.A.'s Age Limit|work=The New York Times|date=March 20, 2007|access-date=August 8, 2010|first=William C.|last=Rhoden}}</ref> [[Spencer Haywood]], the plaintiff in the ''Haywood v. National Basketball Association'' decision, supported an age limit of 20, allowing players time to mature. He left college after his sophomore season to play in the ABA.<ref>{{cite news|title=Haywood: Age limit 'would give players time to mature'|date=May 14, 2005|work=ESPN|agency=Associated Press|url= https://www.espn.com/nba/news/story?id=2059767|access-date=May 29, 2022}}</ref>

==List==
There have been 41 high school draftees in the [[NBA draft]]. Three draftees were selected [[List of first overall NBA draft picks|first overall]]; [[Kwame Brown]] in the [[2001 NBA draft]], [[LeBron James]] in [[2003 NBA draft|2003]], and [[Dwight Howard]] in the [[2004 NBA draft]]. Two draftees went on to win the [[NBA Rookie of the Year Award|Rookie of the Year Award]] in their first season: LeBron James and [[2002 NBA draft|2002]] draftee [[Amar'e Stoudemire]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/history/awards_rookieofyear.html|title=Rookie of the Year|work=NBA.com|publisher=Turner Sports Interactive, Inc|access-date=July 28, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100329231204/http://www.nba.com/history/awards_rookieofyear.html|archive-date=March 29, 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref> Three draftees went on to win the [[NBA Most Valuable Player Award|Most Valuable Player Award]]: [[Kevin Garnett]] in {{nbay|2003|end}}, [[Kobe Bryant]] in {{nbay|2007|end}}, and LeBron James in {{nbay|2008|end}}, {{nbay|2009|end}}, {{nbay|2011|end}}, and  {{nbay|2012|end}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/history/awards_mvp.html|title=Most Valuable Player|work=NBA.com|publisher=Turner Sports Interactive, Inc|access-date=July 28, 2010}}</ref> Ten draftees have been selected to the [[NBA All-Star Game|All-Star Game]] and ten draftees have been selected to the [[All-NBA Team]].
{{stack|
[[File:Kobe Bryant Washington Full Retouched Crop.jpg|right|thumb|150px|alt=A man, wearing a purple jersey with a word "LAKERS" and the number "24" written in the front, is standing in front of the crowd.|[[Kobe Bryant]] was selected by the [[Charlotte Hornets]] in [[1996 NBA draft|1996]].]]
[[File:J O'Neal - Wizards vs Heat 2009-04-04.jpg|right|thumb|150px|alt=A man, wearing a red jersey with a word "MIAMI" and the number "7" written in the front, is walking on a basketball court.|[[Jermaine O'Neal]] was selected by the [[Portland Trail Blazers]] in [[1996 NBA draft|1996]].]]
[[File:Tracy McGrady 1.jpg|right|thumb|150px|alt=A man, wearing a white jersey with a word "ROCKETS" and the number "1" written in the front, is walking on a basketball court.|[[Tracy McGrady]] was selected by the [[Toronto Raptors]] in [[1997 NBA draft|1997]].]]
[[File:Amar'e Stoudemire free throw.jpg|right|thumb|150px|alt=A man wearing a purple jersey with a word "PHOENIX" written in the front, is holding a basketball.|[[Amar'e Stoudemire]] was selected by the [[Phoenix Suns]] in [[2002 NBA draft|2002]].]]
[[File:LeBron James (31944491583).jpg|right|thumb|150px|[[LeBron James]] was selected by the [[Cleveland Cavaliers]] in [[2003 NBA draft|2003]].]]
[[File:Dwight howard 2009z.jpg|right|thumb|150px|alt=A man, wearing a blue jersey with a word "ORLANDO" and the number "12" written in the front, is standing in front of the crowd.|[[Dwight Howard]] was selected by the [[Orlando Magic]] in [[2004 NBA draft|2004]].]]
}}
{| class="wikitable"
|width="50"|'''Pos.'''||width="50"|G||width="50"|F||width="50"|C
|-
|[[Basketball position|Position]]||Guard||Forward||Center
|}
{{NBA Draft legend|1=y|2=y|3=y|5=y}}
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! width="1%"| Draft{{ref label|Note1|a|a}}
! width="1%"| Round
! width="1%"| Pick
! width="18%"| Player
! width="1%"| Pos.
! width="15%"| Nationality
! width="20%"| Draft team
! width="45%"| High school (city)
! class="unsortable" width="1%"| Ref.
|-
| rowspan="2" align="center" |[[1975 NBA draft|1975]]
| align=center|1
| align=center|5
| {{sortname|Darryl|Dawkins}}
| C
| {{flagu|United States}}
| [[Philadelphia 76ers]]
| [[Maynard Evans High School]] ([[Orlando, Florida]])
| align=center|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/d/dawkida01.html|title=Darryl Dawkins Statistics|work=basketball-reference.com|access-date=July 19, 2010}}</ref>
|-
| align=center|2
| align=center|19
| {{sortname|Bill|Willoughby}}
| F
| {{flagu|United States}}
| [[Atlanta Hawks]]
| [[Dwight Morrow High School]] ([[Englewood, New Jersey]])
| align=center|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/w/willobi01.html|title=Bill Willoughby Statistics|work=basketball-reference.com|access-date=July 19, 2010}}</ref>
|-
| align=center|[[1995 NBA draft|1995]]
| align=center|1
| align=center|5
| bgcolor="#FFFF99"|{{sortname|Kevin|Garnett}}^
| F
| {{flagu|United States}}
| [[Minnesota Timberwolves]]
| [[Farragut Career Academy]] ([[Chicago, Illinois]])
| align=center|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/g/garneke01.html|title=Kevin Garnett Statistics|work=basketball-reference.com|access-date=July 19, 2010}}</ref>
|-
| rowspan="2" align="center" |[[1996 NBA draft|1996]]
| rowspan="2" align="center" |1
| align=center|13
| bgcolor="#FFFF99"|{{sortname|Kobe|Bryant}}^
| G
| {{flagu|United States}}
| [[Charlotte Hornets]]
| [[Lower Merion High School]] ([[Ardmore, Pennsylvania]])
| align=center|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/bryanko01.html|title=Kobe Bryant Statistics|work=basketball-reference.com|access-date=July 19, 2010}}</ref>
|-
| align=center|17
| bgcolor="#FBCEB1"|{{sortname|Jermaine|O'Neal}}*
| F/C
| {{flagu|United States}}
| [[Portland Trail Blazers]]
| Eau Claire High School ([[Columbia, South Carolina]])
| align=center|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/o/onealje01.html|title=Jermaine O'Neal Statistics|work=basketball-reference.com|access-date=July 19, 2010}}</ref>
|-
| align=center|[[1997 NBA draft|1997]]
| align=center|1
| align=center|9
| bgcolor="#FFFF99"|{{sortname|Tracy|McGrady}}^
| F
| {{flagu|United States}}
| [[Toronto Raptors]]
| [[Mount Zion Christian Academy]] ([[Durham, North Carolina]])
| align=center|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/m/mcgratr01.html|title=Tracy McGrady Statistics|work=basketball-reference.com|access-date=July 19, 2010}}</ref>
|-
| rowspan="3" align="center" |[[1998 NBA draft|1998]]
| align=center|1
| align=center|25
| {{sortname|Al|Harrington}}
| F
| {{flagu|United States}}
| [[Indiana Pacers]]
| [[St. Patrick High School (New Jersey)|St. Patrick High School]] ([[Elizabeth, New Jersey]])
| align=center|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/h/harrial01.html|title=Al Harrington Statistics|work=basketball-reference.com|access-date=July 19, 2010}}</ref>
|-
| rowspan="2" align="center" |2
| align=center|32
| bgcolor="#FFCC00"|{{sortname|Rashard|Lewis}}<sup>+</sup>
| F
| {{flagu|United States}}
| [[Seattle SuperSonics]]
| [[Alief Elsik High School]] ([[Houston|Houston, Texas]])
| align=center|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/l/lewisra02.html|title=Rashard Lewis Statistics|work=basketball-reference.com|access-date=July 19, 2010}}</ref>
|-
| align=center|40
| {{sortname|Korleone|Young}}
| F
| {{flagu|United States}}
| [[Detroit Pistons]]
| [[Hargrave Military Academy]] ([[Chatham, Virginia]])
| align=center|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/y/youngko01.html|title=Korleone Young Statistics|work=basketball-reference.com|access-date=July 19, 2010}}</ref>
|-
| rowspan="2" align="center" |[[1999 NBA draft|1999]]
| rowspan="2" align="center" |1
| align=center|5
| {{sortname|Jonathan|Bender}}
| F
| {{flagu|United States}}
| [[Toronto Raptors]]
| [[Picayune Memorial High School]] ([[Picayune, Mississippi]])
| align=center|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/bendejo01.html|title=Jonathan Bender Statistics|work=basketball-reference.com|access-date=July 19, 2010}}</ref>
|-
| align=center|29
| {{sortname|Leon|Smith|Leon Smith (basketball)}}
| C
| {{flagu|United States}}
| [[Dallas Mavericks]]
| [[King College Prep High School|Martin Luther King High School]] ([[Chicago]])
| align=center|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/s/smithle01.html|title=Leon Smith Statistics|work=basketball-reference.com|access-date=July 19, 2010}}</ref>
|-
| rowspan="2" align="center" |[[2000 NBA draft|2000]]
| rowspan="2" align="center" |1
| align=center|3
| {{sortname|Darius|Miles}}
| F
| {{flagu|United States}}
| [[Los Angeles Clippers]]
| [[East St. Louis Senior High School|East St. Louis High School]] ([[East St. Louis, Illinois]])
| align=center|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/m/milesda01.html|title=Darius Miles Statistics|work=basketball-reference.com|access-date=July 19, 2010}}</ref>
|-
| align=center|23
| {{sortname|DeShawn|Stevenson}}
| G
| {{flagu|United States}}
| [[Utah Jazz]]
| [[Washington Union High School]] ([[Fresno, California]])
| align=center|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/s/stevede01.html|title=DeShawn Stevenson Statistics|work=basketball-reference.com|access-date=July 19, 2010}}</ref>
|-
| rowspan="5" align="center" |[[2001 NBA draft|2001]]
| rowspan="4" align="center" |1
| align=center|1
| {{sortname|Kwame|Brown}}
| F
| {{flagu|United States}}
| [[Washington Wizards]]
| [[Glynn Academy]] ([[Brunswick, Georgia]])
| align=center|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/brownkw01.html|title=Kwame Brown Statistics|work=basketball-reference.com|access-date=July 19, 2010}}</ref>
|-
| align=center|2
|bgcolor="#FBCEB1"| {{sortname|Tyson|Chandler}}*
| C
| {{flagu|United States}}
| [[Los Angeles Clippers]]
| [[Dominguez High School]] ([[Compton, California]])
| align=center|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/c/chandty01.html|title=Tyson Chandler Statistics|work=basketball-reference.com|access-date=July 19, 2010}}</ref>
|-
| align=center|4
| {{sortname|Eddy|Curry}}
| C
| {{flagu|United States}}
| [[Chicago Bulls]]
| [[Thornwood High School]] ([[South Holland, Illinois]])
| align=center|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/c/curryed01.html|title=Eddy Curry Statistics|work=basketball-reference.com|access-date=July 19, 2010}}</ref>
|-
| align=center|8
| {{sortname|DeSagana|Diop}}
| C
| {{SEN}}
| [[Cleveland Cavaliers]]
| [[Oak Hill Academy (Virginia)|Oak Hill Academy]] ([[Mouth of Wilson, Virginia]])
| align=center|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/d/diopde01.html|title=DeSagana Diop Statistics|work=basketball-reference.com|access-date=July 19, 2010}}</ref>
|-
| align=center|2
| align=center|46
| bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|{{sortname|Ousmane|Cisse}}<sup>#</sup>
| F
| {{MLI}}
| [[Denver Nuggets]]
| [[St. Jude Educational Institute|St. Jude High School]] ([[Montgomery, Alabama]])
| align=center|<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/draft2001/playerfiles/ousmane_cisse.html|title=Player Profile: Ousmane Cisse|work=NBA.com|publisher=Turner Sports Interactive, Inc|access-date=July 19, 2010}}</ref>
|-
| align=center|[[2002 NBA draft|2002]]
| align=center|1
| align=center|9
| bgcolor="#FBCEB1"|{{sortname|Amar'e|Stoudemire}}*
| F/C
| {{flagu|United States}}
| [[Phoenix Suns]]
| [[Cypress Creek High School (Orlando, Florida)|Cypress Creek High School]] ([[Orlando, Florida]])
| align=center|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/s/stoudam01.html|title=Amare Stoudemire Statistics|work=basketball-reference.com|access-date=July 19, 2010}}</ref>
|-
| rowspan="5" align="center" |[[2003 NBA draft|2003]]
| rowspan="4" align="center" |1
| align=center|1
| bgcolor="#FBCEB1"|{{sortname|LeBron|James}}*
| F
| {{flagu|United States}}
| [[Cleveland Cavaliers]]
| [[St. Vincent – St. Mary High School]] ([[Akron, Ohio]])
| align=center|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/j/jamesle01.html|title=LeBron James Statistics|work=basketball-reference.com|access-date=July 19, 2010}}</ref>
|-
| align=center|23
| {{sortname|Travis|Outlaw}}
| F
| {{flagu|United States}}
| [[Portland Trail Blazers]]
| [[Starkville Public School District|Starkville High School]] ([[Starkville, Mississippi]])
| align=center|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/o/outlatr01.html|title=Travis Outlaw Statistics|work=basketball-reference.com|access-date=July 19, 2010}}</ref>
|-
| align=center|26
| {{sortname|Ndudi|Ebi}}
| F
| {{flagu|United Kingdom}}<br>{{NGA}}{{cref|1}}
| [[Minnesota Timberwolves]]
| [[Westbury Christian School]] ([[Houston|Houston, Texas]])
| align=center|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/e/ebind01.html|title=Ndubi Ebi Statistics|work=basketball-reference.com|access-date=July 19, 2010}}</ref>
|-
| align=center|27
| {{sortname|Kendrick|Perkins}}
| C
| {{flagu|United States}}
| [[Memphis Grizzlies]]
| [[Clifton J. Ozen High School]] ([[Beaumont, Texas]])
| align=center|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/p/perkike01.html|title=Kendrick Perkins Statistics|work=basketball-reference.com|access-date=July 19, 2010}}</ref>
|-
| align=center|2
| align=center|48
| {{sortname|James|Lang|James Lang (basketball)}}
| C
| {{flagu|United States}}
| [[New Orleans Hornets]]
| [[Central Park Christian High School]] ([[Birmingham, Alabama]])
| align=center|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/l/langja01.html|title=James Lang Statistics|work=basketball-reference.com|access-date=July 19, 2010}}</ref>
|-
| rowspan="8" align="center" |[[2004 NBA draft|2004]]
| rowspan="8" align="center" |1
| align=center|1
| bgcolor="#FBCEB1"|{{sortname|Dwight|Howard}}*
| F/C
| {{flagu|United States}}
| [[Orlando Magic]]
| [[Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy]] ([[Atlanta, Georgia]])
| align=center|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/h/howardw01.html|title=Dwight Howard Statistics|work=basketball-reference.com|access-date=July 19, 2010}}</ref>
|-
| align=center|4
| {{sortname|Shaun|Livingston}}
| G
| {{flagu|United States}}
| [[Los Angeles Clippers]]
| [[Peoria High School (Peoria, Illinois)|Peoria High School]] ([[Peoria, Illinois]])
| align=center|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/l/livinsh01.html|title=Shaun Livingston Statistics|work=basketball-reference.com|access-date=July 19, 2010}}</ref>
|-
| align=center|12
| {{sortname|Robert|Swift}}
| C
| {{flagu|United States}}
| [[Seattle SuperSonics]]
| [[Bakersfield High School]] ([[Bakersfield, California]])
| align=center|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/s/swiftro01.html|title=Robert Swift Statistics|work=basketball-reference.com|access-date=July 19, 2010}}</ref>
|-
| align=center|13
| {{sortname|Sebastian|Telfair}}
| G
| {{flagu|United States}}
| [[Portland Trail Blazers]]
| [[Abraham Lincoln High School (Brooklyn, New York)|Abraham Lincoln High School]] ([[Brooklyn|Brooklyn, New York]])
| align=center|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/t/telfase01.html|title=Sebastian Telfair Statistics|work=basketball-reference.com|access-date=July 19, 2010}}</ref>
|-
| align=center|15
| {{sortname|Al|Jefferson}}
| F
| {{flagu|United States}}
| [[Boston Celtics]]
| [[Prentiss High School]] ([[Prentiss, Mississippi]])
| align=center|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/j/jeffeal01.html|title=Al Jefferson Statistics|work=basketball-reference.com|access-date=July 19, 2010}}</ref>
|-
| align=center|17
| {{sortname|Josh|Smith}}
| F
| {{flagu|United States}}
| [[Atlanta Hawks]]
| [[Oak Hill Academy (Virginia)|Oak Hill Academy]] ([[Mouth of Wilson, Virginia]])
| align=center|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/s/smithjo03.html|title=Josh Smith Statistics|work=basketball-reference.com|access-date=July 19, 2010}}</ref>
|-
| align=center|18
| {{sortname|J. R.|Smith}}
| G
| {{flagu|United States}}
| [[New Orleans Hornets]]
| [[Saint Benedict's Preparatory School]] ([[Newark, New Jersey]])
| align=center|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/s/smithjr01.html|title=J.R. Smith Statistics|work=basketball-reference.com|access-date=July 19, 2010}}</ref>
|-
| align=center|19
| {{sortname|Dorell|Wright}}
| G/F
| {{flagu|United States}}
| [[Miami Heat]]
| [[South Kent School|South Kent Preparatory School]] ([[South Kent|South Kent, Connecticut]])
| align=center|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/w/wrighdo01.html|title=Dorell Wright Statistics|work=basketball-reference.com|access-date=July 19, 2010}}</ref>
|-
| rowspan="9" align="center" |[[2005 NBA draft|2005]]
| rowspan="3" align="center" |1
| align=center|6
| {{sortname|Martell|Webster}}
| G/F
| {{flagu|United States}}
| [[Portland Trail Blazers]]
| [[Seattle Preparatory School]] ([[Seattle, Washington]])
| align=center|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/w/webstma02.html|title=Martell Webster Statistics|work=basketball-reference.com|access-date=July 19, 2010}}</ref>
|-
| align=center|10
| bgcolor="#FBCEB1"|{{sortname|Andrew|Bynum}}<sup>+</sup>
| C
| {{flagu|United States}}
| [[Los Angeles Lakers]]
| [[St. Joseph High School (Metuchen, New Jersey)|St. Joseph High School]] ([[Metuchen, New Jersey]])
| align=center|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/bynuman01.html|title=Andrew Bynum Statistics|work=basketball-reference.com|access-date=July 19, 2010}}</ref>
|-
| align=center|18
| {{sortname|Gerald|Green}}
| F
| {{flagu|United States}}
| [[Boston Celtics]]
| [[Leader's Academy High School for Business and Academic Success|Gulf Shores Academy]] ([[Houston|Houston, Texas]])
| align=center|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/g/greenge01.html|title=Gerald Green Statistics|work=basketball-reference.com|access-date=July 19, 2010}}</ref>
|-
| rowspan="6" align="center" |2
| align=center|34
| {{sortname|C. J.|Miles}}
| G
| {{flagu|United States}}
| [[Utah Jazz]]
| [[Skyline High School (Dallas, Texas)|Skyline High School]] ([[Dallas, Texas]])
| align=center|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/m/milescj01.html|title=C. J. Miles Statistics|work=basketball-reference.com|access-date=July 19, 2010}}</ref>
|-
| align=center|35
| bgcolor="#C0C0C0"|{{sortname|Ricky|Sánchez}}<sup>#</sup>
| F
| {{PUR}}
| [[Portland Trail Blazers]]
| [[IMG Academies|IMG Academy]] ([[Bradenton, Florida]])
| align=center|<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/draft2005/early_050622.html|title=Fifty Early Entry Candidates Withdraw|date=June 22, 2005|work=NBA.com|publisher=Turner Sports Interactive, Inc|access-date=July 19, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070427173309/http://www.nba.com/draft2005/early_050622.html|archive-date=April 27, 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
| align=center|40
| {{sortname|Monta|Ellis}}
| G
| {{flagu|United States}}
| [[Golden State Warriors]]
| [[Lanier High School (Jackson, Mississippi)|Lanier High School]] ([[Jackson, Mississippi]])
| align=center|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/e/ellismo01.html|title=Monta Ellis Statistics|work=basketball-reference.com|access-date=July 19, 2010}}</ref>
|-
| align=center|45
| {{sortname|Louis|Williams|Lou Williams}}
| G
| {{flagu|United States}}
| [[Philadelphia 76ers]]
| [[South Gwinnett High School]] ([[Snellville, Georgia]])
| align=center|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/w/willilo02.html|title=Louis Williams Statistics|work=basketball-reference.com|access-date=July 19, 2010}}</ref>
|-
| align=center|49
| {{sortname|Andray|Blatche}}
| F
| {{flagu|United States}}<br>{{PHI}}{{cref|2}}
| [[Washington Wizards]]
| [[South Kent School|South Kent Preparatory School]] ([[South Kent|South Kent, Connecticut]])
| align=center|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/blatcan01.html|title=Andray Blatche Statistics|work=basketball-reference.com|access-date=July 19, 2010}}</ref>
|-
| align=center|56
| {{sortname|Amir|Johnson}}
| F
| {{flagu|United States}}
| [[Detroit Pistons]]
| [[Westchester High School (Los Angeles)|Westchester High School]] ([[Los Angeles, California]])
| align=center|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/j/johnsam01.html|title=Amir Johnson Statistics|work=basketball-reference.com|access-date=July 19, 2010}}</ref>
|}
{{Cnote|1|While Ndudi Ebi was originally born and raised in [[London, England]], he also holds Nigerian nationality due to his parents being born and raised there.}}
{{Cnote|2|Andray Blatche was born and raised in [[Syracuse, New York]] and holds American nationality, but he had become a naturalized Filipino since June 2014 and has officially represented the Philippines since.}}

==Controversy==
{{Further|National Basketball Association criticisms and controversies#Age limit}}
Despite the success of some high school players drafted, the entry of high school players into the NBA remains controversial. Critics say that high school players are not mentally and physically mature or prepared enough to handle the pressure of professional play; thus, they are less likely to develop properly and reach their potential.<ref name="garnettdailynews"/><ref name="highschool">{{cite news|last=Sappenfield|first=Mark|title=Straight to the NBA--without a stop at college|newspaper=Christian Science Monitor|date=May 22, 2001|at=Vol. 93, Issue 124, p. 1}}</ref> Instead, they believe that colleges are useful at filtering out players who can dominate against weak competition in high school, but cannot succeed at a higher level of play. They also think that the influx of high schoolers bypassing colleges in favor of the NBA caused collegiate play to deteriorate. Universities are wary of spending time recruiting, as many players are financially motivated to turn pro fresh out of high school.<ref name="highschool"/><ref>{{cite web|last=Freeman|first=Mike|title=Sports of The Times; Young Star Stays Cool in Spotlight|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/04/05/sports/sports-of-the-times-young-star-stays-cool-in-spotlight.html|work=The New York Times|access-date=August 8, 2010|date=April 5, 2002}}</ref>

On the other hand, proponents argue that there is no valid reason to exclude high school players. Michael McCann, writer of law article "Illegal Defense: The Irrational Economics of Banning High School Players from the NBA Draft", contends that players drafted straight out of high school can do as well as any other players in the NBA. The article finds that "on average, these [high school] players perform better in every major statistical category than does the average NBA player".<ref>{{cite news|last=Ewell|first=Christian|title=Difficult jump shot: preps to NBA; Basketball: More and more try the leap, but for every LeBron James who flourishes, there are a lot of James Langs who don't|newspaper=[[The Baltimore Sun]]|date=May 18, 2004|page=1 C|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-baltimore-sun-difficult-jump-shot-p/140599260/}}</ref> Others instead believe that the problem was due to the lack of established [[farm team|farm system]] in basketball until recently. In other major sports, such as [[baseball]] and [[ice hockey|hockey]], it is common for young players to develop in their minor league systems.<ref name="highschool"/>

Discourses on the validity of high-school players entering the NBA directly, bypassing college, have also been impacted by the recent legalization of [[name, image and likeness]] deals by the NCAA, which allow collegiate athletes to profit from sponsorship deals. This has effectively reduced the financial incentives that basketball players have to move directly to the NBA from high school by allowing colleges and their boosters to compensate players.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hirsh |first=Ryan |date=2024-01-07 |title=NIL Impacting Student Athletes' Decisions to Return or Go Pro |url=https://businessofcollegesports.com/name-image-likeness/nil-impacting-student-athletes-decisions-to-return-or-go-pro/ |access-date=2024-02-23 |website=Business of College Sports® |language=en-US}}</ref> In addition, it has decreased some players' propensity to enter the NBA as soon as possible after playing one year in college, leading to them staying in school for multiple years to capitalize on NIL deals they make money from. This trend is especially noticeable in players who do not project as well to the NBA but are collegiate stars, such as [[Drew Timme]] of [[Gonzaga Bulldogs men's basketball|Gonzaga]], who stated that his NIL earnings were comparable to the NBA [[two-way contract]] he was likely to sign once he turned professional. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Christovich |first=Amanda |date=2023-06-22 |title=Men's Hoops Players Are Staying In School Longer Thanks to NIL |url=https://frontofficesports.com/nil-impact-on-the-nba-draft/ |access-date=2024-02-23 |website=Front Office Sports |language=en}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Eligibility for the NBA draft]]

==Notes==
{{refbegin}}
*{{note label|Note1|a|a}} Each year is linked to an article about that particular NBA Draft.
*{{note label|Note2|b|b}} Year denotes the year when the player graduated from high school.
*{{note label|Note3|c|c}} Debut denotes the year when the player made his NBA debut. Each year is linked to an article about that particular NBA season.
*{{note label|Note4|d|d}} Information not available
{{refend}}

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==External links==
*[http://www.nba.com/ NBA.com]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20090315112610/http://www.nba.com/history/draft_index.html NBA.com: NBA Draft History]

{{NBA Drafts}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Nba High School Draftees}}
[[Category:Age controversies in sports]]
[[Category:NBA high school draftees|*]]
[[Category:NBA draft]]
[[Category:NBA lists]]
[[Category:NBA controversies]]