10 Greatest NBA Players Straight Outta High School

Truth in Numbers: 27.1 PTS / 7.4 REB / 7.4 AST / 27.5 PER / 16x All-Star / 15x All-NBA / 6x All-Defense / 4x MVP / 3x Champion

With all the high school players we've seen, none of them have had the promise, hype, exposure, and expectations of LeBron James. No one has ever met and exceeded those expectations either. As the anointed "Chosen One", King James had his high school games nationally televised and even tried to appeal to enter the NBA after his junior year. As if he didn't have enough pressure coming into the league, his hometown Cleveland Cavaliers owned the 1st pick in the 2003 draft.

Immediately stepping into a starring role, James started 79 games as a rookie, averaging over 20 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists per game. He was an easy pick for rookie of the year despite a draft class that included Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh, and Dwayne Wade. For the next 7 seasons, James established himself as one of the best players in the league. After dragging the Cavs to five playoff appearances and a loss in the 2007 finals, Lebron made the controversial "decision" to take his talents to South Beach.

Joining draft mates Wade and Bosh in Miami and forming a new "Big Three", James and the Heat went to four consecutive finals appearances, winning twice. With the decline of Kobe Bryant and Tim Duncan, Lebron was solidified as the best player in the game. He made his way back home to capture the Cavalier's only NBA title and the first title for the city of Cleveland in 52 years. He made four total trips to the finals in his second stint in Cleveland, and now is a member of the Los Angeles Lakers.

Currently James sits as a four time MVP, three time champion (with nine total finals appearances), 3rd in career points scored, 8th in assists, and 9th in minutes played. He will be a unanimous pick for the Hall of Fame.