10 Greatest NBA Players Straight Outta High School
From preps to pros, these players never needed the NCAA to springboard into NBA success.
In 1962, Reggie Harding became the first basketball player drafted into the NBA after high school. Since then, 45 players have skipped the college or foreign leagues to go directly into the NBA. While many of them have been considered draft busts, there have also been massively successful players that made the jump. In 2005, the rules were changed to prohibit players from entering the league until a year after their high school graduation.
Its been a matter of controversy and discussion on the age limit with a possibility the restriction gets lifted at the next CBA. No matter your opinion on athletes' earning ability, there is no denying the talent and success of today's list. With Kobe Bryant and Kevin Garnett entering the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, its a perfect time to rank the top 10 greatest NBA players who ever went straight from high school into the league.
You won't find players such as Shawn Kemp, who sat out a year before entering the NBA. The athletes who played overseas and the collegiate players will have to wait for another list.
Sound off in the comment section below...who did we miss?
10. Andrew Bynum
Truth in Numbers: 11.5 PTS / 7.7 REB / 1.2 AST / 19.6 PER / 1x All-Star / 1x All-NBA / 2x Champion
Now, I don't want to lose you on the first entry...but you have to remember for a couple seasons Andrew Bynum of the Lakers was arguably the best center in the league. Josh Smith had better averages during a solid 9 years with the Atlanta Hawks, but no rings nor all-star appearances. An argument could be made for JR Smith, Al Harrington and Shawn Livingston, but none of them had the defense nor PER of Bynum.
As a 2004-2005 McDonald's All-American, Andrew Bynum was 17 when he was taken 10th overall by Los Angeles. In his 8 seasons, Bynum only ever completed one 82 game season, and never started more than 65 games. However, between 2009-2012, he averaged 15 points and 10 rebounds culminating in his only all-star and all-NBA honors.
Injuries mostly derailed the 2 time champion, and his lasting legacy will be his part in the massive 4-team Dwight Howard trade. Bynum was sent to the Philadelphia 76ers, never played a single game for them and forced Philly to jumpstart "the Process"