Basketball – The Tallest NBA Player on Every Team, Ranked
While the center position may have lost much of its presence within the NBA, with teams dropping the standard back-to-basket standard, this doesn’t exclude the importance of high players from basketball. Size is still important regarding basketball, despite the NBA shifting towards a position-less sport. Regardless, various towering gentlemen are further developed than their contemporaries in the current game. Let us introduce you to every NBA team’s tallest member, making sure to compare them to their counterparts.
Tallest NBA Player On Every Team Ranked
#1: Boban Marjanovic, Los Angeles Clippers
Height: 7’3” Position: Center Bottom line: Marjanovic is a true titan, with colossal hands, being able to make a standing dunk. The titan enjoys a fantastic 27.1 Player Efficiency Rating, almost rubbing shoulders with legends like LeBron James and Michael Jordan, whose ratings fall at 27.65 and 27.91 respectively. Unlike a lot of the players on this list, Marjanovic possesses true skills, alongside unnatural tallness. This is a rare combination to see in the NBA, you may be surprised to learn!
Boban Marjanovic Los Angeles Clippers
#2: Salah Mejri, Dallas Mavericks
Height: 7’2” Position: Center Bottom line: Why is Mejri’s career heading into rocky territory? He may have to pull off a miracle if he wants to keep his spot on the Dallas Mavericks. The Dallas Mavericks center appears for less than seven minutes each game, after aggregating minutes in the double-digits bracket during his initial three seasons in his team. Both Dwight Powell and DeAndre Jordan beat him in his depth chart. They are probably better players than him in general.
Salah Mejri Dallas Mavericks
#3: Thon Maker, Milwaukee Bucks
Height: 7’1” Position: Center Bottom line: The Milwaukee squad is constructed on sportsmanship and height, with Maker forming a dependable center. His enormous power and speed are matched only by his amicable attitude. He is the last player to leave the court, making sure that all his teammates are in good shape, physically and mentally. Maker’s incredible height and judgment contribute to his commendable shot defense, deflecting an average of 0.6 shots with each game throughout his general performance.
Thon Maker Milwaukee Bucks
#4: Dragan Bender, Phoenix Suns
Height: 7’1” Position: Power forward Bottom Line: Bender has been outshone by the No. 1 pick, Deandre Ayton, meaning that his minutes have been shaved significantly. Obviously, his productivity has then diminished, aggregating 2.2 points with every match, the worst in his career now in its third NBA season. That being said, the sporting Croatian possesses an impressive upside and would be a decent addition to any team if he happened to be ousted from the Suns following its next rotation.
Dragan Bender Phoenix Suns
#5: Tyson Chandler, Los Angeles Lakers
Height: 7’1” Position: Center Bottom line: Throughout his career with the NBA, Chandler has consolidated some commendable laurels. Boasting a sensational eighteen leagues and counting, Chandler has made champion at the NBA, been awarded defensive player of the year, and is, of course, an All-Star While the NBA superstar’s performances have gotten rusty over time, no one can match his shot-blocking capacity. Following his waiver from the Phoenix Suns in 2018, the gigantic Chandler sealed a contract with the Lakers, aiding in the strengthening of the team’s defense.
Tyson Chandler Los Angeles Lakers
#6: Alex Len, Atlanta Hawks
Height: 7’1” Position: Center Bottom line: Len has revolutionized himself as an athlete within the Atlanta Hawks, seizing almost a pair of three-point hoops with each game. This scoring following his sparse attempts within his initial five league seasons. Tough as it may be, Len is finding his comfort zone in the new NBA. We love how far he has come since the beginning of his performances, where he was finding his formerly shaky feet.
Alex Len Atlanta Hawks
#7: Deandre Ayton, Phoenix Suns
Height: 7’1” Position: Center Bottom line: Ayton possesses all of the skills required for NBA big man prominence. He is one to keep an eye on! Being the 2018 draft’s number one overall pick, Ayton excels at rebounding, has the admirable screen-setting capacity, a sweet-shooting touch and, of course, a large frame. Ayton’s NBA career has commenced powerfully, and despite a single season not being the mark of a good career, the foreseeable future seems bright for the player.
Deandre Ayton Phoenix Suns
#8: Marc Gasol, Memphis Grizzlies
Height: 7’11” Position: Center Bottom line: Pau Gasol’s brother, Marc, is just as capable as a big man. You may not believe it, but the two have never encountered any kind of sibling rivalry, on or off the court. When it comes to offense, Marc is most competent at passing. Gasol’s ability to locate cutters towards baskets greatly aids his team, his accuracy increasing with age, aggregating more than four assists with each game following the 2016 – 2017 season.
Marc Gasol Memphis Grizzlies
#9: Rudy Gobert, Utah Jazz
Height: 7’1” Position: Center Bottom line: The ex-NBA defensive player of the year bettered his more aggressive skills. There are few competitors that will happily take the giant on, as his ability to keep the ball far away from their reach is aggravating for challengers, to say the least. He now aggregates 14.7 points with each game, the peak of his career. As well as aggregating 2.0 blocks, he also lands 12.3 rebounds on average. One cannot help but think he is the most skilled baller in the court when viewing his current performances.
Rudy Gobert Utah Jazz
#10: Ivica Zubac, Los Angeles Lakers
Height: 7’1” Position: Center Bottom line: The Croatian baller steadily rose through the Croatian ranks to the point that NBA scouts started taking a keen notice of his performances. When his former Cibona team ran into financial challenges, Zubac decided to make his way to greener pastures. Having experienced a higher level of G-League performance as opposed to NBA play, the Croatian third-year baller stood to earn $1.5 million throughout the 2018-2019 season, aggregating a presence of thirteen minutes with each game.
Ivica Zubac Los Angeles Lakers
#11: Cody Zeller, Charlotte Hornets
Height: 7’0” Position: Center Bottom line: Zeller has proved himself as a strong addition to the NBA following his place as the first-round choice form Indiana in the year 2013. With over five seasons alongside the Charlotte Hornets, Zeller has aggregated 6.2 rebounds and 8.1 points. Zeller seems naturally inclined as a Hornets’ starter, as observed in the 2018 to 2019 season, aggregating 6.2 rebounds and 9.3 points throughout his initial thirty-five games in the season. This was all prior to him being ejected due to a hand injury.
Cody Zeller Charlotte Hornets
#12: Jakob Poeltl, San Antonia Spurs
Height: 7’0” Position: Center Bottom line: The youthful Poeltl has showcased much potential as a successful backup center. He has shined through a mixture of physical examples and dedication to improving his game. Prior to his move to the San Antonia Spurs alongside leading teammate DeRozan, Poeltl proved to be a dependable giant for the Raptors. Throughout his second season, Poeltl featured in every regular-season game, of which there were 82, aggregating 1.2 blocks and 6.9 points with each game.
Jakob Poeltl San Antonio Spurs
#13: Robin Lopez, Chicago Bulls
Height: 7’0” Position: Center Bottom line: Despite his exhausting penchant for playing with mascots, Lopez is a solid big boy. Lopez might be one of the more cringe-worthy members of the NBA, but he is a strong addition to the Chicago Bulls that the team would find difficult to replace. Lopez currently balls alongside the Chicago Bulls, them being his fifth NBA squad, and he is adept at shooting inside as well as rebounding the ball.
Robin Lopez Chicago Bulls
#14: Kelly Olynyk, Miami Heat
Height: 7’0” Position: Power forward Bottom line: Olynyk featured on the All-Rookie 2014 squad, seeking fortune as a baller within Boston. Despite his negative appraisal as a sketchy player following a confrontation with Kevin Love in 2015 which ended with a dislocated shoulder, Olynyk nearly makes up for his aggression through screen setting and outside shooting finesse. 2017 saw Olynyk migrate his skills to South Beach, providing a fine addition to his team, aggregating a cool 22.5 minutes per game.
Kelly Olynyk Miami Heat
#15: Mo Bamba, Orlando Magic
Height: 7’0” Position: Center Bottom line: Bamba has shown his skills as a possibly excellent baller. While he has yet to prove his true colors as a star player, many commentators that have been tracking his progress in games and overall have high hopes for him. You should also keep your eyes on him! Showcasing a penchant for rebounding and perimeter scoring, with a fine set of post moves, the young beanpole shows much potential within basketball progression.
Mo Bamba Orlando Magic
#16: Pau Gasol, San Antonio Spurs
Height: 7’0” Position: Center Bottom line: Gasol is nearing the end of his employment in basketball, following his recognition among the highest performing global giants within the sport. He may be rather disappointed that his time in the court is coming to end, but he has done his best to finish strong. His double NBA championships alongside the Lakers nearly ten years ago were largely built on his sensational free-throw line jumping and passing skills. Before then, he contributed a 3-point score.
Pau Gasol San Antonio Spurs
#17: Willie Cauley-Stein, Sacramento Kings
Height: 7’0” Position: Center Bottom line: Willie continues to boost his game on an annual basis, with the 2018-2019 season continuing the positive trend. His teammates and coach have all been incredibly pleased with his performance. He aggregates career-highlights with scoring and rebounds, with 13.6 and 8.9 respectively. So long as the Kings proceed to excel, so will he. This team and Willie have a codependent relationship, and one cannot thrive without the other, it seems.
Willie Cauley Stein Sacramento Kings
#18: Jonas Valanciunas, Toronto Raptors
Height: 7’0” Position: Center Bottom line: Jonas is another player achieving a yearly increase in performance. He continues to grow from strength to strength, with no obstacle too high for the towering baller to step over. Offensively, his enormous size is awesome at knocking around the post, pitching impenetrable screens. Rebounding is another sensational ability of his, being able to open up the court with his sizable shape. He certainly takes up plenty of real estate on the court!
Jonas Valanciunas Toronto Raptors
#19: Hassan Whiteside, Miami Heat
Height: 7’0” Position: Center Bottom line: Whiteside is a sensational rebounder, with a rim-protecting capacity which is completely inspiring. His plays rally the other players on his Miami Heat team, bringing plenty of motivation during the most heated of games. Despite excelling at lob dunks, Whiteside’s offense still needs a lot of work. If he wants to be a more well-rounded player, he will need to work on his aggression. Throughout the 2018 – 2019 season, he aggregated 12.5 rebounds and 12.7 points, alongside 2.5 blocks.
Hassan Whiteside Miami Heat
#20: Nikola Vucevic, Orlando Magic
Height: 7’0” Position: Center Bottom line: It is a great tragedy that Vucevic is so underappreciated as a league center. Out of all the players on this list, Nikola might be the most commendable Dark Horse. He can easily take down other big men with his post flare and rebounding capacity. He is a titan that stands head and shoulders above much of his competition. Throughout the 2018 – 2019 season, Vucevic aggregated 1.2 blocks, 12.0 rebounds, and 20.2 points on average with each game.
Nikola Vucevic Orlando Magic
#21: Lauri Markkanen, Chicago Bulls
Height: 7’0” Position: Power forward Bottom line: While Markkanen is missing a lot of the lessons learned by his older NBA counterparts, the 21-year-old possesses the skill needed to form a powerful big man within a league migrating towards guards. Following an aggregation of 15.2 points with each game within his amateur period, Markkanen now aggregates 17.0 points with each game, following the 2018 to 2019 season, while snatching 7.3 rebounds, landing 39.3% of all 3-point shots. It is difficult to poke holes in his skillset. This is why the basketball player hailing from Vantaa, Finland is also known as “The Finnisher”!
Lauri Markkanen Chicago Bulls
#22: Steven Adams, Oklahoma City Thunder
Height: 7’0” Position: Center Bottom line: It is rare that a player is so strongly considered for the All-Star position. Adams has commendably improved his game out of the role-player status, and beyond being awarded the All-Rookie position during the 2013 to 2014 season, each year has brought him more development. During the 2018 to 2019 season, he aggregated a career-peaking 10.1 rebounds and 15.5 points. Adams is dedicated to a level of strength and durability rarely witnessed in other pro ballers.
Steven Adams Oklahoma City Thunde
#23: Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves
Height: 7’0” Position: Center Bottom line: Towns hold everything an aspiring NBA legend could hope for. Following the Jimmy Butler mess, Karl-Anthony has upped his basketball game. In time, he could easily achieve the kind of fame that most ballers stive for. His opponents find it hard to bypass his outside shooting touch, as well as his post moves. His resilience is seemingly indestructible, as he has maintained a perfect match attendance following his first pick within the 2015 draft.
Karl Anthony Towns Minnesota Timberwolves
#24: Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets
Height: 7’0” Position: Center Bottom line: You wouldn’t be wrong in saying that Jokic is the ultimate big man currently in the league. His ability to pinpoint his teammates’ movements, as well as his almost psychic ability to predict plays are unnatural. His accuracy comes in at a high level as well. Jokic is simultaneously a determined 3-point shooter and scorer. Altogether, it comes as no surprise if he aggregates 10.2 rebounds, 19.2 points and 7.6 assists throughout his career.
Nikola Jokic Denver Nuggets
#25: Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers
Height: 7’0” Position: Center Bottom line: Embiid reintroduced himself in the 2018 to 2019 season simply as one of the NBA’s most magnificent big men. Currently, Embiid is reaching a level that puts him at the top of the game, regardless of size. Even if they don’t show it, every team he is matched up against fears him. The size of the man, his power and gentle shooting touch combine to create an indomitable challenge. In time, your bets that Embiid will achieve the number one spot within the league may come to fruition.
Joel Embiid Philadelphia 76ers
#26: Thomas Welsh, Denver Nuggets
Height: 7’0” Position: Center Bottom line: Thomas Welsh began his career in the Belgian Pro Basketball League. After securing his Pac-12 all-conference honors after a successful second-team performance, he would go on to be a part of the 2018 NBA draft of the Denver Nuggets. Welsh being the second-round draft pick throughout the NBA’s 2018 cut has experienced a diminished presence in games throughout the 2018 to 2019 season. Being a two-way contract baller, he is generally seen playing with the Nuggets G-League partner.
Thomas Welsh Denver Nuggets
#27: Kosta Koufous, Sacramento Kings
Height: 7’0” Position: Center Bottom line: Koufos might not be well known, however, the Greek-American continues to thrive as a backup center for the NBA. He certainly deserves more attention than he gets. With more than ten seasons to boot, Kosta has aggregated 5.8 points, with 5.1 rebounds, within 16.6 minutes. The 2018-2019 season had Kosta spending less time in the court, with the Sacramento Kings providing Marvin Bagley and Willie Cauley-Stein with increased minutes.
Kosta Koufos Sacramento Kings
#28: Frank Kaminsky, Charlotte Hornets
Height: 7’0” Position: Power forward Bottom line: Kaminsky misses out on pertinent minutes while playing for the Hornets. While being able to throw past the arc well, his performances in Wisconsin have been poor to the point where his NBA ambitions have sadly ended. Kaminsky sadly dropped the ball one too many times and failed to improve on his weaker points. We truly wish him the best with the rest of his career in basketball.
Frank Kaminsky Charlotte Hornets
#29: Isaiah Hartnestein, Houston Rockets
Height: 7’0” Position: Power forward Bottom line: Hartenstein may not have chosen the conventional route towards NBA fame. After his birth in Eugene, Oregon, He and his family immigrated to Germany in 1998, and, like his father, at ten years’ old performed professionally in the country, prior to achieving an NBA second-round draft choice within 2017. Generally performing in the G-League team for Houston team Rio Grande Valley Vipers, the seven-foot amateur athlete is a rare sight in any sport.
Isaiah Hartenstein Houston Rockets
#30: Damian Jones, Golden State Warriors
Height: 7’0” Position: Center Bottom line: Following a brilliant college performance while at Vanderbilt University, Jones became the first-round choice for the Golden State Warriors in 2016. However, debilitating injuries curbed his minutes in both his initial NBA seasons. Luckily, he was given the opportunity to open for the warriors, introducing the 2018 to 2019 season and displaying moments of excellence. Following a pectoral muscle tear, Jones was ousted for an extended period. Regardless, Jones is a talented player who could aid the Dubs once he returns to action.
Damian Jones Golden State Warriors
#31: Henry Ellenson, Detroit Pistons
Height: 6’11” Position: Power forward Bottom line: Establishing himself in the NBA during 2016, Henry Ellison has unfortunately suffered poor minutes performances with dismal times. Try as he might, Ellenson cannot seem to get the speed and ability needed to secure a more rousing performance. The power forward is then obviously seldomly played by the Pistons. While the moderate fans of Ellenson's presence have not seen him shine in the way they had hoped, there is still time.
Henry Ellenson Detroit Pistons
#32: Ante Zizic, Cleveland Cavaliers
Height: 6’11” Position: Center Bottom line: Ante Zizic, unfortunately, bears the likeness of a career backup. Regardless, citing centers being unable to continue in the Cleveland Cavaliers roster, Ante can expect to begin the game. Following his two seasons with the NBA, Ante has proved his shooting abilities, scoring 59% of his limited shots taken. This is a reasonably impressive rate, one which we are sure that Zizic can continue to improve over the rest of his performances.
Ante Zizic Cleveland Cavaliers
#33: Meyers Leonard, Portland Trail Blazers
Height: 6’11” Position: Center Bottom line: Leonard was drafted by The Portland Trail Blazers throughout the 11th pick (or first round) during the 2012 NBA draft, continually appearing within box scores. Although his figures are not jaw-dropping, Leonard continues to be effective out of the bench, may it be handling defense, gripping boards, or scoring outside of the arc. As you can see from the picture below, Meyers is one tough customer when it comes to stealing the ball from him.
Meyers Leonard Portland Trail Blazers
#34: Jahlil Okafor, New Orleans Pelicans
Height: 6’11” Position: Center Bottom line: The NBA 2015 draft features Jahlil at third, however, he has let down any hopefuls, only aggregating 17.5 points and 7.0 rebounds during his novice year among the Philadelphia 76ers. Jahlil’s career has hit new depths. Molded by The Duke, and now representing a third team, Okafor has confessed that he was burdened by depression and should have gotten the proper attention. While the athlete has the potential to exceed his garbage status, time is certainly running out for his comeback.
Jahlil Okafor New Orleans Pelicans
#35: Ian Mahinmi, Washington Wizards
Height: 6’11” Position: Center Bottom line: Here is a player that has continued to excel even after a decade of dedicated hard work. Being on his eleventh NBA year has not diminished Mahinmi’s performance. That is if he keeps up his sporting commitment to banging inside, the towering guy out of France may maintain his high life commitment to being a backup center in the NBA. He has the kind of commitment that the passage of time cannot diminish.
Ian Mahinmi Washington Wizards
#36: Zaza Pachulia, Detroit Pistons
Height: 6’1” Position: Center Bottom line: Pachulia isn’t the best regarded as a fan favorite within the league, due to being labeled as a dirty player thanks to his stumbling nature. Whether his lumbering nature is a natural result of his size, or he intentionally tries his luck, Zaza could certainly clean up his game. Regardless, he has constructed a commendable career. After achieving two rings alongside the Warriors, he now reinforces Andre Drummond within Detroit.
Zaza Pachulia Detroit Pistons
#37: Thomas Bryant, Washington Wizards
Height: 6’11” Position: Center Bottom line: Initially being recruited by the Utah Jazz within the 2017 draft’s second round, Bryant was later swapped with the Lakers. Following a waiver claim by the Wizards, Bryant has enjoyed a boost to his minutes within Washington. His average neared nine points per game in the 2018 to 2019 season, supplying a level of hardiness and rebounding not often experienced in the NBA. Keep your eyes focused on this youthful star-to-be.
Thomas Bryant Washington Wizards
#38: Dwight Howard, Washington Wizards
Height: 6’11” Position: Center Bottom line: The former Orlando Magic player with a famously powerful NBA presence has now witnessed his own steady downfall. The bigger they are, the harder they fall, it seems. The short times he spent with the Lakers and Rockets was both shockingly bad, we are sorry to say. Although Howard is desperately attempting to regain his former elite grandeur within the NBA, it could very well be that his glory days have ended.
Dwight Howard Washington Wizards
#39: John Henson, Milwaukee Bucks
Height: 6’11” Position: Center/power forward Bottom line: As the NBA has moved into a 3-point scoring league, John Henson has been forced to evolve his skillset. Many more old-school ballers have needed to adapt to the changing times, Henson being no exception. But how has the baller managed to change according to the new rules? He manages to score 2.2 treys with each game, with a success rate of 35.5%, the player’s career peak percentage from beyond the arc.
John Henson Milwaukee Bucks
#40: Jarrett Allen, Brooklyn Nets
Height: 6’11” Position: Center Bottom line: Allen made his NBA debut in 2017 following a great freshman period within Texas. His initial two seasons within the NBA were a good showcase of his skill, within both court sides. Allen is a scoring machine, hitting the high double-digits, as well as a competent rim-protector. The defense he provides is what defines him as such an indispensable addition to any team. The control and distance he maintains to deflect shots require better recognition. The spring chicken deserves acknowledgment for his high upside.
Jarrett Allen Brooklyn Nets
#41: Domantas Sabonis, Indiana Pacers
Height: 6’11” Position: Center Bottom line: When Sabonis was swapped to the Pacers, he began to excel, performing with heroes like Victor Oladipo and Myles Turner. He aggregates 8.4 rebounds, 12.8 points and 24.8 minutes with each Indiana game. The baller has excellent aim inside the three-point circle and is able to get physical in the paint when required to. His ability to snatch the ball off missed shots is invaluable. This, combined with his lethal accuracy, makes him a winning player.
Domantas Sabonis Indiana Pacers
#42: Myles Turner, Indiana Pacers
Height: 6’11” Position: Center Bottom line: While Turner is still finding his rhythms as an up and coming player, he could easily have his skill boosted by his performance within Team USA. Already regarded as a strong rebounder, he has become a top-drawer shot deflector within the NBA. In his 2018-2019 season, he stopped 2.8 shots with each game. That all being said, Turner is still quite an enigma. The success of his career relies on strengthening his offense, improving on his weaknesses and remaining in good shape.
Myles Turner Indiana Pacers
#43: Andre Drummond, Detroit Pistons
Height: 6’11” Position: Center Bottom line: The NBA is blessed to have Drummond, him being one of its ultimate rebounders. The team made a phenomenal move by drafting Drummond into its ranks. With an intimidating frame and power, he can dominate other players, while aggregating in the 2018 – 2019 season 14.9 rebounds with each game. As if he couldn’t improve anymore, his offense has done so, being a lethal dual-threat with each game he performs in.
Andre Drummond Detroit Pistons
#44: Robert Williams, Boston Celtics
Height: 6’10” Position: Center Bottom line: The Texas A&M amateur can be spotted in roughly half the Boston Celtics matches. Williams misses out on a lot of play due to large gentlemen like Daniel Theis and Al Horford devouring the minutes. Regardless, if Williams is summoned, the youngster seizes his chances, the Celtics appreciating the youth’s offerings at just twenty-one years of age. It might pain the capable players to have to sit on the sidelines for so long, but he certainly shines whenever called.
Robert Williams Boston Celtics
#45: Aaron Baynes, Boston Celtics
Height: 6’10” Position: Center Bottom line: The powerful and large Celtics Backup center has shown his skill at ball rebounding, not to mention being a decent screen-setter. Baynes also has a solid 3-point shot, which although not regularly witnessed, enters the hoop at a 32.5% clip. He has an aggressive and intimidating presence on the court, which his Viking-like appearance certainly bolsters. He might be one of the few Australian ballers on the team, but he certainly makes his country proud.
Aron Baynes Boston Celtics
#46: Al Horford, Boston Celtics
Height: 6’10” Position: Center Bottom line: Horford is not comparable to other players in terms of rim-protection; however, his worth is amazing. Despite his height, Horford can pass excellently, and this season he aggregated a total of 3.4 assists. It seems like the stereotypical skills were swapped around with Horford's skill base! His initial season alongside Boston saw him aggregate five dimes on average. This is a performance that the friendly giant can be proud of.
Al Horford Boston Celtics
The Top 40 High Schools That Have Produced the Most NBA Players

High Schools That Have Produced The Most NBA Players
#1: Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.) – 29 Players
Despite the University of Oklahoma, the University of Oklahoma and Boston College all being united in the Power 5 Conferences, they altogether have supplied the NBA with fewer stars than a small boarding school situated at the Virginia-North Carolina border.
Oak Hill Academy
NBA Players Who Attended Oak Hill (Years in League)
Jordan Adams (2) Cory Alexander (7) Carmelo Anthony (16) William Avery (3) Dwayne Bacon (2) Alex Blackwell (1) Steve Blake (13) Mark Blount (9) Junior Burrough (1) Quinn Cook (3) Ben Davis (4) DeSagana Diop (12) Sean Green (3) A.J. Hammons (1) Stephen Jackson (14) Brandon Jennings (9) Doron Lamb (2) Ty Lawson (8) Jeff McInnis (11) Ron Mercer (8) Makhtar N'Diaye (1) Rajon Rondo (13) Josh Smith (13) Nolan Smith (2) Jerry Stackhouse (18) Rod Strickland (17) Sindarius Thornwell (2) Marcus Williams (4) Troy Williams (3)#2 DeWitt Clinton High School (New York City, N.Y.) – 18 Players
Situated inside the Bronx, DeWitt Clinton was formerly the biggest high school in the world in the 1930s, with its student body exceeding 12,000 kids. Its modern student body numbers at around 14,000, the diminishment in size curbing its NBA graduates. Almost every DeWitt Clinton alumni who entered the NBA performed prior to the ABA-NBA fusion of 1976, with zero players featuring in the past two decades.
DeWitt Clinton High School
NBA Players Who Attended DeWitt Clinton (Years in League)
Tiny Archibald (13) Ron Behagen (7) Tommy Byrnes (5) Leo Gottlieb (2) Luther Green (3) Jerry Harkness (3) Tom Henderson (9) Ralph Kaplowitz (2) Dan Kraus (1) Butch Lee (2) Barry Liebowitz (1) Ruben Nembhard (1) Billy Reid (1) Dolph Schayes (15) Steve Sheppard (2) Ricky Sobers (11) Oliver Taylor (4) Willie Worsley (1)#3 DeMatha Catholic High School (Hyattsville, Md.) – 18 Players
Also featuring on the NFL side of our sporting achievement list, DeMatha has received two awards as the penultimate high school athletic program in America. Despite being a couple of miles out of Washington, D.C., DeMatha still brings in youngsters throughout the DMV zone.
DeMatha Catholic High School
NBA Players Who Attended DeMatha (Years in League)
Johnny Austin (2) Keith Bogans (11) Adrian Branch (4) Kenny Carr (10) Sid Catlett (1) Adrian Dantley (15) Danny Ferry (13) Joseph Forte (2) Markelle Fulz (2) Jerami Grant (5) Jerian Grant (4) Johnny Jones (2) Joe Kennedy (3) Sidney Lowe (4) Jerrod Mustaf (4) Victor Oladipo Hawkeye Whitney (2) Bernie Williams (5)#4 Brewster Academy (Wolfeboro, N.H.) – 14 Players
The pricy Brewster Academy has hosted fourteen of the twenty-eight NBA players who studied at a high school in New Hampshire. When we say pricy, we mean amongst the most elite in America, with the school’s tuition fees going over sixty-thousand dollars!
Brewster Academy
NBA Players Who Attended Brewster Academy (Years in League)
Jeff Adrien (5) Will Barton (7) Jonah Bolden (1) Craig Brackins (2) Semaj Christon (1) Marcus Derrickson (1) Devonte' Graham (1) Mitch McGary (2) Donovan Mitchell (2) Thomas Robinson (5) JaKarr Sampson (3) Xavier Silas (2) Jared Terrell (1) T.J. Warren (5)#5 Hargrave Military Academy (Chatham, Va.) – 14 Players
About two hours drive from Charlotte is the private boarding school, Hargrave. Hargrave is best regarded for its military academia, which takes queues from the actual Army, as well as for molding international-level sportspeople in various fields.
Hargrave Military Academy
NBA Players Who Attended Hargrave Military Academy (Years in League)
Joe Alexander (2) Lonny Baxter (4) Sharrod Ford (1) Donte Grantham (1) P.J. Hairston (2) Montrezl Harrell (4) Josh Howard (10) Vernon Macklin (1) Terry Rozier (4) Marreese Speights (10) James Thomas (2) James White (3) Korleone Young (1) Sam Young (4)#6 Laurinburg Institute (Laurinburg, N.C.) – 13 Players
Similar to the Hargrave school, Laurinburg Institute is also an academy close to Charlotte which takes in post-graduates. Basketball happens to be the sole sport provided by Laurinburg, with all of the sporting assets directed at the balling program, which attained a national award in 2005 following its victory over Hargrave.
Laurinburg Institute
#7 Henderson International School (Henderson, Nev.) – 12 Players
The Henderson International basketball program is known as “Findlay Prep”, however, plenty of commentators regard it as an AAU program, rather than an academic institution. Some truth to the comments is revealed when one considers that their team’s dozen basketball players form the whole Henderson enrollment, with a fervent national performance agenda pursued at the sidelining of academic performance.
Henderson International School
NBA Players Who Attended Henderson International (Years in League)
Anthony Bennett (4) Avery Bradley (9) Dillon Brooks (2) Jorge Gutierrez (3) Nick Johnson (1) Cory Joseph (8) DeAndre Liggins (5) Kelly Oubre (4) Tristan Thompson (8) Allonzo Trier (1) Rashad Vaughn (3) Christian Wood (3)#8 Overbrook High School (Philadelphia, Pa.) – 12 Players
The legendary Wilt Chamberlain started his career at Overbook, winning a duo of city championships and raising the bar with Pennsylvania’s new high school scoring record. “Wilt the Stilt” got the attention of the NBA while still a teenager, as recruiter Red Auerbach attempted to convince him to move to a college Boston-side so he could become a local pick by the Celtics.
Overbrook High School
NBA Players Who Attended Overbrook (Years in League)
Wilt Chamberlain (14) Mike Gale (11) Walt Hazzard (10) Wayne Hightower (10) Wali Jones (11) Rich Laurel (1) Hal Lear (1) Lewis Lloyd (7) Andre McCarter (3) Jackie Moore (3) Angelo Musi (3) Malik Rose (13)#9 Proviso East High School (Maywood, Ill.) – 12 Players
New York City is the only city to have released a higher number of NBA players than Chicago, Proviso East being one such team contributing to Chicago's success. The amount of candidates alone fuels plenty of chances for potential sportspeople to surface, with Proviso achieving an acceptance of four-thousand individuals throughout the 1970s.
Proviso East High School
NBA Players Who Attended Proviso East (Years in League)
Donnie Boyce (2) Jim Brewer (9) Dee Brown (2) Shannon Brown (9) Sterling Brown (2) Jevon Carter (1) Michael Finley (15) Sherell Ford (1) Steven Hunter (8) Reggie Jordan (6) Jacob Pullen (1) Doc Rivers (13)#10 Thomas Jefferson High School (New York City, N.Y.) – 10 Players
Situated in Brooklyn, the formerly all-inclusive Jefferson High catered to the excellence of all students, without honing in on sportspeople.
Thomas Jefferson High School
NBA Players Who Attended Thomas Jefferson (Years in League)
Harry Boykoff (2) Leroy Ellis (14) Jack Garfinkel (3) Sidney Green (10) Tony Jackson (2) Jim McMillian (9) Boris Nachamkin (1) Phil Sellers (1) Sid Tannenbaum (2) Max Zaslofsky (10)#11 Dunbar High School (Baltimore, Md.) – 9 Players
It is hard to think of many schools producing two NBA players from the same class year. Three is almost unheard of. Having four such players is a unique claim only Paul Laurence Dunbar High School can claim.
Dunbar High School
NBA Players Who Attended Dunbar (Years in League)
Muggsy Bogues (14) Keith Booth (2) Sam Cassell (15) Terry Dozier (1) Kurk Lee (1) Reggie Lewis (6) Reggie Williams (10) David Wingate (15) Skip Wise (1)#12 Maine Central Institute (Pittsfield, Maine) – 9 Players
No one could have guessed that a Maine boarding school could end up as a leader in basketball. Not one single other school in Maine has developed an NBA player, with Maine Central Institute pumping out all nine players.
Maine Central Institute
NBA Players Who Attended Maine Central Institute (Years in League)
Erick Barkley (2) Etdrick Bohannon (4) Caron Butler (14) Sean Colson (1) Dave Johnson (2) DerMar Johnson (7) Brad Miller (14) Cuttino Mobley (11) Mamadou N'Diaye (5)#13 Pershing High School (Detroit, Mich.) – 9 Players
Despite not enjoying any currently performing NBA players, Pershing probably has the most renowned package of retired stars on this list.
Pershing High School
NBA Players Who Attended Pershing (Years in League)
Keith Appling (1) Mel Daniels (9) Kay Felder (2) Bubbles Hawkins (4) Spencer Haywood (13) Willie Iverson (1) Ralph Simpson (10) Steve Smith (14) Kevin Willis (11)#14 St. Benedict’s Prep (Newark, N.J.) – 9 Players
New Jersey may be a breeding ground for NFL prospects, but St. Benedict’s is among the rare Newark high schools which don’t provide the sport. Consequently, much of the student body shifts toward basketball, such as graduate J.R. Smith, featuring in a total of four various high schools, ultimately landing in St. Benedict’s.
St Benedicts Prep
NBA Players Who Attended Mt. Benedict's (Years in League)
Tyler Ennis (4) John Holland (2) Scott Machado (2) Xavier Munford (2) Lamar Patterson (2) Samardo Samuels (3) Chris Smith (1) J.R. Smith (15) Lance Thomas (8)#15 Mount Vernon High School (Mount Vernon, N.Y.) – 9 Players
Privileged with the moniker “The Home of Basketball”, the state of New York enjoys an incredible fourteen varied high schools which have forged a minimum of 5 NBA legends.
Mount Vernon High School
NBA Players Who Attended Mount Vernon (Years in League)
Ben Gordon (11) Rudy Hackett (2) Kevin Jones (1) Rodney McCray (10) Scooter McCray (3) Lowes Moore (3) Earl Tatum (4) Gus Williams (11) Ray Williams (10)#16 Mater Dei High School (Santa Ana, Calif.) – 9 Players
Known as a family-focused academy, Mater Dei proves its label through the establishment of numerous family centers.
Mater Dei High School
NBA Players Who Attended Mater Dei (Years in League)
Cedric Bozeman (1) LeRon Ellis (3) Reggie Geary (2) Stanley Johnson (4) Jamal Sampson (5) Miles Simon (1) D.J. Strawberry (1) David Wear (1) Travis Wear (2)#17 Huntington Prep (Huntington, W.Va.) – 9 Players
Riding on the coattails of the lauded Oak Hill Academy, further “basketball high schools” began cropping up throughout the nation, with Huntington Prep. being one of them.
Huntington Prep
NBA Players Who Attended Huntington Prep (Years in League)
Sim Bhullar (1) Miles Bridges (1) Thomas Bryant (2) Gorgui Dieng (6) Marshall Hawkins (1) O.J. Mayo (8) Patrick Patterson (9) Xavier Rathan-Mayes (1) Andrew Wiggins (5)#18 Roman Catholic High School (Philadelphia, Pa.) – 8 Players
Philadelphia, alongside the other four cities (Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York), has cracked the one hundred NBA player supply. The majority of ballers to arise out of Roman Catholic High School are recent, with 6 out of 8 alumni having performed within the NBA from 2000 onwards.
Roman Catholic High School
NBA Players Who Attended Roman Catholic (Years in League)
Mike Bantom (9) Rasual Butler (10) Dallas Comegys (2) Eddie Griffin (5) Marc Jackson (7) Lari Ketner (2) Brad Wanamaker (2) Maalik Wayns (2)#19 St. Antony High School (Jersey City, N.J.) – 8 Players
The Pro Basketball Hall of Fame only features four high school coaches, Bob Hurley being a member, due to the incredible program he pioneered at St. Anthony.
St Antony High School
NBA Players Who Attended St. Anthony (Years in League)
Kyle Anderson (5) Terry Dehere (6) Bobby Hurley (5) Roshown McLeod (3) Rodrick Rhodes (3) David Rivers (3) Tyshawn Taylor (2) Luther Wright (1)#20 McClymonds High School (Oakland, Calif.) – 8 Players
Possessing a student group numbering just past three-hundred, McClymonds happens to be among the tiniest schools featured on our list. However, the school maintains a standard of quality over quantity.
McClymonds High School
NBA Players Who Attended McClymonds (Years in League)
Odis Allison (1) Will Cherry (1) Antonio Davis (13) Joe Ellis (8) Jim Hadnot (1) Bill Russell (13) Paul Silas (16) Nate Williams (8)#21 Male High School (Louisville, Ky.) – 8 Players
Established during 1856, Male is steeped in history, being the first high school on the other side of the Allegheny Mountains as well as the penultimate in age featured in our list.
Male High School
NBA Players Who Attended Male (Years in League)
Henry Bacon (1) Ralph Beard (2) Winston Bennett (3) Wesley Cox (2) Darrell Griffith (10) Gene Rhodes (1) Dallas Thornton (2) George Tinsley (2)#22 Long Beach Polytechnic (Long Beach, California) – 8 Players
Long Beach Polytechnic’s register exceeds more than four-thousand students and is one of America’s biggest schools. The sheer scale of the school’s student body obviously greatly boosts its chances of producing a whole range of star alumni, beyond NBA players.
Long Beach Polytechnic
NBA Players Who Attended Long Beach Poly (Years in League)
Jordan Bell (2) Mack Calvin (11) Tyus Edney (4) Bobby Jones (2) Ozell Jones (2) Ben McDonald (4) Michael Wiley (2) Morlon Wiley (7)#23 Archbishop Molloy (New York City, New York) – 8 Players
Situated within Queens, N.Y., the Archbishop Molloy school is most famous for John Curran, the legendary basketball coach. Being the highest victory-holding coach within New York City and state, he headed the school’s team for a phenomenal 45 years.
Archbishop Molloy
NBA Players Who Attended Archbishop Molloy (Years in League)
Kenny Anderson (14) Sundiata Gaines (3) Kevin Joyce (3) Tommy Kearns (1) York Larese (1) Kenny Smith (10) Robert Werdann (3) Brian Winters (9)#24 Crenshaw High School (Los Angeles, California) – 8 Players
It isn’t often that you find two high school teammates both making it to the NBA. Even rarer than that is having to highschool teammates becoming teammates in the NBA together too! However, this is exactly what occurred in 1982 when Robert Smith and Marques Johnson of Crenshaw both joined the Milwaukee Bucks.
Crenshaw High School
NBA Players Who Attended Crenshaw (Years in League)
Stanley Brundy (1) Darwin Cook (8) Tremaine Fowlkes (4) Marques Johnson (11) Kevin Ollie (13) Robert Smith (7) Stephen Thompson (1) John Williams (8)#25 La Salle Academy (New York City, New York) – 7 Players
Situated southeast of Madison Square Garden by about two miles, La Salle Academy featured a basketball squad that held a duo of ballers capable of starring in any NBA All-Name squad. Halfway through the 90s, Shammgod Wells and Ron Artest were on the same team, and soon to become renamed as God Shammgod and Metta World Peace.
La Salle Academy
NBA Players Who Attended La Salle Academy (Years in League)
Ed Bartels (2) Billy Hassett (2) Dick McGuire (11) Tom Owens (12) John Roche (8) God Shammgod (1) Metta World Peace (17)#26 Inglewood High School (Inglewood, California) – 7 players
Situated a single mile out of the famous Great Western Forum which formerly hosted the Los Angeles Lakers, Harold Miner would come to inherit his legendary NBA title, “Baby Jordan”.
Inglewood High School
NBA Players Who Attended Inglewood (Years in League)
Noel Felix (1) Jason Hart (9) Jay Humphries (11) Ralph Jackson (1) Harold Miner (4) Paul Pierce (19) Reggie Theus (13)#27 South Philadelphia High School (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) – 7 players
Philadelphia proudly maintains its place as a center for rising basketball stars, and South Philadelphia might have ranked better on this list several years back. Sadly, its place as a source for NBA champs has ended, with a player drought two decades in the making.
South Philadelphia High School
NBA Players Who Attended South Philadelphia (Years in League)
Nate Blackwell (1) Stan Brown (2) Ollie Johnson (10) Herm Klotz (1) Petey Rosenberg (1) Lionel Simmons (7) Isaiah Wilson (2)#28 Montverde Academy (Montverde, Florida) – 7 players
Positioning the current Montverde-alumni now in the NBA in your starting five for a playoff would already give you success, with the 76ers duo Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid at hand.
Montverde Academy
NBA Players Who Attended Montverde (Years in League)
Solomon Alabi (2) Joel Embiid (3) Patricio Garino (1) Dakari Johnson (1) Luc Mbah a Moute (11) D'Angelo Russell (4) Ben Simmons (2)#29 Carver Military Academy (Chicago, Illinois) – 7 players
Currently operating as a military academy, Carvery was previously named “George Washington Carver Area High School” during its traditional high school period.
Carver Military Academy
NBA Players Who Attended Carver Military Academy (Years in League)
Terry Cummings (18) Tim Hardaway (13) Priest Lauderdale (2) Renaldo Major (1) Andre Moore (1) Marlbert Pradd (2) Cazzie Russell (12)#30 Compton High School (Compton, California) – 7 players
Beyond the city of Los Angeles, the city of Compton has pumped out a higher number of NBA stars inside Los Angeles County than any other city. The majority of whom have emerged from Compton High School, DeMar DeRozan being one of them, making the most out of his four years at the school.
Compton High School
NBA Players Who Attended Compton (Years in League)
DeMar DeRozan (10) Ron Knight (2) Tito Maddux (1) Louie Nelson (5) Woody Sauldsberry (7) Jose Slaughter (1) Jeff Trepagnier (3)#31 Abraham Lincoln High School (New York City, New York) – 7 Players
Outside of NBA, Abraham Lincoln High has produced other phenomenal individuals, such as Louis Gossett Jr., Marv Albert and Mel Brooks. Suffice to say, Lincoln High’s non-sporting former pupils are more popular than their sporting alumni. You might have heard of “Starbury”, aka Stephon Marbury, undoubtedly the school’s star player, being one-quarter of the Lincoln Railsplitters to receive the Mr. New York Basketball prize.
Abraham Lincoln High School
NBA Players Who Attended Abraham Lincoln (Years in League)
Jim Brasco (10) Stephon Marbury (13) Dave Newmark (3) Lance Stephenson (9) Sebastian Telfair (10) Jamel Thomas (2) Isaiah Whitehead (2)#32 Springarn High School (Washington, D.C.) – 7 Players
Considering the forty-five NBA stars who are part of high schools within Washington, D.C., only a couple of them entered the Hall of Fame, and both of them passing through Springarn High School on their way to stardom. Starting with Elgin Baylor, who began there in 1953 in Springarn’s second year of establishment. The Laker-to-be set the single-game record for scoring across high schools in D.C., peaking at sixty-three points and earning the title “Area’s Best Basketball Player”.
Springarn High School
NBA Players Who Attended Spingarn (Years in League)
Elgin Baylor (14) Dave Bing (12) Sherman Douglas (12) Earl Jones (2) Fatty Taylor (8) John Tresvant (9) Stan Washington (1)#33 Crane High School (Chicago, Illinois) – 7 players
Formerly a basic high school, Crane has now turned to focus on health sciences over the past ten years and is considered a medical prep school. Before that change, however, Crane was launching soon-to-be professionals everywhere, enjoying seasons where teams featured multiple now-NBA level players. The latest players were Will Bynum and Tony Allen during the 1999-2000 graduate year, with both players featuring in the backcourt.
Crane High School
NBA Players Who Attended Crane (Years in League)
Tony Allen (14) Cory Blackwell (1) Em Bryant (8) Will Bynum (8) Sherron Collins (1) Ken Norman (10) Andre Wakefield (2)#34 East High School (Columbus, Ohio) – 7 Players
Almost all of the schools featured in this list feature a famous player to celebrate, however, East High is the exception. Despite enjoying a large output of NBA players, their quality does not match that of their sporting school counterparts.
East High School
NBA Players Who Attended East High (Years in League)
Larry Jones (8) Bo Lamar (4) Mel Nowell (2) Ed Ratleff (5) Joe Roberts (4) Granville Waiters (5) Chuckie Williams (1)#35 Murrah High School (Jackson, Mississippi) – 6 Players
With one-tenth of all NBA players in Mississippi coming from Murrah (with fifty-nine in total), it comes as no surprise that they have conquered the in-state high school basketball game for tens of years. Incredibly, Murrah has also had seven Mr. Basketball recipients.
Murrah High School
NBA Players Who Attended Murrah (Years in League)
Othella Harrington (12) Lindsey Hunter (17) Trey Johnson (3) Ryan Lorthridge (1) James Robinson (7) Mo Williams (13)#36 Washington High School (Washington, Indiana) – 6 players
It may be hard to believe that a school in a town with just over ten-thousand people managed to join this list! In part, that is thanks to the Zeller family! If it weren’t for the Zeller brothers, Luke, Tyler, and Cody, the Washington High NBA submission would have been halved. The Indiana Mr. Basketball prize was awarded to all the brothers, while still at school, with Luke being awarded his prize in 2005, Tyler in 2008 and Cody in 2011.
Washington High School
NBA Players Who Attended Washington (Years in League)
Leo Klier (2) Craig Neal (2) Jim Riffey (1) Cody Zeller (6) Luke Zeller (1) Tyler Zeller (7)#37 McKinley High School (Baton Rouge, Louisiana) – 6 Players
Amazingly, McKinley has produced six NFL players as well as six NBA players. Despite LSU’s proximity of a single mile to the school, out of the six McKinley Panther players to reach NBA level, only one went via LSU to get there.
McKinley High School
NBA Players Who Attended McKinley (Years in League)
Don Chaney (12) Tommie Green (1) Fred Hilton (2) Cincinnatus Powell (8) Keith Smart (1) Tyrus Thomas (8)#38 Southwest Magnet High School (Macon, Georgia) – 6 Players
Southwest Magnet used to be one of the biggest high schools in America, but over the years it has diminished in capacity because of having too many students to successfully meet their needs. It seems that having fewer students also means fewer NBA star players for this school. The school supplied 6 players to the NBA in the mid-90s, but over two decades later, this figure hasn't changed.
Southwest Magnet High School
NBA Players Who Attended Southwest Magnet (Years in League)
Jeff Malone (13) Ivano Newbill (3) Norm Nixon (10) Myles Patrick (1) Chris Robinson (2) Sharone Wright (4)#39 Flint Northwestern High School (Flint, Michigan) – 6 Players
Being one of the newest schools on this list, Flint Northwestern was established in 1964, before it shut down in 2018, winning two state championships during the junior and senior seasons of the triple NBA All-Star Glen Rice.
Flint Northwestern High School
NBA Players Who Attended Flint Northwestern (Years in League)
Desmon Farmer (2) Jeff Grayer (9) Morris Peterson (11) Glen Rice (15) Barry Stevens (1) Trent Tucker (11)#40 Canton McKinley High School (Canton, Ohio) – 6 Players
Other than Canton’s place as host to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, this city also rubs shoulders with basketball prestige, with Canton McKinley High School achieving unmatched renown as a ‘star factory’. McKinley makes the most out of its peak positioning for all-time wins in Ohio and possesses the record for featuring in championship matches – an unmatched eleven times. Between 1973 and 2008, at least one of the school’s students became an NBA player, with some seasons having even more.
Canton McKinley High School