query: when did the nba ban high school players

pos: NBA high school draftees NBA high school draftees The NBA high school draftees are players who have been drafted to the National Basketball Association (NBA) straight out of high school without playing basketball at the collegiate level. The process of jumping directly from high school to the professional level is also known as going prep-to-pro. Since 2006, the practice of drafting high school players has been prohibited by the new collective bargaining agreement, which requires that players who entered the draft be 19 years of age and at least one year removed from high school. Contrary to popular belief, the player does not have

pos: 2005 NBA draft new age limit for draft eligibility. Starting with the 2006 NBA draft, players of any nationality who complete athletic eligibility at a U.S. high school cannot declare themselves eligible for the draft unless they turn 19 no later than December 31 of the year of the draft and are at least one year removed from the graduation of their high school classes. International players, defined in the NBA's collective bargaining agreement as non-US nationals who did not complete athletic eligibility at a U.S. high school, must turn 19 (or older) in the calendar year of the draft, up from 18.

pos: NBA high school draftees 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. For the first time, teams are also allowed to send players, with two years of NBA experience or less, to the NBA Development League (NBA D-League). The terms of the new agreement ended the practice of drafting high school players, starting in the 2006 Draft. A high school player must wait at least a year to be eligible for selection. However, they are not required to spend that year in college. In

pos: O. J. Mayo games playing for the D-1 Greyhounds. In February 2006, Mayo attracted the largest crowd to ever see a high school game in Cincinnati, Ohio when 16,202 fans watched North College Hill fall to the nation's number one rated team, Oak Hill Academy. Mayo had been considered a lock to make the leap straight from high school to the NBA, but the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the NBA and its players instituted a rule that a player must be at least a year out of high school before he can enter the NBA, effectively curtailing those plans. On July 5, 2006,

pos: 2006 NBA draft the U.S. for three years before the draft, did not complete high school in the U.S., and have never enrolled at a U.S. college or university. The basic requirement for automatic eligibility for a U.S. player is the completion of his college eligibility. Players who meet the CBA definition of "international players" are automatically eligible if their 22nd birthday falls during or before the calendar year of the draft (i.e., born on or before December 31, 1984, for the 2006 draft). A player who is not automatically eligible must declare his eligibility for the draft by notifying the NBA offices

pos: Draft (sports) teams overseas. It was formerly common for players to be chosen directly from high school, but in 2006, the NBA required that players wait a year after high school before playing in the NBA. Almost all top U.S. players thus play at least one year in college. The NHL operates a seven-round off-season draft. Like the NBA, the NHL uses a lottery system to determine which team gets the top pick. All 15 teams that failed to qualify for the playoffs take part in the weighted lottery with the winner moving up to select first overall. Any North American player

pos: Eligibility for the NBA draft "in addition to" the age requirement. For example, although O. J. Mayo turned 19 in November 2006, six months before his high school graduation, he was not eligible until the 2008 draft, a year after his high school class graduated. Stern stated the rules were business-related and not a "social program", citing the need to see players perform against higher competition before they are evaluated for valuable draft picks. The rule effectively mandated that players spend at least one year in college. High school players who would otherwise have jumped directly into the NBA were instead playing in college for

pos: NBA draft past, high school players were also eligible to be selected. However, starting in the 2006 draft, high school players were not eligible to enter the draft directly after graduating from high school. The rules now state that high school players will gain eligibility for draft selection one year after their high school graduation, and they must also be at least 19 years old as of the end of the calendar year of the draft. Some players have chosen to use that year to play professionally overseas for example, such as Brandon Jennings (Italy), Emmanuel Mudiay (China), and Terrance Ferguson (Australia).

pos: Mardy Collins Mardy Collins Maurice Rodney "Mardy" Collins (born August 4, 1984) is an American professional basketball player for SIG Strasbourg of the LNB Pro A. He completed his college basketball career at Temple University, and was drafted by the New York Knicks with the 29th pick of the first round of the 2006 NBA draft. Collins played for the Knicks for two seasons and then played for the Los Angeles Clippers from 2008 to 2010. Since 2011, Collins has played in various international leagues. Collins attended Simon Gratz High School in Philadelphia, as did NBA players Aaron McKie and Rasheed Wallace.

pos: Curtis Dennis the most valuable player of both Championships. In The Glen Falls Federation championship, Blessed Sacrament won the first game vs Lackawanna High School but came up short against Global Studies. Blessed Sacrament Varsity Men's Basketball Team of 2005-2006 season was inducted into The New Rochelle Hall of Fame. Following Blessed Sacrament-St. Gabriel High School Dennis did a post-graduate year at Gulf Shores Academy in Houston, Texas. He was coached by Ken "Juice" Williams (who coached NBA players Gerald Green and Darington Hobson). Dennis averaged 24.5 points per game and led the Tigers to a 45–3 record. Coach Williams said, "I

pos: Eligibility for the NBA draft in , resulting in a lockout. The previous CBA, approved in December 2011, made no changes to the draft rules, but called for the NBA and its players union to form a committee to discuss draft-related issues. In 2016, the NBA and NBA Players Association met to work on a new CBA, which both sides approved in December of that year. This most recent agreement started with the 2017–18 season and will run through 2023–24, with a mutual opt-out after 2022–23. The basic rules that started in the 2006 draft are: The "one year out of high school" requirement is

pos: Jason Williams (basketball, born 1975) started all of Miami's playoff games in 2006 when they won the NBA championship. The Heat named Williams one of their top 25 players of all time in 2007. Williams was born in Belle, West Virginia. He attended the now-defunct DuPont High School in Belle, where he played high school basketball for the DuPont Panthers in 1994, and led his high school team to the state championship before being defeated in the final. He became the only player in DuPont team history to reach 1,000 points and 500 assists. "USA Today" named Williams the West Virginia Player of the Year

pos: Sport in China Zhizhi and Mengke Bateer), and young CBA players such as Yi Jianlian and Sun Yue entering the NBA are a testament to basketball's increasing popularity. In 2008, Sun Yue became the latest Chinese to join the NBA by signing with the Los Angeles Lakers to a two-year contract. Bodybuilding was introduced to China in the 1930s, before being banned in 1953 and making a reappearance in 1983 when the ban was officially lifted. Boxing in China first appeared in the 1920s. Professional boxing is followed by some fans in China. China had a good result in the 2006 37th Chess

neg: NBA high school draftees NBA have had college experience. However, there have been numerous notable players who attended high school in the United States and then joined the NBA without playing college basketball. In the early years of the 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 draft. However, the NBA rules at that time prohibited a high school

neg: NBA high school draftees however, these players did not get drafted or join the NBA directly after their high school graduation. 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 more likely to fail. 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

neg: 2004 NBA draft 2004 NBA draft The 2004 NBA draft was held on June 24, 2004, at The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City, and was broadcast live on ESPN at 7:00 pm (EDT). In this draft, National Basketball Association teams took turns selecting amateur college basketball players and other first-time eligible players. The NBA announced that 56 college and high school players and 38 international players had filed as early-entry candidates for the 2004 draft. On May 26, the NBA draft lottery was conducted for the teams that did not make the NBA Playoffs in the 2003–04 NBA season.

neg: NBA high school draftees influx of high schoolers bypassing colleges in favor of the NBA has caused collegiate game to deteriorate. Universities are wary of spending time recruiting as many players that are motivated financially to turn pro fresh out of high school. 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

neg: NBA high school draftees "on average, these [high school] players perform better in every major statistical category than does the average NBA player". Others instead believe that the problem was due to the lack of established farm system in basketball until recently. In other major sports, such as baseball and hockey, it is common for young players to develop in their minor league systems. NBA high school draftees The NBA high school draftees are players who have been drafted to the National Basketball Association (NBA) straight out of high school without playing basketball at the collegiate level. The process of jumping directly from high

neg: NBA high school draftees to play at least a year in college basketball: the player can choose to instead play in another professional league (like the NBA G League or especially somewhere overseas) like Brandon Jennings or Emmanuel Mudiay in Italy and China respectively; simply take the year off, as Mitchell Robinson and Darius Bazley did; or even hold themselves back a year in high school before declaring for the draft, like with Satnam Singh Bhamara or Thon Maker. The NBA has long had a preference for players who played basketball at the collegiate level; the vast majority of players to play in the

neg: Yves Mekongo Mbala a tournament organised by FIBA in conjunction with the NBA that gathered 100 of the continent's best players to take part in games and classes with coaching from African NBA players. He was part of a group of Cameroonian players, the majority from local club Onyx de Yaoundé, that also included future NBA player and international teammate Luc Mbah a Moute. He later moved to the U.S. around 2004 for both athletic and academic reasons. After a first experience in a school that did not challenge him enough academically he moved to St. Patrick High School in New Jersey, one

neg: 2005 NBA draft 2005 NBA draft The 2005 NBA draft took place on June 28, 2005, in the Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York City. In this draft, NBA teams took turns selecting amateur college basketball players and other first-time eligible players, such as players from high schools and non-North American leagues. The NBA announced that 49 college and high school players and 11 international players had filed as early-entry candidates for the draft. This was the last NBA draft for which high school players were eligible. The new collective bargaining agreement between the league and its players union established a

neg: 2009 NBA draft draft. These players were not selected in the 2009 NBA draft but have played at least one game in the NBA. The basic requirements for draft eligibility are: The CBA defines "international players" as players who permanently resided outside the U.S. for three years prior to the draft, did not complete high school in the U.S., and have never enrolled at a U.S. college or university. The basic requirement for automatic eligibility for a U.S. player is the completion of his college eligibility. Players who meet the CBA definition of "international players" are automatically eligible if their 22nd birthday falls

neg: 1975 NBA draft Darryl Dawkins, the 5th pick, and Bill Willoughby, the 19th pick, became the first two high school players to directly enter the NBA after their high school graduation. They also became the second and third players to go directly from high school basketball to professional league, after Moses Malone in the 1974 ABA Draft. They also became the second and third high school players ever drafted in the NBA, after Reggie Harding in the 1962 Draft. However, because the rules prevented Harding from playing in the league until one year after his high school class graduated, he had to wait

neg: 2006 NBA draft Some of these players not selected in this year's draft have played in the NBA. The new collective bargaining agreement between the NBA and the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) took into effect starting in this year's draft. Under the new agreement, high school players were "not" eligible for selection. The new rules stated that high school players must wait one year after their high school class graduates and must be at least 19 years old to be eligible for the draft. The basic requirements for draft eligibility are: The CBA defines "international players" as players who permanently resided outside

neg: NBA draft than the NBA. There had been only 44 draftees from high school to college to play in the NBA throughout this process. Any players who are not an "international player" must be at least one year out of the graduation of his high school class in order for them to qualify for the upcoming draft. Not many high school players went directly to the NBA draft for almost 20 years after Darryl Dawkins in 1975 because of the exposure of the college games. In the early years of the draft, teams would select players until they ran out of prospects.

neg: Carl Krauser he gained the nickname "The Black Booger" for his tenacious defense. Krauser also played with other players who found success in their basketball careers including Seton Hall's Andre Barrett and former Duke star and NBA player Jay (Jason) Williams. Krauser's career took another step when he made the New York AAU team, the Broncos. When Krauser was 17, he had to repeat his junior year of high school, but instead of repeating the year at Stevenson High School, where he did not make his freshmen basketball team, he chose to attend St. Thomas More Prep. Krauser left St. Thomas More

neg: 2007 NBA draft in the NBA. The basic requirements for draft eligibility are: The CBA defines "international players" as players who permanently resided outside the U.S. for three years before the draft, did not complete high school in the U.S., and have never enrolled at a U.S. college or university. The basic requirement for automatic eligibility for a U.S. player is the completion of his college eligibility. Players who meet the CBA definition of "international players" are automatically eligible if their 22nd birthday falls during or before the calendar year of the draft (i.e., born on or before December 31, 1985). A player

neg: Gerald Green in the period leading up to the 2005 NBA draft. Green was one of the last players to enter the NBA directly from high school, as the collective bargaining agreement between NBA owners and the NBA Players' Association now mandates that American players who enter the NBA Draft must be at least one year removed from the graduation of their high school class and reach age 19 no later than December 31 of the calendar year of the draft. During the pre-season, Green averaged 8 points and 1.3 rebounds per game for the Celtics in the 2005 Las Vegas Summer

neg: 2005 NBA draft players were made on the day of the draft: Prior to the draft, the following trades were made and resulted in exchanges of draft picks between the teams. 2005 NBA draft The 2005 NBA draft took place on June 28, 2005, in the Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York City. In this draft, NBA teams took turns selecting amateur college basketball players and other first-time eligible players, such as players from high schools and non-North American leagues. The NBA announced that 49 college and high school players and 11 international players had filed as early-entry candidates for the

neg: National Basketball Association criticisms and controversies one year out of high school. However, since the implementation of these rules, certain players have used alternative methods to enter the draft, to the point where some players declare while even still playing in high school. Players like Brandon Jennings, Emmanuel Mudiay, and Terrence Ferguson have entered their respective NBA drafts while spending a year out overseas. More recently, some players like Satnam Singh, Thon Maker, and Matur Maker have entered their respective NBA drafts while being considered as high school postgraduates, meaning they've played a fifth year of high school basketball for various reasons instead of go to

neg: 2004 NBA draft also notable for many high schoolers being drafted within a few picks from each other. These players not selected in the draft have played at least one game in the NBA. 2004 NBA draft The 2004 NBA draft was held on June 24, 2004, at The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City, and was broadcast live on ESPN at 7:00 pm (EDT). In this draft, National Basketball Association teams took turns selecting amateur college basketball players and other first-time eligible players. The NBA announced that 56 college and high school players and 38 international players had filed

neg: NBA high school draftees later. In the 2015 draft, Satnam Singh Bhamara, who did not qualify academically to go to college, went straight to the NBA draft as a post-graduate after being at IMG Academy for five years. He would be taken by the Dallas Mavericks with the 52nd pick in the draft, thus becoming the first high school student to be drafted since the rule changes. In the 2016 draft, one of the Top–10 players that was declared eligible for NCAA play in 2016, Thon Maker, decided to enter the draft instead as a post-graduate from Orangeville Prep in Orangeville, Ontario, Canada due

neg: Gene Guarilia went on to win the game in overtime. A new NBA rule allowed Guarilia to become the 11th man on the Boston roster in the (1962-63) NBA Championship versus the Lakers. On September 25, 1963 the Celtics placed Guarilia on waivers to reduce their playing squad to 16 players. Guarilia went on to teach health and physical education for many years at Duryea High School, which became Northeast High School, which in turn became Pittston Area Senior High School. Pittston Area dedicated its court to Guarilia in January 2015, when it painted two shamrocks and Guarilia's No. 20 on the

neg: NBA high school draftees NBA teams. He won the NBA championship, along with the Finals Most Valuable Player Award, with the Philadelphia 76ers in 1983. His other achievements include 3 Most Valuable Player Awards, 12 consecutive All-Star Game selections, 8 All-NBA Team selections and 6 rebounding titles. He has been inducted to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and was also named in the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History list announced at the league's 50th anniversary in 1996. A year later, two high school players, Darryl Dawkins and Bill Willoughby, applied for hardship and were declared eligible to be selected in the

neg: Rob Pelinka Draft selection, James Harden, 4th and 13th overall 2010 NBA Draft selections, Wesley Johnson and Ed Davis, 2nd overall 2011 NBA Draft selection Derrick Williams, and Buddy Hield, the sixth overall pick in 2016. Pelinka currently represents 24 NBA players. Among the players he has formerly represented are DeShawn Stevenson and Fred Hoiberg. A Los Angeles resident who was raised in Illinois, Pelinka represents two players who, like him, played high school basketball in the Chicago area (Corey Maggette and Julian Wright) and a third who had been a high school star in Springfield, Illinois (Iguodala). He has represented several

neg: Jamal Crawford the Year Award in 2010, 2014 and 2016, becoming the first three-time winner of the award in NBA history. He currently holds the record for most career four-point plays made with 54 (59 when counting the playoffs). Crawford attended Rainier Beach High School in Seattle, where his number (23) is retired. At Rainier Beach, Crawford was a standout player who led the Rainier Beach Vikings to victory in the 1998 WIAA State Championship. Rainier Beach High School is also where fellow NBA and NCAA basketball players Doug Christie, Nate Robinson, Terrence Williams, and C.J. Giles attended. After high school, Crawford

neg: Eligibility for the NBA draft and a future All-Star in Jermaine O'Neal were first-round picks out of high school. Most years after that saw at least one, and often more, high schoolers drafted, most notably Tracy McGrady (1997), Kwame Brown (the first high schooler to be the #1 overall pick, in 2001), Amar'e Stoudemire (2002), LeBron James (#1 in 2003), and Dwight Howard (#1 in 2004). However, the influx of high schoolers caused considerable controversy. When the NBA and its players union negotiated a new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) in 2005, NBA Commissioner David Stern publicly called for a higher age limit of 20, stating

neg: 1996 McDonald's All-American Boys Game to play. Shaheen Holloway, who was the starting point guard for the East, won the MVP award with 7 points, 8 assists and 6 steals; other players who starred were guard Kobe Bryant (13 points/3 assists), center Vassil Evtimov (the only one to record a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds) and bench players Stephen Jackson (East) and Winfred Walton (West) who were the top scorers of the game, tied at 21 points. Of the 22 All-Americans, 12 did not play in the NBA, while 2 were drafted out of high school in the 1996 NBA Draft: Kobe Bryant

neg: Pacific Tigers men's basketball In late 2015, investigations into improper academic benefits being provided to basketball players began. On December 11, the school placed head coach Ron Verlin and assistant coach Dwight Young on suspension. On December 18, the school self imposed a postseason ban for 2016 and a reduction in scholarships due to the pending academic fraud investigations. On March 3, 2016, the school revealed that Verlin and Young were no longer employed by the university. On March 15, 2016, Pacific hired 13-year NBA veteran and 1996 NBA Rookie of the Year Damon Stoudamire as head coach. The Tigers have appeared in nine

neg: 2002 NBA draft 2002 NBA draft The 2002 NBA draft was held on June 26, 2002, at The Theater at Madison Square Garden. In this draft, National Basketball Association (NBA) teams took turns selecting 57 amateur college basketball players and other first-time eligible players, such as players from non-North American leagues. The draft was broadcast on TNT at 7:30 PM (EDT). The NBA announced that about 42 college and high school players, and five international players, had filed as early-entry candidates for the draft. The Chicago Bulls and the Golden State Warriors both had a 22.5 percent probability of acquiring the first overall

neg: Eligibility for the NBA draft years, other players like Satnam Singh, Thon Maker, and Matur Maker have looked to enter the NBA draft while still being high schoolers by exploiting a loophole where they enter the draft as high school postgraduates. In April 2018, a report from the Commission on College Basketball was released. It recommended, among its findings, the abolishment of the "one-and-done" rule, thus high school players can be directly eligible for the draft again. The NBA notified its member teams in a memorandum later in June that the earliest possible draft without the one-year rule (not named in the memo), among eligibilty

neg: NBA high school draftees experience before entering the NBA. After Dawkins and Willoughby, no high schoolers were drafted for 14 years, though several players entered the league without playing college basketball. One notable player, Shawn Kemp, enrolled in college but never played any games due to personal problems. In 1989, a year after his high school graduation, he was drafted by the Seattle SuperSonics. He played 14 seasons in the NBA and was selected to 6 All-Star Games and 3 All-NBA Teams. In 1995, Kevin Garnett, "USA Today"'s high school basketball player of the year, announced his intentions to forgo college, and declared himself

neg: Kobe Bryant the most seasons playing with one franchise for an entire career and is widely regarded as one of the greatest basketball players of all time. Bryant is the first guard in NBA history to play at least 20 seasons. The son of former NBA player Joe Bryant, Kobe Bryant enjoyed a successful high school basketball career at Lower Merion High School in Pennsylvania, where he was recognized as the top high school basketball player in the country. He declared for the NBA draft upon graduation and was selected in the 13th overall pick in the 1996 NBA draft by the

neg: Lenny Cooke other Achilles' tendon, ending his career. Late in the summer of 2005, the NBA changed its rules to prevent future players from jumping directly from high school to the NBA by requiring all its players to be at least 19 years old and one year removed from their high school graduations. One-time phenoms like Cooke, whose development was stunted by a haste to get to the NBA too quickly, are considered to be the impetus for the change. Cooke is the subject of the 2013 documentary "Lenny Cooke" which documents his athletic rise, fall, and subsequent life after basketball. The

neg: John Havlicek History. Havlicek was ranked #17 on "SLAM" magazine's Top 50 NBA Players of all time in 2009 and once again at the same position in the magazine's Top 500 NBA Players of all time in 2011. He was also named the 14th best player of all-time in Bill Simmons's "". The Bridgeport High School Gymnasium was renamed the "John J. Havlicek Gymnasium" in January 2007. He shares the honor with National High School Hall of Fame member Frank Baxter, a longtime coach at Bridgeport High School. The court is named after Baxter. Fellow Hall of Famer Chris Mullin wore number

neg: NBA high school draftees turning professional. This ruling allowed players to enter the NBA Draft without four years of college, provided they could give evidence of hardship to the NBA office. In 1974, the NBA's rival, the ABA, drafted high school star Moses Malone. He was immediately signed by the Utah Stars and became the first player to go directly from high school basketball to a professional league. He became an instant success, averaging 18 points and 14 rebounds per game in his rookie season. He played in the ABA until the ABA–NBA merger in 1976. He then played 19 successful seasons with 7

neg: 2018 NBA draft who came directly out of high school from Canada. However, by the end of the deadline, 43 of those players (including the aforementioned Canadian high schooler) would ultimately pull their names out of the draft, leaving only 11 true international players entering the NBA Draft this year (the NBA link mentions LiAngelo Ball as an international player in the loosest sense of the word, but not Billy Preston there). Combining both the number of players listed previously and both LiAngelo Ball and Billy Preston as now automatically eligible underclassmen under unique situations, the total number of underclassmen rounds out to

neg: Eligibility for the NBA draft in 1976, his career continued on its upward trajectory, ultimately earning him three NBA MVP awards, four appearances on the All-NBA First Team, 12 consecutive NBA All-Star Game appearances, an NBA title, a place among the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History, and enshrinement in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. In 1975, Darryl Dawkins and Bill Willoughby both went to the NBA from high school. Dawkins had a solid 14-year career in the NBA, while Willoughby was no more than a journeyman in eight NBA seasons. These players were greatly outnumbered by college underclassmen who chose to leave

neg: NBA G League in a number of ways: the previous years' players, players taken in the G League draft, allocation players (meaning players who are assigned to a team with which they have a local connection, such as a University of Texas player being assigned to the Austin Spurs) and NBA team assignments. Each team also has local tryouts, and one player from the tryouts is assigned to the team. The minimum age to play in the G League is 18, unlike the NBA which requires players to be 19 years old and one year out of high school in order to sign

neg: National Basketball Association criticisms and controversies Several columnists agreed, including Sam Smith (who called the coverage "racist and nonsense" in a piece), J. A. Adande and David Aldridge. In 2005, the NBA was in the midst of creating a new collective bargaining agreement. One of the main topics of the deal was the league's desire to create a new age limit for players to enter the NBA draft. The idea of an age limit had been talked about for several years, after the entrance into the league of several high school players. While several players who have entered the league out of high school have become

neg: 2009 NBA draft during or before the calendar year of the draft (i.e., born on or before December 31, 1987). U.S. players who were at least one year removed from their high school graduation and have played professional basketball with a team outside the NBA were also automatically eligible. Former high school player Brandon Jennings meets these criteria, having graduated high school in 2008, skipped college basketball and then played professional basketball in Italy. A player who is not automatically eligible must declare his eligibility for the draft by notifying the NBA offices in writing no later than 60 days before the draft.

neg: Sports in the United States the national champions of NCAA Division I men's college basketball. Most U.S. states also crown state champions among their high schools. Many high school basketball teams have intense local followings, especially in the Midwest and Upper South. Indiana has 10 of the 12 largest high school gyms in the United States, and is famous for its basketball passion, known as Hoosier Hysteria. Notable NBA players in history include Wilt Chamberlain (4 time MVP), Bill Russell (5 time MVP), Bob Pettit (11 time all NBA team), Bob Cousy (12 time all NBA team), Jerry West (12 time all NBA team), Julius

neg: ABA–NBA merger became common in that league and high school players were also selected in subsequent NBA drafts. ABA–NBA merger The merger of the American Basketball Association (ABA) with the National Basketball Association (NBA), after multiple attempts over several years, occurred in 1976. The NBA and ABA had entered merger talks as early as 1970, but an antitrust suit filed by the head of the NBA players union, "Robertson v. National Basketball Ass'n", blocked the merger until 1976. As part of the merger agreement, the NBA agreed to accept four of the remaining six ABA teams: the Denver Nuggets, Indiana Pacers, New

neg: 2003 NBA draft but have played at least one game in the NBA. Incomplete 2003 NBA draft The 2003 NBA draft was held on June 26, 2003, at The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. The NBA announced that 41 college and high school players and a record 31 international players had filed as early-entry candidates for the 2003 NBA draft. The Cleveland Cavaliers, who had a 22.50 percent probability of obtaining the first selection, won the NBA draft lottery on May 22, and Cleveland chairman Gordon Gund said afterward his team would select LeBron James. The Detroit

neg: 2001 NBA draft 2001 NBA draft The 2001 NBA draft took place on June 27, 2001 in New York City, New York. Kwame Brown became the first high school player to be drafted with the first overall pick in the history of the NBA. The selection of Kwame Brown by the Washington Wizards, over players that have gone on to have more successful NBA careers, has been a source of great criticism, with Brown having been widely labeled one of the worst draft busts in NBA history. Several international players from this draft, Pau Gasol (Spain), Tony Parker (France) and Mehmet Okur (Turkey),

neg: LaVar Ball methods for high school players that may not want to play in the collegiate level, with 8 teams being involved in the league looking to play in major NBA venues out in places like Los Angeles, Dallas, Brooklyn, and Atlanta. The goal there is to have 80 different players participate in the league, with lower-ranked players earning $3,000 per month and higher-ranked players earning up to $10,000 per month. Its rules are set to be similar to that of the NBA with 12 minute quarters and a three-point line similar to what's seen in professional leagues like the NBA. Players

neg: Omari Johnson Johnson, he hails from Kingston, Jamaica. Both of his parents are former basketball players, his mother at Florida Tech, and his father at Shaw University. Johnson has two brothers, Shakir and Kahlil. Omari Johnson Omari Johnson (born May 16, 1990) is a Jamaican-American professional basketball player for the Fort Wayne Mad Ants of the NBA G League. Johnson played college basketball with the Oregon State Beavers and graduated from high school at Susan Miller Dorsey High School in Los Angeles, California. He has also played professional basketball in the NBA,NBA G-League, Canada and Spain. Johnson played high school basketball for

neg: 2015 NBA draft most players selected in the lottery by one school; the tied record for most Kentucky players selected in the draft (six with Towns, Cauley-Stein, Lyles, Booker, Andrew Harrison, and Dakari Johnson), the second Latvian to have been drafted in the first round (Kristaps Porziņģis), the first former high school player to have skipped college to play in China that was selected in the draft (Emmanuel Mudiay), and the first Indian to have been selected in the NBA (Satnam Singh Bhamara), who was also the first player since 2005 to have been drafted directly from high school (albeit as a postgraduate).

neg: NBA 2K16 soundtrack, and the involvement of Spike Lee. Charles did feel as though the controls could have been better and disliked the dialogue in MyCareer mode. Charles concluded his review by saying: "["NBA 2K16" is] possibly the most complete game to the series. Truly when picking a title for yourself it's all about your preference. I actually like "NBA Live 16"s Pro-Am more, yet I like the way "2K16" presents its product on and off the court. Having options like playing with old-school teams and players further keeps fans interested. [...] 2K Sports rarely take a step back and this year

neg: 2003 NBA draft 2003 NBA draft The 2003 NBA draft was held on June 26, 2003, at The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. The NBA announced that 41 college and high school players and a record 31 international players had filed as early-entry candidates for the 2003 NBA draft. The Cleveland Cavaliers, who had a 22.50 percent probability of obtaining the first selection, won the NBA draft lottery on May 22, and Cleveland chairman Gordon Gund said afterward his team would select LeBron James. The Detroit Pistons and the Denver Nuggets were second and third respectively. The

neg: Haywoode Workman one of three NBA referees hired for the 2008–2009 season. He is the third ex-NBA player to become an NBA referee, the first two being Bernie Fryer and Leon Wood. Workman is working with the NBA league office to recruit other former NBA players and former college players to become referees. Workman lives in Tampa. His daughter Chasity played basketball for Oklahoma City University. Son Bryce Workman currently plays for Sickles High School in Tampa. Haywoode Workman Haywoode Wilvon Workman (born January 23, 1966) is a retired American basketball player, and active NBA referee. He played the point guard position

neg: Notre Dame High School (Ottawa) Notre Dame High School (Ottawa) Notre Dame High School is a Catholic high school in Ottawa's west operated by the Ottawa-Carleton Catholic School Board. The school is one of the first in the area to use a uniform and one of the first in the board to ban the use of cell phones and MP3 players on the campus, although the ban has been lifted in recent years. The school is mainly two storeys throughout, except for the northeast corner where it features a basement in which the classrooms are almost exclusively for mathematics. It has an auditorium which also

neg: 2005 NBA draft As of 2016, the only players to have declared for the NBA draft straight out of high school ever since these restrictions took place were Satnam Singh Bhamara (2015) ,Thon Maker (2016) , and Anfernee Simons (2018). This draft is notable for a most recent draft pick from an NAIA (and non-NCAA) school in any round (that pick is Robert Whaley, the 51st pick from Walsh University, which is now in NCAA Division II). These players who declared or were automatically eligible for the 2005 draft, were not selected but have played in the NBA. The following trades involving drafted

neg: College basketball MIAA member (that school also does not sponsor football). In past decades, the NBA held to tradition and drafted players who had graduated from college. This was a mutually beneficial relationship for the NBA and colleges—the colleges held onto players who would otherwise go professional, and the NBA did not have to fund a minor league. As the college game became commercialized, though, it became increasingly difficult for "student athletes" to be students. A growing number of poor and under-educated, but highly talented, teenage basketball players found the system exploitative—they brought in funds to schools where they learned little and

neg: 2016 NBA draft set aside at the draft site for the invited players plus their families and agents. When their names are called, the player leaves the room and goes up on stage. Other players who are not invited are allowed to attend the ceremony. They sit in the stands with the fans and walk up on stage when (or if) they are drafted. The following 19 players were invited (listed alphabetically) to the 2016 NBA draft on June 18, one day before the 2016 NBA Finals ended. A record-high 5 different players were added to the green room listing before the beginning

neg: 1970 NBA draft high school and college basketball were selected. In the 10th and 11th round, the Atlanta Hawks drafted Mexican Manuel Raga and Italian Dino Meneghin; both were playing in the Italian league at the time. They became the first two international players drafted to the NBA. However, neither of them ever played in the league as the Hawks did not have US$35,000 to buy out either of their contracts with their teams. Meneghin, who played 28 seasons in Italy, has been inducted by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) to the FIBA Hall of Fame and also to the Basketball Hall of

neg: NBA high school draftees 2007 offseason to the Boston Celtics, he was a core player in the Celtics' first NBA title in over 20 years. In 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, another All-Star caliber player, Tracy McGrady, was

neg: LeBron James and five All-Defensive First Team honors. A prep-to-pro, James played high school basketball for St. Vincent–St. Mary High School in his hometown of Akron, Ohio, where he was heavily touted in the national media as a future NBA superstar. He joined the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2003 as the first overall draft pick. James quickly emerged as a league star and concluded his first season by winning the NBA Rookie of the Year Award. He would go on to establish himself as one of the premier players in the NBA with multiple accolades, including being given the NBA Most Valuable Player

neg: Splash Brothers Splash Brothers The Splash Brothers are a duo of American basketball players consisting of Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson. The two guards play professionally for the Golden State Warriors in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Excellent long-range shooters, they have combined to set various NBA records for three-point field goals by a pair of teammates, and each has won the Three-Point Contest. The two NBA All-Stars have won three NBA championships with the Warriors. The sons of former NBA players, Curry and Thompson were not highly recruited out of high school, but enjoyed relatively successful college basketball careers before being

neg: Bob Wade (basketball) in the nation's top 10. In his best two seasons at the inner-city high school, 1981–1983, Wade put together teams that produced a 60-0 record, the second of which was ranked first in the nation by USAToday. His 1981-82 team produced four future NBA players - three of them first-round draft picks - including Boston Celtics captain Reggie Lewis, who was the high school's team's sixth man, and 5'-3" Tyrone "Muggsy" Bogues, who had a 14-year NBA career despite being the shortest player in league history. The other two future NBA players were David Wingate and Reggie Williams, who also

neg: NBA high school draftees R. Smith, and Shaun Livingston (2004); Andrew Bynum and Monta Ellis (2005). Many prep-to-pro players like Kevin Garnett, Kobe Bryant, Jermaine O'Neal, LeBron James, and Tracy Mcgrady went on to become star players in the NBA. Kevin Garnett, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James have all won the league's MVP Award; as well as holding at least one NBA title under their belt, and are widely regarded as future Hall-of-Famers. Dwight Howard, Jermaine O'Neal and Amar'e Stoudemire also became perennial All-Stars in their prime. However, not all high-schoolers were successful. Kwame Brown and Eddy Curry are widely regarded as draft busts, while

neg: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope Kentavious Caldwell-Pope Kentavious Tannell Caldwell-Pope (born February 18, 1993) is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was one of the top high school basketball players in the class of 2011, and played college basketball for the Georgia Bulldogs for two years before declaring for the 2013 NBA draft. He was selected with the eighth overall pick in the 2013 NBA draft by the Detroit Pistons. Caldwell-Pope was a highly heralded player in high school. As a senior, he averaged 31 points and 8.2 rebounds per game at Greenville High

neg: Proviso Township High Schools District 209 average was 53%. Proviso Township High Schools ranked 26th of 27 high school districts serving suburban Cook County. The district's alumni include ten current or former NBA players who have collectively won three NBA Championships, an Olympic track medalist, four current or former NFL players (one of whom is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame), and two astronauts, one of whom was the last man to walk on the moon. Proviso Township High Schools District 209 Proviso Township High Schools District 209, established in 1910, is located in western Cook County, Illinois, USA near Chicago. Its headquarters are in

neg: Brandon Roy in the 2008 season, and he played the most minutes of any player during the 2009 season. Roy attended the African-American Academy elementary school. He first started taking basketball seriously while playing for the Amateur Athletic Union, one of the largest sports organizations in the United States. He attended Garfield High School in Seattle, and was considered one of the state's best high school players. He was an early-entry candidate for the 2002 NBA draft straight out of high school, but he withdrew his name after consideration. Roy attended Nate McMillan's basketball camp in the 1990s when the future Blazer

neg: College basketball Court which ruled in 1971 that the NBA does not have the same antitrust exemption enjoyed by Major League Baseball. Thereafter, collegiate players demonstrating economic hardship were allowed early entry into the NBA draft. The hardship requirement was eliminated in 1976. In 1974, Moses Malone joined the Utah Stars of the American Basketball Association (which became part of the NBA after the ABA–NBA merger in 1976) straight out of high school and went on to a Hall of Fame career. The past 30 years have seen a remarkable change in the college game. The best international players routinely skip college

neg: Ha Seung-jin Ha Seung-jin Ha Seung-Jin (born August 4, 1985) is a South Korean professional basketball player who has played in the NBA and the NBA D-League. He was a second round draft pick (46th overall) of the Portland Trail Blazers in the 2004 NBA Draft. At 7 ft 3 in, 305 lb, he was among the largest players in the NBA. He is also the first (and as of 2018, only) South Korean to play in the NBA. Before playing in the NBA, Ha played for in high school for Samil Commercial School and in college for Yonsei University in Seoul,

neg: Julius Erving points and 20 rebounds per game in NCAA Men's Basketball. Having left college early to pursue a professional career, Erving earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Massachusetts Amherst through the University Without Walls program in creative leadership and administration in 1986, fulfilling a promise he had made to his mother. Erving also holds an honorary doctorate from the University of Massachusetts Amherst Although NBA rules at the time did not allow teams to draft players who were less than four years removed from high school, the ABA instituted a “hardship” rule that would allow players to leave college

neg: Ralph Beard guilty and received suspended sentences but the NBA Commissioner Maurice Podoloff banned all three for life from the NBA. Beard admitted that he took $700 but denied that he had ever shaved points in a game. He claimed that Frank Hogan, the New York district attorney, conspired with Podoloff of the NBA and Cardinal Francis Spellman, the Archbishop of New York to go after Midwestern players in an effort to protect players at Catholic colleges. He worked in the pharmaceutical industry afterward. His only involvement in the sport after his ban was some scouting work with the Kentucky Colonels of

neg: Nakhon Pa Mak Ruen was strictly an elementary school until around 1990, when an additional high school building was added. Prior to 1990, Nakhon Pa Mak children who wished to attend high school were required to utilize private transportation to the nearest high school in Ban Bang Krathum. There are no other high schools and no colleges or universities in Nakhon Pa Mak. There is also no school bus service. From most populated to least, the villages of Nakhon Pa Mak are: Ban Grong Greng (pop. 1881), Ban Sam Ruen (pop. 1340), Ban Bueng Lam (pop. 1050), Ban Dongphayom (pop. 678), Bang Kranoi

neg: Chris Burgess Chris Burgess Chris Burgess (born April 23, 1979) is an American former professional basketball player. Burgess started his freshman year at Mater Dei High School, then transferred to his local school Woodbridge High School in California and played his remaining high school years. He then attended Duke University and University of Utah. Although Burgess attended training camp with the Phoenix Suns of the NBA, and played on several NBA Summer League teams, he never played in a regular-season NBA game. He did, however, play professional basketball in a variety of leagues in various parts of the world. In 2013, he

neg: 2010 NBA draft least one NBA game. The basic eligibility rules for the draft are: The basic requirement for automatic eligibility for a U.S. player is the completion of his college eligibility. Players who meet the CBA definition of "international players" are automatically eligible if their 22nd birthday falls during or before the calendar year of the draft (i.e., born on or before December 31, 1988). U.S. players who were at least one year removed from their high school graduation and have played professionally with a team outside the NBA (either top-level basketball in another country, or minor-league basketball in North America) were

neg: Roger Mason Jr. Roger Mason Jr. Roger Philip Mason Jr. (born September 10, 1980) is an American retired professional basketball player who last played for the Miami Heat of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He is the former deputy executive director of the NBA Players Association. He is the former president and commissioner of BIG3. Mason lived in Silver Spring, Maryland where he attended primary school at Grace Episcopal Day School. He first attended high school at Sidwell Friends School where he was named MVP at the school as a freshman. He then transferred to Our Lady of Good Counsel High School for

neg: Bill Willoughby at its apex. Though he later regretted skipping college, Willoughby eventually received his degree in communications from Fairleigh Dickinson University in 2001, at the age of 44. The NBA fully paid all of his college expenses, and, in return, Willoughby is a special advisor to the NBA who counsels high school players considering forsaking college basketball for the NBA. Willoughby currently resides in Hackensack, New Jersey. Bill Willoughby William Wesley Willoughby (born May 20, 1957) is a retired American professional basketball player born in Englewood, New Jersey. After graduating from Dwight Morrow High School in Englewood, he was selected by

neg: NBA 2K16 games against other players using regular teams. Regular online games are played in a mode called Play Now. In Play Now, the player essentially levels up as they win games and move through the online ranks. Also returning in "NBA 2K16" is the MyCareer mode; MyCareer is a story-driven campaign that first appeared in "NBA 2K10". The story is called "Livin' Da Dream" and focuses on an up-and-coming basketball prospect. The story starts with the player in high-school, but the player eventually enters college and then the NBA. Players create their basketball player, giving basic information, such as height, weight,

neg: Derrick Favors Derrick Favors Derrick Bernard Favors (born July 15, 1991) is an American professional basketball player for the Utah Jazz of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Favors played college basketball for Georgia Tech for one season before being drafted third overall by the New Jersey Nets in the 2010 NBA draft. He was later traded to Utah in 2011. Favors played high school basketball at South Atlanta High School, where he was ranked as one of the best high school basketball players in the class of 2009. Scout.com rated him the #1 player in the country, #2 in the ESPNU100, and

neg: 2009 NBA draft second time ever that four Tar Heels players were selected in the first two rounds of an NBA draft. The Minnesota Timberwolves had the league-high four first-round draft picks and the first time in team history that the team held two top-10 draft picks. The Timberwolves also had two second-round draft picks and became the team with the most draft picks in the 2009 draft with a total of six. The Houston Rockets and the Orlando Magic were the only NBA teams who did not have a draft pick this year, although Houston acquired three drafted players' rights after the

neg: Cleat (shoe) in the upper levels of the sport, including high school, college, and professional baseball. The use of metal spikes in American high school baseball was banned by the National Federation of State High School Associations in 1984 due to the risk of spike wounds, although some states received waivers nullifying the ban. The ban was lifted in 1989. There has also been increasing use of plastic spikes among professional players including those in Major League Baseball (MLB), due to the lighter weight of cleats and improved weight distribution leading to less wear and tear during the season. Lacrosse cleats are

neg: 1959 NBA draft Louis Hawks' territorial picks respectively. Although Chamberlain played at the University of Kansas, outside the territory of any NBA team, he was selected as the Warriors' territorial pick because the Warriors argued that Chamberlain had grown up in Philadelphia and played high school basketball at Overbrook High School in Philadelphia. The NBA agreed with the argument, hence making him the first territorial pick based solely on his pre-college roots. Chamberlain went on to win the Rookie of the Year Award and the Most Valuable Player Award in his first season. Two players from this draft, Wilt Chamberlain and Bailey Howell,

neg: Jack Taylor (basketball) but he did not feel right taking out Taylor after his consecutive three-pointer streak. Taylor was the third player to score one hundred or more points in an NCAA game, joining Francis and Frank Selvy. He was also the first college or pro player to surpass the high school record of 135 set by Danny Heater in 1960. National Basketball Association (NBA) players, including Bryant and LeBron James, expressed amazement at Taylor's 138 points. Players mentioned him on Twitter, and his name was a trending topic. Highlights of Taylor were shown on almost every major channel, and newspapers nationwide covered

neg: 2010 NBA draft also automatically eligible. Former high school player Latavious Williams meets these criteria, having graduated high school in 2009, skipped college basketball and then played professional basketball in NBA D-League. A player who is not automatically eligible must declare his eligibility for the draft by notifying the NBA offices in writing no later than 60 days before the draft. For the 2010 draft, this date fell on April 25. Under NCAA rules that take effect with this draft, they only had until May 8 to withdraw from the draft and maintain their college eligibility. Previously, players who declared for the draft

neg: Brian Cardinal Brian Cardinal Brian Lee "The Custodian" Cardinal (born May 2, 1977) is an American former professional basketball player. He played 456 games in the NBA between 2000 and 2012, and won an NBA championship with the Dallas Mavericks in 2011. Before his NBA career, he was one of the all-time great players in the history of Purdue University. Brian Cardinal attended Unity High School in Tolono, Illinois where he played basketball with his brother, Troy. Before graduating in 1995, he led the Rockets to an 86–25 record during his high school career. He averaged 23.5 points during his Junior year,

neg: Shawn Kemp Shawn Kemp Shawn Travis Kemp (born November 26, 1969) is an American retired professional basketball player, who played in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for 14 seasons. He was a six-time NBA All-Star and a three-time All-NBA Second Team member. Kemp attended Concord High School in Elkhart, Indiana. A four-year varsity starter, he was considered to be one of the top four or five players nationally his senior year, and led his team to the state championship finals. Kemp ended his high school career as Elkhart County's all-time leading scorer and the owner of Concord's career, single-game and single-season scoring

neg: Tony Kappen Tony Kappen Anthony George Kappen (April 13, 1919 – December 18, 1993) was an American professional basketball player. A 5'10" guard who did not attend college and had previously attended Forest Hills High School in Queens, Kappen played for the Boston Celtics and the Pittsburgh Ironmen during the 1946–47 BAA season. He averaged 6.5 points per game during the season on 23.8% shooting. Kappen and Celtics teammate Connie Simmons were the first players in the BAA (later known as the NBA) who did not have any college experience. Kappen had previously played in the American Basketball League for the New

neg: ABA–NBA merger you know what happened—the ABA teams won nearly as often as the NBA did ... Those NBA–ABA games were intense". Longtime NBA coach Larry Brown said of the ABA vs. NBA games, "When some exhibition games were arranged in the 1970s to make some money and we (the ABA) beat them, the NBA said they weren't up for the games. Come on. When I coached Carolina, we played the Knicks after they won a championship. I looked at their guys shooting around and I looked at my guys and I didn't want my players to take off their warm-ups because

neg: 2001 NBA draft were not selected in the draft but have played at least one game in the NBA. 2001 NBA draft The 2001 NBA draft took place on June 27, 2001 in New York City, New York. Kwame Brown became the first high school player to be drafted with the first overall pick in the history of the NBA. The selection of Kwame Brown by the Washington Wizards, over players that have gone on to have more successful NBA careers, has been a source of great criticism, with Brown having been widely labeled one of the worst draft busts in NBA history.

neg: American Basketball Association primary contributions of the ABA to modern NBA was the introduction of the Spencer Haywood Hardship Rule, which would later become the framework for the current NBA draft eligibility system that allows players to declare for the NBA after being one year removed from their high school graduation. The origin of the Hardship Rule was a result of the NCAA prohibiting players from becoming a professional athlete until they had completed their four years of college eligibility. The ABA was a league that frequently made up rules on the fly and was willing to push the envelope and determine the

neg: Dwight Howard organizes summer basketball camps for boys and girls, and together with high school and college coaches and players, fellow NBA players are invited to be on hand at the camp. For his contributions in the Central Florida community, Howard received in 2005 the Rich and Helen De Vos Community Enrichment Award. Within the NBA itself, Howard has participated in several NBA "Read to Achieve" assemblies encouraging children to make reading a priority. In November 2009, the center was named one of the 10 finalists for the Jefferson Awards for Public Service, which awards athletes for their charitable work. In 2009,

neg: State Farm Holiday Classic scholarships to deserving student-athletes. All of these changes and enhancements over the years have led thousands of fans to discover what we know today as "The Best Basketball This Side Of March!" Over the years the Holiday Classic has seen its share of great teams and players. Here is just a sample of those players: NBA players: WNBA players: European Professional Leagues players: Harlem Globetrotter: Illinois Mr. Basketball award winners: Illinois Ms. Basketball award winners: McDonald’s High School All-Americans: Naismith National Player of the Year award finalist: Wendy’s High School Heisman Trophy finalists: NCAA Final Four participants: Illinois’ all-time prep

neg: Idan Ravin Idan Ravin Idan Ravin (born 1971) is a basketball trainer who works with many of the world's most well known basketball players. An attorney by trade, Ravin never played organized basketball beyond high school, unlike most trainers and advisors working with NBA players. Ravin was raised in Washington, D.C. by an Israeli mother and Russian father. After high school, Ravin attended the University of Maryland and studied finance and marketing. During his student years at Maryland, Ravin played in pick-up basketball games with college players, refining his skills. Subsequently, Ravin moved to San Diego where he attended California Western School

neg: Bob Sura Bob Sura Robert Sura Jr. (born March 25, 1973) is an American former professional basketball player who played ten seasons for five different teams in the National Basketball Association (NBA). At , , he played as a shooting guard. Born in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, Sura played in high school at G.A.R. Memorial. He had a high game of 69 while leading G.A.R. to a remarkable streak of 86 consecutive league victories. After high school, Sura played basketball for Florida State University, playing on the same team as fellow NBA players Charlie Ward and Sam Cassell. Sura was named the ACC Rookie