Before emerging as a star at Ohio State, defensive back prospect was filling it up for New Castle High School in Pennsylvania.
Video: Malik Hooker Draft PreviewFormer Buckeye was a multi-sport high school standout.
Ohio State defensive back
Malik Hooker is projected to be a
Top 10 pick in the NFL Draft, which begins Thursday in Philadelphia.
But before becoming a star in Columbus, Hooker was a basketball standout and 1,000-point scorer during his high school days at
New Castle (Pa.).
As a senior in 2013-14, Hooker averaged 21.9 points and 9.4 rebounds per game in leading the Hurricanes to a 31-0 record, Class AAAA state title and No. 23 national ranking by MaxPreps.
The Western Pennsylvania product earned a spot on SportsCenter's Top 10 plays twice that year, including
this rim-rocking alley-oop.
Hooker may not be the best baller in his own family, however.
Mike White of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazettedetailed the incredible story of brothers Marquel and Marcus, who also surpassed the 1,000-point plateau while in a New Castle uniform.
Malik was rated a three-star athlete by
247Sports in football and recorded 13 touchdowns his senior year. He earned the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Male Athlete of the Year in 2014.
Hooker's athletic career really took off last fall at Ohio State, where he recorded 74 tackles and seven interceptions for the 11-2 Buckeyes.
