United States takes top spot at FIBA World Championship thanks to virtuoso performance by former Montrose Christian star.
Kevin Durant
Photo courtesy of USA Basketball
Just over four years ago, Kevin Durant was a senior at
Montrose Christian (Rockville, Md.), leading head coach Stu Vetter's program to a 20-2 record in 2005-06 and beating storied
Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.) in his final game.
On Sunday at the FIBA World Championship in Istanbul, Turkey, the Oklahoma City Thunder star cemented his status as one of the best players on the planet. In leading the United States to the gold medal, Durant averaged 22.8 points and 6.1 rebounds per game at the event, including 33 against Russia in the quarterfinals, 38 against Lithuania in the semis and 28 against the host nation in the finals.
Durant was The Washington Post's All-Met Player of the Year as a senior at Montrose Christian, averaging 23.6 points, 10.2 rebounds and 2.6 blocked shots per game.
The 6-foot-9 guard/wing played one season at Texas, pouring in 25.8 points per game to go along 11.1 rebounds, earning him multiple national player of the year awards.
Here is a look at where the USA's gold medal squad played high school ball;
Chauncey Billups, George Washington (Denver, Colo.)
Tyson Chandler, Dominguez (Compton, Calif.)
Stephen Curry, Charlotte Christian (Charlotte, N.C.)
Kevin Durant, Montrose Christian / Oak Hill Academy / National Christian Academy (Fort Washington, Md.)
Rudy Gay, Archbishop Spalding (Severn, Md.)
Eric Gordon, North Central (Indianapolis, Ind.)
Danny Granger, King (Metairie, La.)
Andre Iguodala, Lanphier (Springfield, Ill.)
Kevin Love, Lake Oswego (Lake Oswego, Ore.)
Lamar Odom, Christ the King (Middle Village, N.Y.) / Redemption Christian Academy (Troy, N.Y.), Aquinas Institute (Rochester, N.Y.)
Derrick Rose, Simeon (Chicago, Ill.)
Russell Westbrook, Leuzinger (Lawndale, Calif.)
