Big expectations for a pair of former MaxPreps National Player of the Year winners.
Video: Michael Porter Jr. high school highlights Led Nathan Hale to national No. 1 ranking in 2016-17.
The 2019-20 NBA season commenced Wednesday night, highlighted by a battle for Los Angeles between the Clippers and Lakers.
As the NBA returns, we take a look at five former high school stars who may be on the verge of breakout seasons.
Former MaxPreps National Player of the Year winners Lonzo Ball and Michael Porter Jr. headline the list. Both provided magical senior seasons in high school that elevated expectations they haven't quite been able to live up to – yet.
Read on for our starting five of potential breakout players in the league this season.
Last season: 8.9 points, 7.3 rebounds, 2.2 assists per game
Rundown:
Miami traded its starting center Hassan Whiteside in the offseason,
providing Adebayo with an opportunity to prove he belongs as a
starting center. As a junior in high school Adebayo averaged
32.2 points and 21 rebounds per contest at
Northside (Pinetown, N.C.) before transferring
to
High Point Christian Academy (High Point, N.C.) for his senior year. He led the Cougars
to a state championship game appearance, averaging 18.9 points and 13
rebounds per contest.
Last season: 9.9 points, 5.4 assists, 5.3 rebounds per game (47 games)
Rundown: Ball led one of the most potent offenses in high school
basketball history, averaging 23.4 points, 9.3 assists, 9.2 rebounds and
4.7 steals per game to lead
Chino Hills (Calif.) to a 35-0 national title run.
The oldest Ball brother was the catalyst for an offense that produced
98.4 points per contest and a state record 18 100-point games. A trade
to New Orleans may have been just what the talented young guard needed
to jumpstart a long and successful NBA career.
Last season: 13.8 points, 4.7 rebounds, 1.4 blocks per game (58 games)
Rundown:
The versatile big man won a pair of state championships at
Park Tudor (Indianapolis)
before transferring to
La Lumiere (LaPorte, Ind.) for his senior season. As a senior he
helped guide La Lumiere to its first Dick's Nationals title, averaging
15 points and 10 rebounds per outing. After a strong rookie campaign, the Grizzlies will rely on him even more after saying goodbye to Mike Conley, Tyreke Evans and Marc Gasol.
Last season: Did not play (8.1 points, 5.7 rebounds, 2.9 assists per game in 2017-18)
Rundown:
After missing the entire 2018-19 season due to a torn ACL, Murray signed a four year, $64 million
contract this week. As a senior at
Rainier Beach (Seattle), Murray averaged 24.2
points, 13.6 rebounds and 4.7 assists per game en route to a state
runner-up finish. The 6-foot-5 guard averaged 15 points per game as a
junior on Washington's Class 3A state champions, who also made an
appearance at Dick's Nationals.
Last season: Did not play
Rundown: Before the injuries sidetracked his career, Porter put together one of the most impressive senior seasons of all-time. En route to 2016-17 MaxPreps National Player of the Year honors, Porter Jr. averaged 36 points and 13 rebounds per game to lead
Nathan Hale (Seattle) to the national championship after a 29-0 season. A healthy Porter alongside MVP candidate Nikola Jokic would certainly enhance Denver's championship dreams.
Michael Porter Jr. led Nathan Hale past Garfield in Washington's 2017 Class 3A state title game.
Photo by: Vince Miller Jr.
