Video: Karl Anthony Towns high school highlightsNew Jersey standout is one of the best prep 7-footers of all time.
Haskell Cohen, the creator of the NBA All-Star Game, spent nearly 40 years as the selector of the Parade Magazine All-American team and he made this claim about choosing 7-footers to the team — "It's easy."
In an interview with the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette in 1983, Cohen noted, "We don't miss the big guys. ... It's easy to pick the big guys because they are physically more developed."
A more difficult task might be ranking the greatest 7-footers in high school history. However, MaxPreps endeavors to do just that. The following list looks at 50 of the greatest 7-footers to ever play.
The rankings are based on their high school careers with their post high school career also taken into consideration. A player had to be listed as a 7-footer in high school in order to make the list. In some cases, players were listed as either 6-11 or 7-foot by various publications. In those cases, they were included on the list. No players currently in high school were considered.
Top 50 7-foot high school basketball players of all time
1. Lew Alcindor (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar), Power Memorial (New York)
1965, 7-foot-1
The first player to earn Parade All-America honors three times, Alcindor led Power Memorial to 71 straight wins and back-to-back mythical national championships in 1963 and 1964. Scored 2,067 points in his high school career. Three-time NCAA Player of the Year went on to become NBA's all-time leading scorer.
2. Wilt Chamberlain, Overbrook (Philadelphia)
1955, 7-foot-2
Dominated Philadelphia basketball, averaging 37.4 points for his career with a high of 90 points. Listed by Life Magazine as one of two 7-footers in the nation in 1955, he was a first-team All-American by "Picture Week." Went on to become NBA's all-time leading scorer before being surpassed by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (Lew Alcindor).
3. Patrick Ewing, Cambridge Rindge & Latin (Cambridge, Mass.)
1981, 7-foot-0
Ewing became the third player to earn Parade All-America honors three times and he was generally considered to be the most heavily recruited player in the Class of 1981, ahead of Michael Jordan. Scored 1,763 points in his career and led team to a 96-5 record.
4. Shaquille O'Neal, Cole (San Antonio)
1989, 7-foot-0
According to Parade Magazine, O'Neal averaged 30 points, 26 rebounds and nine blocks as a senior while earning first team All-America honors. Led Cole to 68-1 record and is generally considered one of the top 5 centers in NBA history.
5. Bill Cartwright, Elk Grove (Calif.)
1975, 7-foot-0
A two-time Parade All-American, including first team as a senior, Cartwright was one of the most coveted players in the nation in 1975. He averaged 38.4 points per game as a senior and scored 2,449 points in his three-year varsity career. Played 16 seasons in the NBA.
6. Robert Parish, Woodlawn-Shreveport (Shreveport, La.)
1972, 7-foot-1
A first team Parade All-American as a senior, Parrish scored 3,562 points in his career at Woodlawn. Played on three NBA championship teams with the Boston Celtics and played in an NBA-record 1,611 games.
7. Tyson Chandler, Dominguez (Compton, Calif.)
2001, 7-foot-0
A two-time state player of the year by Cal-Hi Sports, Chandler was also a Parade All-American as a junior and senior. He averaged 26 points and 15 rebounds as a senior while leading Dominguez to a state title. He's played 19 seasons in the NBA.
8. Ralph Sampson, Harrisonburg (Va.)
1979, 7-foot-3
A late bloomer in high school, Sampson finished with a flurry, averaging 30.4 points as a senior while leading Harrisonburg to a 26-0 record and a state title. Earned first team Parade All-America honors as a senior and went on to be named NCAA Player of the Year three times before a 10-year NBA career.
9. Sam Bowie, Lebanon (Pa.)
1979, 7-foot-1
The National Player of the Year ahead of Ralph Sampson in 1979, Bowie averaged 28 points and 18 rebounds as a senior. Selected No. 2 overall by the Trailblazers, Bowie's 11-year NBA career was hampered by injuries.
10. Karl-Anthony Towns, St. Joseph (Metuchen, N.J.)
2014, 7-foot-0
The Gatorade National Player of the Year, Towns led St. Joseph to three state championships and averaged 21.2 points and 13.9 rebounds as a reclassified senior. He was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2015 NBA draft.
11. Brad Daugherty, Charles D. Owen (Black Mountain, N.C.)
1982, 7-foot-0
Listed anywhere from 6-foot-10 to 7-foot in high school, Daugherty was only 16 when he graduated from Owen. He averaged 23.2 points per game in earning Parade All-American honors. He was the No. 1 overall pick in the 1986 draft and played nine seasons in the NBA.
12. Greg Oden, Lawrence North (Indianapolis)
2006, 7-foot-0
Led Lawrence North to three straight state championships and was a three-time Parade All-American. Averaged 23 points and 11 rebounds as a senior and was twice named national player of the year by various organizations. Injuries limited his NBA career.
13. Artis Gilmore, Carver (Dothan, Ala.)
1967, 7-foot-2
A transfer from Chipley (Fla.), Gilmore played one year at Carver and led the team to a 30-4 record while averaging 31.8 points per game. He went on to an 18-year career in the NBA.
14. LaMarcus Aldridge, Seagoville (Dallas)
2004, 7-foot-0
A second team Parade All-American and the Class 4A state player of the year in Texas, Aldridge has gone on to become a seven-time All-Star with the Trailblazers and Spurs.
15. Benoit Benjamin, Carroll (Monroe, La.)
1982, 7-foot-0
Benjamin led Carroll to a 37-1 record and a state championship while averaging 29 points and 19.5 rebounds per game. A first team Parade All-American, Benjamin had a 14-year NBA career.
16. Bob Kurland, Jennings (Mo.)
1942, 7-foot-0
In the days before the NBA, Kurland dominated in AAU ball, winning three national championships. He won a pair of Olympic gold medals and was a three-time NCAA All-American. At Jennings, Kurland averaged 21 points per game.
17. Tom Burleson, Avery County (Newland, N.C.)
1970, 7-foot-3
A second-team Parade All-American, Burleson averaged 28.5 points as a senior. He went on to lead North Carolina State to an NCAA championship and played seven seasons in the NBA.
18. Shawn Bradley, Emery (Castle Dale, Utah)
1990, 7-foot-5
Bradley led Emery to a pair of state championships and averaged 25 points, 17 rebounds and 9 blocked shots as a senior while earning Parade All-American second team honors. He was also third team as a junior. He played 12 seasons in the NBA, averaging 2.5 blocks per game.
19. Brook Lopez and Robin Lopez, San Joaquin Memorial (Fresno, Calif.)
2006, 7-foot-0
Along with twin brother Robin, Brook led San Joaquin Memorial to a 33-4 record while averaging 17 points per game. Both Robin and Brook were third-team Parade All-Americans and have played 11 seasons in the NBA.
20. Channing Frye, St. Mary's (Phoenix)
2001, 7-foot-0
Named state Player of the Year after averaging 22 points and leading team to a Class 5A state championship. Also a fourth team Parade All-American. Frye has played 15 years in the NBA.
21. Joel Embiid, The Rock (Gainesville, Fla.)
2013, 7-foot-0
Embiid averaged 13 points and 9.7 rebounds while leading his team to a 33-4 record. The No. 3 overall pick in the 2014 draft, Embiid is a three-time All-Star.
22. DeAndre Ayton, Hillcrest Prep (Phoenix)
2017, 7-foot-0
The No. 1 prospect in the nation, Ayton averaged 27.9 points and 18.2 rebounds as a senior. After a year in college, Ayton was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 draft by the Phoenix Suns.
23. Bill Wennington, Long Island Lutheran (Brookville, N.Y.)
1981, 7-foot-0
Originally from Canada, Wennington led Long Island Lutheran to a spot in the national rankings while averaging 19 points and 12 rebounds. He was a Parade All-American fourth team pick. He played 15 seasons in the NBA.
24. Stanley Roberts, Lower Richland (Hopkins, S.C.)
1989, 7-foot-0
Roberts made the Parade All-America third team as a junior and first team as a senior. He averaged 24.6 points and 9.8 rebounds as a senior while leading his team to back-to-back state championships. He played 10 seasons in the NBA and overseas.
25. Wayne "Tree" Rollins, Crisp County (Cordele, Ga.)
1973, 7-foot-0
An all-state selection in Georgia, Rollins averaged 25 points, 18 rebounds and 7 blocks as a senior. An All-American in college at Clemson, Rollins played 18 seasons in the NBA.
26. Eric Montross, Lawrence North (Indianapolis)
1990, 7-foot-0
After leading Lawrence North to a state title as a junior, Montross was a Parade All-American as a senior while averaging 20.5 points and 13.8 rebounds. He led North Carolina to an NCAA championship and played eight years in the NBA.
27. Mark Blount, Dobbs Ferry (N.Y.)
1995, 7-foot-0
Blount was a two-time Parade All-American, fourth team as a junior at Oak Hill Academy and third team as a senior at Dobbs Ferry. After a few seasons in the D League, Blount played 10 seasons in the NBA.
28. Richard Washington, Benson Tech (Portland, Ore.)
1973, 7-foot-0
Averaged 25.0 points as a senior and 25.2 as a junior and finished as the state's all-time leading scorer in the large school classification. A Parade All-American in high school, Washington was also an All-American at UCLA. He played seven seasons in the NBA.
29. Spencer Hawes, Seattle Prep (Seattle)
2006, 7-foot-0
Hawes led Seattle Prep to a state title while averaging 20.1 points per game. He was a first-team Parade All-American and the state player of the year. He played 10 seasons in the NBA.
30. Greg Dreiling, Kapaun Mt. Carmel (Wichita, Kan.)
1981, 7-foot-1
Named to the Parade All-American fourth team as a junior and first team as a senior, Dreiling averaged 36.5 points, 15 rebounds and 5 blocks as a senior. He played 10 seasons in the NBA.
31. Greg Ostertag, Duncanville (Texas)
1991, 7-foot-1
The state Player of the Year in Texas, Ostertag led Duncanville to the state title while averaging 22.5 points and 13 rebounds. He went on to a 10-year NBA career.
32. Felton Spencer, Eastern (Louisville, Ky.)
1986, 7-foot-2
Spencer earned second team Parade All-American honors after averaging 17.6 points per game. He played 12 seasons in the NBA.
33. Samuel Dalembert, St. Patrick (Elizabeth, N.J.)
1999, 7-foot-0
A second-team all-state selection, but a third-team Parade All-American, Dalembert went on to a 14-year NBA career.
34. Andrew Bynum, St. Joseph (Metuchen, N.J.)
2005, 7-foot-0
Bynum became the youngest player to even play in an NBA game after going straight from high school to the NBA with the Lakers. He was a third team Parade All-American as a senior at St. Joseph and he finished with a 10-year NBA career.
35. Tyler Zeller, Washington (Ind.)
2008, 7-foot-0
Mr. Basketball in Indiana, Zeller led his team to a state championship while averaging 33 points and 11 rebounds. He's in his eighth year in the NBA.
36. Kosta Koufos, GlenOak (Canton, Ohio)
2007, 7-foot-2
The Division 1 Player of the Year and a Parade All-American, Koufos averaged 26 points as a senior and 24 as a junior. He's in his 12th season in the NBA.
37. Joel Pryzbilla, Monticello (Minn.)
1998, 7-foot-1
The Minnesota Mr. Basketball also earned a spot on the Parade All-America first team. Averaged 19.3 points, 13.7 rebounds and 7.8 blocks as a senior. Played 14 seasons in the NBA.
38. DeSagana Diop, Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.)
2001, 7-foot-0
Diop was part of an Oak Hill team that went 33-0 and was ranked No. 1 in the nation. He averaged 14.6 points and 13.2 rebounds as a senior and was a first-team All-American. He was chosen No. 8 overall in the NBA draft right out of high school and played 12 years in the NBA.
39. Jim McDaniel, Allen County-Scottsville (Scottsville, Ky.)
1967, 7-foot-0
One of the most coveted players in the nation, McDaniel averaged 38.6 points as a senior while earning first team Parade All-American honors. After a spectacular career at Western Kentucky where he became the school's all-time leading scorer, The No. 1 pick in the 1971 ABA draft, he averaged nearly 25 points a game his first two seasons, but he was out of the NBA by 1978.
40. Rashard Griffith, King (Chicago)
1993, 7-foot-1
Griffith was part of one of the top-ranked teams in the country in the early 1990s, earning Parade All-American honors as a junior and senior. He averaged 21 points and 11 rebounds as a senior. After two seasons at Wisconsin, Griffith had a 15-year career playing overseas.
41. Raef Lafrentz, MFL MarMac (Monona, Iowa)
1994, 7-foot-0
The third overall pick in the 1998 draft, Lafrentz played 12 seasons in the NBA. He was a second team Parade All-American and a first team All-USA Today pick. He averaged 35 points and 16 rebounds as a senior.
42. Brad Lohaus, Greenway (Phoenix)
1982, 7-foot-0
A second team Parade All-American, Lohaus averaged 22 points, 13.3 rebounds and four blocks as a senior. He eventually played 12 seasons in the NBA.
43. Dwayne Schintzius, Brandon (Fla.)
1990, 7-foot-2
Schintzius averaged 21 points and 17 rebounds as a senior while earning fourth team Parade All-American honors. A first-round draft pick, he played 10 years in the NBA.
44. Randy Breuer, Lake City (Minn.)
1979, 7-foot-1
Breuer led his team to two state championships and averaged 27 points and 14 rebounds as a senior to earn Mr. Basketball honors for the state. He played 10 seasons in the NBA.
45. Darnell Robinson, Emery (Emeryville, Calif.)
1993, 7-foot-0
Became the all-time leading scorer in California with 3,359 points while leading team to a Division 5 state championship. Robinson was a two-time Parade All-American and won an NCAA championship at Arkansas. Played professionally overseas.
46. Christian Welp, Olympic (Bremerton, Wash.)
1983, 7-foot-0
A transfer from West Germany, Welp led Olympic to a state championship while averaging 22 points and 15 rebounds. Was three-times All-Pac-10 and played 13 years in the NBA and overseas.
47. Alton Lister, Wilson (Dallas)
1976, 7-foot-0
Lister earned all-state honors in high school and was All-Pac-10 in college at Arizona State. He played 18 seasons in the NBA.
48. Bryant Reeves, Gans (Okla.)
1991, 7-foot-0
Played at Class B Gans where he averaged 33 points as a junior and 32 points as a senior. A two-time All-American in college, Reeves was the No. 6 overall pick in the 1995 draft. He played six seasons in the NBA.
49. James Donaldson, Burbank (Sacramento, Calif.)
1975, 7-foot-2
Played in the shadow of Bill Cartwright in the Sacramento Metro League, Donaldson was only all-area honorable mention as a senior. He went on to a 20-year professional career in the NBA and overseas.
50. Swede Halbrook, Lincoln (Portland, Ore.)
1952, 7-foot-3
No player has averaged more points per game in Oregon than Halbrook, who averaged 38.3 points as a senior. He played briefly at Oregon State and played two seasons in the NBA. He was the tallest player to play in the NBA at the time.
