
Russell Westbrook hopes to get the Oklahoma City Thunder off on the right foot in this weekend's playoff opener, but in 2006 he was looking to lead Leuzinger to a California state title.
Photo by Dirk Dewachter
After a long and arduous regular season, players on the NBA's 16 best teams are finally ready to begin the march to the title.
The postseason can serve as validation for a career filled with hard work and dedication, and most players' careers began in their high school days.
Here is a look at where every player in the 2013 NBA Playoffs went to high school.
Rosters accurate as of April 18, 2013Eastern ConferenceMiami Heat, No. 1Ray Allen,
Hillcrest (Simpsonville, S.C.)Chris Andersen,
Iola (Texas)Joel Anthony, Dawson College (Montreal, Quebec)
Shane Battier,
Detroit Country Day (Beverly Hills, Mich.)Chris Bosh,
Lincoln (Dallas)Mario Chalmers,
Bartlett (Anchorage, Alaska)Norris Cole,
Dunbar (Dayton, Ohio)Udonis Haslem,
Wolfson (Jacksonville, Fla.) then
MiamiJuwan Howard,
Chicago VocationalLeBron James,
St. Vincent-St. Mary (Akron, Ohio)James Jones,
American (Hialeah, Fla.)Rashard Lewis,
Alief Elsik (Houston)Mike Miller,
Mitchell (S.D.)Jarvis Varnado,
Haywood (Brownsville, Tenn.)Dwyane Wade,
Richards (Oak Lawn, Ill.)New York Knicks, No. 2Carmelo Anthony, Towson Catholic (Md.) - closed - then
Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.)Earl Barron,
Clarksdale (Miss.)Marcus Camby,
Conard (West Hartford, Conn.) then
Hartford Public (Conn.)Tyson Chandler,
Dominguez (Compton, Calif.)Chris Copeland,
Hermitage (Richmond, Va.)Raymond Felton,
Latta (S.C.)Jason Kidd,
St. Joseph Notre Dame (Alameda, Calif.)Kenyon Martin,
Adams (Dallas)Steve Novak,
Brown Deer (Wis.)Pablo Prigioni, Argentina
Quentin Richardson,
Whitney Young (Chicago)Iman Shumpert,
Oak Park-River Forest (Oak Park, Ill.)J.R. Smith,
Lakewood (N.J.) then
St. Benedict's Prep (Newark, N.J.)Amar'e Stoudemire,
Cypress Creek (Orlando, Fla.)James White,
Hargrave Military Academy (Chatham, Va.)Indiana Pacers, No. 3
Paul George, Knight
Photo by Dave Mills
D.J. Augustin,
Fort Bend Hightower (Missouri City, Texas)Paul George,
Knight (Palmdale, Calif.)Danny Granger,
King (Metairie, La.)Gerald Green,
Gulf Shores Academy (Houston)Ben Hansbrough,
Poplar Bluff (Mo.)Tyler Hansbrough,
Poplar Bluff (Mo.)Roy Hibbert,
Georgetown Prep (North Bethesda, Md.)George Hill,
Broad Ripple (Indianapolis)Orlando Johnson,
Palma (Salinas, Calif.)Ian Mahinmi, France
Jeff Pendergraph,
Etiwanda (Calif.)Miles Plumlee,
Christ School (Arden, N.C.)Lance Stephenson,
Lincoln (Brooklyn, N.Y.)David West,
Garner Magnet (Garner, N.C.) then
Hargrave Military Academy (Chatham, Va.)Sam Young,
Friendly (Fort Washington, Md.) then
Hargrave Military Academy (Chatham, Va.)Brooklyn Nets, No. 4Andray Blatche,
Henninger (Syracuse, N.Y.) then
South Kent School (Conn.)Keith Bogans,
DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.)MarShon Brooks,
Tucker (Ga.)Reggie Evans,
Woodham (Pensacola, Fla.)Kris Humphries,
Hopkins (Minnetonka, Minn.)Joe Johnson,
Central (Little Rock, Ark.)Kris Joseph,
Archbishop Carroll (Washington, D.C.)Brook Lopez,
San Joaquin Memorial (Fresno, Calif.)Tornike Shengelia, Georgia
Jerry Stackhouse,
Kinston (N.C.) then
Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.)Tyshawn Taylor,
St. Anthony (Jersey City, N.J.)Mirza Teletovic, Bosnia
Gerald Wallace,
Childersburg (Ala.)C.J. Watson,
Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas)Deron Williams,
The Colony (Texas)Chicago Bulls, No. 5Marco Belinelli, Italy
Carlos Boozer,
Juneau-Douglas (Alaska)Jimmy Butler,
Tomball (Texas)Daequan Cook,
Dunbar (Dayton, Ohio)Luol Deng,
Blair Academy (Blairstown, N.J.)Taj Gibson,
Stoneridge Prep (Simi Valley, Calif.) then
Calvary Baptist Christian (San Fernando, Calif.)Richard Hamilton,
Coatesville (Pa.)Kirk Hinrich,
Sioux City West (Iowa)Nazr Mohammed,
Kenwood (Chicago)Joakim Noah,
Poly Prep Country Day (Brooklyn, N.Y.) then
Lawrenceville School (N.J.)Vladimir Radmanovic, Yugoslavia
Nate Robinson,
Rainier Beach (Seattle)Derrick Rose,
Simeon (Chicago)Marquis Teague,
Pike (Indianapolis)Malcolm Thomas,
Crawford (San Diego)Atlanta Hawks, No. 6Devin Harris,
Wauwatosa East (Wis.)Al Horford,
Grand Ledge (Mich.)John Jenkins,
Station Camp (Gallatin, Tenn.)Ivan Johnson,
Fox Tech (San Antonio)Dahntay Jones,
Steinert (Hamilton, N.J.)Kyle Korver,
Pella (Iowa)Shelvin Mack,
Bryan Station (Lexington, Ky.)Zaza Pachulia, Georgia
Johan Petro, France
MIke Scott,
Deep Creek (Chesapeake, Va.) then
Hargrave Military Academy (Chatham, Va.)Josh Smith,
McEachern (Powder Springs, Ga.) then
Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.)DeShawn Stevenson,
Washington Union (Fresno, Calif.)Jeff Teague,
Pike (Indianapolis)Anthony Tolliver,
Kickapoo (Springfield, Mo.)Louis Williams,
South Gwinnett (Snellville, Ga.)Boston Celtics, No. 7
Avery Bradley of Findlay Prep at the 2009 Jordan
Brand Classic.
Photo by Danny Wild
Brandon Bass,
Capitol (Baton Rouge, La.)Avery Bradley,
Bellarmine Prep (Tacoma, Wash.) then
Findlay Prep (Henderson, Nev.)Jordan Crawford,
Communication Media Arts (Detroit) then
Hargrave Military Academy (Chatham, Va.)Kevin Garnett,
Mauldin (S.C.) then
Farragut (Chicago)Jeff Green,
Northwestern (Hyattsville, Md.)Courtney Lee,
Pike (Indianapolis)Fab Melo,
Sagemont (Weston, Fla.)Paul Pierce,
Inglewood (Calif.)Shavlik Randolph,
Broughton (Raleigh, N.C.)Rajon Rondo,
Eastern (Louisville, Ky.)Jared Sullinger,
Northland (Columbus, Ohio)Jason Terry,
Franklin (Seattle)D.J. White,
Hillcrest (Tuscaloosa, Ala.)Chris Wilcox,
Whiteville (N.C.) then
Enloe (Raleigh, N.C.)Terrence Williams,
Rainier Beach (Seattle)Milwaukee Bucks, No. 8Gustavo Ayon, Mexico
Samuel Dalembert,
Patrick School (Elizabeth, N.J.) (formerly St. Patrick)
Marquis Daniels,
Edgewater (Orlando, Fla.) then
Mount Zion Christian Academy (Durham, N.C.)Mike Dunleavy,
Jesuit (Portland, Ore.)Monta Ellis,
Lanier (Jackson, Miss.)Drew Gooden,
El Cerrito (Calif.)John Henson,
Round Rock (Texas) then
Sickles (Tampa, Fla.)Ersan Ilyasova, Turkey
Brandon Jennings,
Dominguez (Compton, Calif.) then
Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.)Luc Richard Mbah a Moute,
Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.)Joel Przybilla,
Monticello (Minn.)J.J. Redick,
Cave Spring (Roanoke, Va.)Larry Sanders,
Port St. Lucie (Fla.)Ish Smith,
Central Cabarrus (Concord, N.C.)Ekpe Udoh,
Edmond Santa Fe (Edmond, Okla.)Western ConferenceOklahoma City Thunder, No. 1Ronnie Brewer,
Fayetteville (Ark.)Nick Collison,
Iowa Falls (Iowa)Kevin Durant,
Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.) then
Montrose Christian (Rockville, Md.)Derek Fisher,
Parkview (Little Rock, Ark.)Serge Ibaka, Congo
Reggie Jackson,
Palmer (Colorado Springs, Colo.)Perry Jones,
Duncanville (Texas)Jeremy Lamb,
Norcross (Ga.)DeAndre Liggins,
Findlay Prep (Henderson, Nev.)Kevin Martin,
Zanesville (Ohio)Daniel Orton,
Bishop McGuinness (Oklahoma City)Kendrick Perkins,
Ozen (Beaumont, Texas)Thabo Sefolosha, Switzerland
Hasheem Thabeet, Tanzania
Russell Westbrook,
Leuzinger (Lawndale, Calif.)San Antonio Spurs, No. 2Aron Baynes, Australia
DeJuan Blair, Schenley (Pittsburgh) - closed
Matt Bonner,
Concord (N.H.)Nando de Colo, France
Boris Diaw, France
Tim Duncan, St. Dunstan's Episcopal (St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands)
Manu Ginobili, Argentina
Danny Green,
North Babylon (N.Y.) then
St. Mary's (Manhasset, N.Y.)Cory Joseph,
Findlay Prep (Henderson, Nev.)Kawhi Leonard,
King (Riverside, Calif.)Tracy McGrady,
Auburndale (Auburndale, Fla.) then
Mount Zion Christian Academy (Durham, N.C.)Patty Mills, Australia
Gary Neal,
Aberdeen (Aberdeen, Md.) then
Calvert Hall (Baltimore)Tony Parker, France
Tiago Splitter, Brazil
Denver Nuggets, No. 3
Ty Lawson, Oak Hill Academy
Photo by Jim Owens
Corey Brewer,
Portland (Tenn.)Wilson Chandler,
Benton Harbor (Mich.)Kenneth Faried,
Tech (Newark, N.J.)Evan Fournier, France
Danilo Gallinari, Italy
Jordan Hamilton,
Dominguez (Compton, Calif.)Andre Iguodala,
Lanphier (Springfield, Ill.)Kosta Koufos,
GlenOak (Canton, Ohio)Ty Lawson,
Bishop McNamara (Forestville, Md.) then
Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.)JaVale McGee,
Providence Christian (Fremont, Mich.) then
Hales Franciscan (Chicago)Andre Miller,
Verbum Dei (Los Angeles)Quincy Miller,
Quality Education Academy (Winston-Salem, N.C.) then
Westchester Country Day (High Point, N.C.)Timofey Mozgov, Russia
Anthony Randolph,
North Little Rock (Ark.) then
Wilson (Dallas)Julyan Stone,
Dos Pueblos (Goleta, Calif.)Los Angeles Clippers, No. 4Matt Barnes,
Del Campo (Fair Oaks, Calif.)Chauncey Billups,
George Washington (Denver)Eric Bledsoe,
Parker (Birmingham, Ala.)Caron Butler,
Park (Racine, Wis.) then
Maine Central Institute (Pittsfield, Maine)Jamal Crawford,
Rainier Beach (Seattle)Willie Green, Cooley (Detroit) - closed
Blake Griffin,
Oklahoma Christian (Edmond, Okla.)Grant Hill,
South Lakes (Reston, Va.)Ryan Hollins,
Muir (Pasadena, Calif.)DeAndre Jordan,
Christian Life Center Academy (Houston)Lamar Odom,
Christ the King (Middle Village, N.Y.) then
Redemption Christian Academy (Troy, N.Y.)Chris Paul,
West Forsyth (Clemmons, N.C.)DaJuan Summers,
McDonogh (Owings Mills, Md.)Ronny Turiaf, France
Maalik Wayns,
Roman Catholic (Philadelphia)Memphis Grizzlies, No. 5Tony Allen,
Crane (Chicago)Darrell Arthur,
South Oak Cliff (Dallas)Jerryd Bayless,
St. Mary's (Phoenix)Mike Conley,
Lawrence North (Indianapolis)Ed Davis,
Hanover (Mechanicsville, Va.) then
Benedictine (Richmond, Va.)Austin Daye,
Woodbridge (Irvine, Calif.)Keyon Dooling,
Cardinal Gibbons (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) then
Dillard (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)Marc Gasol,
Lausanne Collegiate (Memphis, Tenn.)Donte Greene, Towson Catholic (Md.) - closed
Jon Leuer,
Orono (Long Lake, Minn.)Quincy Pondexter,
San Joaquin Memorial (Fresno, Calif.)Tayshaun Prince,
Dominguez (Compton, Calif.)Zach Randolph,
Marion (Ind.)Willie Reed,
Bishop Miege (Shawnee Mission, Kan.)Tony Wroten,
Garfield (Seattle)Golden State Warriors, No. 6
Harrison Barnes of Ames at the 2010 Jordan
Brand Classic.
Photo by Danny Wild
Harrison Barnes,
Ames (Iowa)Kent Bazemore,
Bertie (Windsor, N.C.)Andris Biedrins, Latvia
Andrew Bogut, Australia
Stephen Curry,
Charlotte Christian (N.C.)Festus Ezeli,
Jesuit (Carmichael, Calif.) - Did not play
Draymond Green,
Saginaw (Mich.)Jarrett Jack,
Mount Zion Christian Academy (Durham, N.C.) then
Worcester Academy (Mass.)Richard Jefferson,
Moon Valley (Phoenix)Dwayne Jones,
American Christian (Aston, Pa.)Carl Landry,
Vincent (Milwaukee)David Lee,
Chaminade (St. Louis)Scott Machado,
St. Mary's (Manhasset, N.Y.) then
St. Benedict's Prep (Newark, N.J.)Brandon Rush, Westport (Kansas City, Mo.) - Closed then
Mount Zion Christian Academy (Durham, N.C.)Klay Thompson,
Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.)Los Angeles Lakers, No. 7Steve Blake,
Killian (Miami) then
Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.)Kobe Bryant,
Lower Merion (Ardmore, Pa.)Earl Clark,
Rahway (N.J.)Chris Duhon,
Salmen (Slidell, La.)Devin Ebanks,
Bishop Loughlin (Brooklyn, N.Y.) then
St. Thomas More (Oakdale, Conn.)Pau Gasol, Spain
Andrew Goudelock,
Stone Mountain (Ga.)Jordan Hill,
North Springs (Atlanta) then
Patterson (Lenoir, N.C.)Dwight Howard,
Southwest Atlanta Christian (Ga.)Antawn Jamison,
Providence (Charlotte, N.C.)Jodie Meeks,
Norcross (Ga.)Darius Morris,
Windward (Los Angeles)Steve Nash, St. Michal's University School (Victoria, British Columbia)
Robert Sacre, Handsworth Secondary School (North Vancouver, British Columbia)
Metta World Peace,
LaSalle Academy (New York)Houston Rockets, No. 8James Anderson,
Junction City (Ark.)Omer Asik, Turkey
Patrick Beverley,
Marshall (Chicago)Aaron Brooks,
Franklin (Seattle)Carlos Delfino, Argentina
Francisco Garcia,
Winchendon (Mass.)James Harden,
Artesia (Lakewood, Calif.)Terrence Jones,
Jefferson (Portland, Ore.)Jeremy Lin,
Palo Alto (Calif.)Donatas Motiejunas, Lithuania
Tim Ohlbrecht, Germany
Chandler Parsons,
Lake Howell (Winter Park, Fla.)Thomas Robinson,
Riverdale Baptist (Upper Marlboro, Md.) then
Brewster Academy (Wolfeboro, N.H.)Greg Smith,
Edison (Fresno, Calif.) then
Westwind Prep Academy (Phoenix)Royce White,
Hopkins (Minnetonka, Minn.)