LeBron James to Dee Alexander: Ranking Ohio’s top high school

Jul 25, 2025, 09:00 AM ET In the spirit of the” SportsCenter”quest– imitated the original 2005 “SportsCenter Throughout America” tour that covered all 50 states in 50 days– we’re highlighting some of the leading hoopers repping crucial stops along the way.Editor’s Picks 2 Related To rank the top

boys’and ladies

‘basketball skill because 2000, we’re putting a heavy focus on high school honors– state titles, national honors, specific awards– together with on-court supremacy, long-lasting tradition, recognition and general influence on the game.In this edition, we focus on Ohio.From LeBron James to Dee Alexander these hoopers

represent some of the finest to ever play

high school basketball in the region. Boys LeBron James, St. Vincent-St. Mary
Class of 2003 LeBron James had one of the most popular high school careers that consisted of 3 state titles. Al Tielemans/Sports Illustrated via Getty

Images His case: James had a legendary high school run, racking up three state titles and an overall record of 101-6 during his reign with St. Vincent-St. Mary. As a senior in 2003, James pumped in 31.6 points, 9.6 rebounds, 4.6 helps and 3.4 takes a game and won his 2nd Gatorade National Gamer of the Year award. He also took home Parade’s Player of the Year twice, Ohio’s Mr. Basketball three times and won MVP of the McDonald’s All American game.James, who completed ranked No. 1 general in the ESPN 100, went No. 1 general to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2003 NBA draft. In his 22-year career he has actually won 4 NBA titles, become the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, won four NBA MVP awards and has actually been chosen to 21 NBA All-Star games.2. OJ Mayo, North College Hill High School
Class of 2007 OJ Mayo won two state titles before spending his senior year in West Virginia. Howie McCormick/Icon SMI/Icon Sport Media by means of Getty Images His case: Mayo spent his senior year in West Virginia however laid his famous foundation leading the North College Hill High School Trojans to 2 state titles, declaring Ohio’s Mr. Basketball twice. As a junior, he balanced 29.2 points a game and completed ranked No. 3 total in the ESPN 100 for 2007.

Mayo went on to star at USC, dropping 20.7 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.3 helps a game as a freshman and was called First Team All-Pac-10. He went on to be picked No. 3 general by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the 2008 NBA draft. In 8 years in the NBA, Mayo averaged 13.8 points, 3.1 rebounds and 2.9 assists a game.3. Jared Sullinger, Northland High School
Class of 2010 Jared Sullinger averaged a double-double in his senior season with 24.5 points and

11.7 rebounds per game. Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images His case: Sullinger moved Northland High School to a state title as a senior in 2010, balancing 24.5 points and 11.7 rebounds a game and declaring Naismith Gamer of the Year. He was also named Ohio’s Mr. Basketball for the 2nd time and Co-MVP of the McDonald’s All American Game.Sullinger, who finished ranked No. 2 overall in the ESPN 100 for 2010, went on to dominate at Ohio State, winning Huge 10 Freshman of the Year, First string All-American two times and leading the Buckeyes to the Last 4 in 2012. Sullinger was picked No. 21 general by the Boston Celtics in the 2012 NBA draft and has balanced 10.8 points and 7.5 rebounds a game in 5 NBA seasons.4. Trey Burke, Northland High School Class of 2011 Trey Burke just suffered five losses in his high school profession. Andy Lyons/Getty Images His case: Burke tallied an impressive 97-5 record and a state title in his high school tenure. He balanced 23.6 points, 3.1 rebounds, 6.8 assists and 2.6 steals a game throughout his senior year in 2011 when he took home Ohio’s Mr. Basketball award.Burke went on to control for 2 years at Michigan, taking home Big Ten Freshman of the Year, Big 10 Player of the Year and National Gamer of the Year. In 2013 he was the No. 9 general choice in the NBA draft by the Utah Jazz. In nine NBA seasons, Burke was called to the NBA All-Rookie team and averaged 9.6 points a game.5. Luke Kennard, Franklin High School Class of 2015 Luke Kennard ended his high school career with 2,977 points and balanced 38.1 points, 9.7 rebounds, 5.9 helps and 2.2 takes to place No. 3 on Ohio’s all-time scoring list. Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images His case: Kennard completed No. 3 total on Ohio’s all-time scoring list with 2,977 points, installing 38.1 points, 9.7 rebounds, 5.9 helps and 2.2 takes a game as a senior in 2015. That led to him taking home Ohio’s

Year 4 times and led the Buckeyes to 3 Huge Ten titles. Lavender left as Ohio State’s all-time leading scorer (2,818 points)and the Big 10’s all-time leading rebounder(1,422). She was drafted No. 5 overall by the Los Angeles Stimulates in 2011. In 11 years in the WNBA, Lavender won a WNBA title, made All-Star game honors and was called Sixth Female of the Year. A 2016 conscript, she is preserved in the Ohio Basketball Hall of Popularity.2. Kelsey Mitchell, Princeton High School Class of 2014 Kelsey Mitchell was called National Freshman of the Year, Big 10 Freshman of the Year, First String All-Big Ten 4 times and Huge Ten Co-Player of the Year twice at Ohio State. David E. Klutho/ Sports Illustrated through Getty Images Her case: In 2014, Mitchell was called Ohio’s Ms. Basketball and Gatorade Player of the Year, leading Princeton High School to a state title and averaging 26.1 points a game. She ended up ranked No. 5 overall in the ESPNW 100 for 2014 before going off to Ohio State where she made National Freshman of the Year, Big Ten Freshman of the Year, First String All-Big 10 4 times and Huge 10 Co-Player of the Year twice.Micthell, a three-time WNBA All-Star, was chosen No. 2 general by the Indiana Fever in the 2018 WNBA draft.3. Kierstan Bell, McKinley High School Class of 2019 Kierstan Bell ended up being Ohio’s first three-time winner of the Ms. Basketball award. Kevin Liles/ Sports Illustrated by means of Getty Images Her case: Bell, who ended up ranked No. 6 general in the ESPNW 100 for 2018, balanced 31 points, 8.7 rebounds, 4.4 steals, 3.9 assists and 3.4 blocks a game in her final two high school seasons. She became the state’s first three-time winner of the Ms. Basketball award, finishing her career with 2,833 points in 2019 when she subsequently won Ohio’s Ms. Basketball and Gatorade Player of the Year.Bell was named Big 10 All-Freshman in her first year at Ohio State then transferred to Florida Gulf Coast where she was named Mid Major Gamer of the Year, ASUN Gamer of the Year two times, ASUN Tournament MVP twice and First string All-ASUN twice. The Las Vegas Aces took her at No. 11 total in the 2022 WNBA draft. In her 3 seasons in the league she’s won 2 WNBA titles.4. Barb Turner, East Tech High School Class of 2002 Barb Turner won Ohio’s Ms. Basketball and Gatorade Gamer of the Year,

along with a state title in 2002. Al Bello/Getty Images Her case: Turner led the East Tech Scarabs to a state title in 2002 and won Ohio’s Ms. Basketball and Gatorade Player of the Year after balancing 23.5 points, 13.5 rebounds, 5.5 helps and four steals a game.Turner starred at UConn where she was called to the Big East All-Freshman team, Big East Competition A Lot Of Exceptional Gamer and assisted

the Huskies to two national titles. Turner was selected No. 11 total bythe Seattle Storm in the 2011 WNBA draft. In 2013, she was inducted into the Ohio Basketball Hall of Fame.5. Dee Alexander, Purcell Marian High School Class of 2025 Dee Alexander balanced 20.5 points, 8.1 rebounds, 4.8 helps and 2.3 takes in her senior season.

Erick W. Rasco/Sports Illustrated through Getty Images Her case: In her high school career, Alexander powered the Purcell Marian Cavaliers to a 105-10 record and four state titles. She completed her senior year balancing 20.5 points, 8.1 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 2.3 takes a game, declaring her 2nd Ohio Gatorade Player of the Year award and ending up being the second woman in history to be voted Ohio’s

Ms. Basketball for three consecutive years.Alexander, who ended up ranked No. 11 total in the ESPNW 100, will be a freshman for the Cincinnati Bearcats this coming season.