Zion to A’ja: Ranking the Carolinas’ top high school hoopers
In the spirit of the “SportsCenter” mission– imitated the initial 2005 “SportsCenter Across America” trip to strike all 50 states in 50 days– we’re highlighting a few of the top hoopers repping essential stops along the way.Editor’s Picks 2 Related To rank the top
kids’and ladies
‘basketball talent considering that 2000, we’re positioning a heavy focus on high school awards– state titles, nationwide honors, private awards– together with on-court dominance, long-lasting legacy, acknowledgment and general influence on the game.In this edition, we focus on the Carolinas: North and South.From Zion Williamson to
A’ja Wilson, these hoopers represent a few of the finest to ever
play high school basketball in the area. Kids 1. Zion Williamson, Spartanburg Day School (South Carolina)
Class of 2018 Zion Williamson’s supremacy led him to average 36.4 points and 11.4 rebounds per game with numerous viral plays. (Tracy Glantz/The State/Tribune News Service through Getty Images His case: Williamson led his squad to three state champions, balancing 36.4 points, 11.4 rebounds and 3.5 helps throughout his high school career. He completed ranked No. 2 overall in the ESPN 100 in 2018, the same year he was named South Carolina’s Mr. Basketball.Williamson went on to dominate as a freshman at Duke, winning ACC Player of the Year, ACC Rookie of the Year, ACC Tournament MVP, First Team All-ACC and National Gamer of the Year. Williamson was chosen No. 1 general by the New Orleans Pelicans in the 2019 NBA draft. In 6 seasons, Williamson has actually balanced 24.7 points, 6.6 rebounds and 4.3 helps and been called to 2 NBA All-Star games.2. Brandon Ingram, Kinston High School(North Carolina) Brandon Ingram won four state championships and averaged a double-double as a senior. Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire/Corbis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images Class of 2015 His case: Ingram had a famous run in high school, leading the
Vikings to four-consecutive state titles and averaging 24.3 points and 10.4 rebounds a game as a senior. He protected the No. 3 general rank in the ESPN 100 for 2015. He was consequently called Parade and McDonald’s All American and went on to star at Duke where he averaged 17.3 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2 helps and 1.4 blocks en route to winning ACC Rookie of the Year.Ingram was picked No. 2 general by the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2016 NBA draft. In nine NBA seasons, Ingram has made an All-Star Video game and been
named The majority of Better Player.3. Stephen Curry, Charlotte Christian School(North Carolina) Class of 2006 Stephen Curry finished his high school career as Charlotte Christian School’s all-time leading scorer. David T. Foster III/Charlotte Observer/Tribune News Service via Getty Images His case: Curry was far from a national name throughout his high school playing days, however put up dominant numbers as a senior in 2006, balancing 22.3 points, 5 rebounds and 5 helps a game and completing as the school’s all-time leading scorer with over 1,400 points.Curry went on to star at Davidson where he won SoCon Gamer of the Year two times, was named First string All-SoCon three times, All-American two times and led the nation in scoring. Curry was picked No. 7 general by
the Golden State Warriors in the 2009 NBA draft. In 16 NBA seasons, Curry has won four NBA titles, been named NBA Finals MVP, won two NBA MVP awards, played in 11 NBA All-Star games and won 2 scoring titles.4. John Wall, Garner Magnet High School; Word of God Christian Academy (North Carolina)Class of 2009 John Wall’s numerous viral high school mixtapes were no coincidence after winning a state title and earning his spot as the top-ranked point player in his class. Dustin Snipes/IconSMI/Icon SMI/Icon Sport Media via Getty Images His case: Wall was a high school emphasize reel, balancing 22.1 points, 5.5 assists, 5.2 rebounds and two takes a game and leading the Holy Rams to the state title game in 2009. He was named to the Elite 24 and the Jordan Brand name Classic and finished ranked No. 5 overall and No. 1 among point guards in the ESPN 100. Wall went on to have a dominant freshman season at Kentucky, balancing 16.6 points, 6.5 assists, 4.3 rebounds and 1.8 takes a game en route to declaring SEC Player of the Year, Freshman of the Year and All-American status.
Wall was selected No. 1 general by the Washington Wizards in the 2010 NBA draft and has actually made five NBA All-Star games, won an NBA dunk contest, made an All-NBA group and an All-Defensive team in 13 seasons.5. Chris Paul, West Forsyth High School (North Carolina)Class of 2003 Chris Paul completed his high school career with an AAU national title, McDonald’s All-American honors and a ticket to Wake Forest. Bob Rosato/Sports Illustrated through Getty Images His case: Paul balanced 30.8 points, 9.5 helps and 6 steals a game as a senior in 2003. Before that, he led the Kappa Magic to an AAU Nationals title in 2002 and was called MVP. He was also called North Carolina’s Mr. Basketball together with being a McDonald’s All American.Paul went on to star at Wake Forest where he was called ACC Novice of the Year, All-ACC twice and All-American. Paul was picked No. 4 general by the New Orleans Pelicans in the 2005 NBA draft. In 20 NBA seasons, Paul has won NBA Rookie of the Year, made 12 All-Star games, 11 All-NBA groups and nine All-NBA Defensive teams.Girls 1. A’ja Wilson, Heathwood Hall Episcopal School (South Carolina)Class of 2014 A’ja Wilson averaged a double-double of 35 points and 15 rebounds in her senior season. David E. Klutho/ Sports Illustrated by means of Getty Images Her case: Wilson snagged a state title in her senior season in 2014, averaging 35 points, 15 rebounds and 5 blocks
a game
. She completed ranked No. 1 total in the ESPNW 100 and was called Parade Gamer of the Year and South Carolina’s Gatorade Player of the Year in addition to Ms. Basketball for the state.She went on to have a legendary run at South Carolina where she won a national title, was named SEC Freshman of the Year, SEC Gamer of the Year 3 times, SEC Defensive
Gamer of the Year twice, First string All-American 3 times and First string All-SEC all four years. Wilson went No. 1 total to the Las Vegas Aces in the 2018 WNBA draft. In seven WNBA seasons, Wilson has won 2 titles, been called Novice of the Year, league MVP 3 times, WNBA Defensive Player of the Year two times, won a scoring title and made the All-Star game every year.2. Ivory Latta, York High School(South Carolina) Class of 2003 Ivory Latta scored 70 points in a single game throughout her senior year, where she balanced 44.6 points per game. T. Quinn/WireImage Her case: After leading her team to a state title as a junior, Latta averaged 44.6 points a game, including a 70-point game, as a senior in 2003. She likewise ended up being the all-time leading scorer– young boys or ladies– in South Carolina history amounting to 4,319 points. Latta won Ms. Basketball and Morgan Wootten Gamer of the Year before heading to North Carolina where she was called ACC Playerof the Year, ACC Tournament MVP three times, First string All-ACC 3 times and All-American twice.Latta was chosen No. 11 overall by the Detroit Shock in the 2007 WNBAdraft. During her 10-year profession, she was named to the All-Star game twice.3. Sarah Strong, Fuquay-Varina High School; Grace Christian School(North Carolina )Class of 2024 Sarah Strong racked up a myriad of high school distinctions and state titles before winning one on the college level. Brian Spurlock/Icon Sportswire by means of Getty Images Her case: Strong finished her high school profession ranked No. 1 total in the ESPNW 100 in 2024, after leading Grace Christian
to 3 state titles, snagging Naismith Gamer of the Year, North Carolina Ms. Basketball twice and Gatorade North Carolina Gamer of the Year twice.She had an outstanding freshman season at UConn, helping the Huskies to a national title, averaging 16.4 points, 8.9 rebounds and 3.6 helps a game. Strong was called Freshman of the Year, All-American and First Team All-Big East.4. Saniya Rivers, Eugene Ashley High School(North Carolina)Class of 2021 Saniya Rivers balanced a double-double in high school before participating in South Carolina and later moving to NC State. Lance King/Getty Images Her case: Rivers was a scoring machine, averaging 34.3 points, 12.1 rebounds, 6.1 takes and 5.8 helps a game as a senior in 2021 when she finished ranked No. 3 total in the ESPNW
100. Rivers was named North Carolina’s Gatorade Player of the Year three times and won Gatorade National Gamer of the Year as a senior. She earned All-State honors all four years.Rivers went on to help South Carolina win a national title as
a freshman before transferring to NC State, where she was called
First string All-ACC twice, All-ACC Defensive group two times and ACC Sixth Gamer of the Year. Rivers was selected No. 8 total by the Connecticut Sun in the 2025 WNBA draft.5. Alaina Coates, Dutch Fork High School( South Carolina )Class of 2013 Alaina Coates made All-State honors three times and won back-to-back state champions. Tracy Glantz/The State/Tribune News Service by means of Getty Images Her case: Coates was a dominant force, leading her squad to back-to-back state titles and averaging 20.1 points, 11.6 rebounds and 3.6 obstructs a game as a senior in 2013.
Coates was called All-State 3 times and won South Carolina’s Ms. Basketball and Gatorade Player of the Year.She starred at South Carolina, helping the Gamecocks win a national title, being called SEC Freshman of the Year and All-SEC 4 times. Coates was chosen No. 2 general by the Chicago Sky in the 2017 WNBA draft and won the title in 2023.