Best High School Basketball

[tomegun]

Originally Posted by Jimgolf

Kevin Durant is from Texas, not Maryland.

Durant began his high school career at National Christian, in Maryland. He played as a Junior at Oak Hill and after that season he "came home" to Montrose Christian in Maryland. I don't know where you got your information from, but he spent all but one year of high school ball in Maryland and as far as I know that is where is family is from. He plays college ball for Texas, but that is the only association with Texas I know of. He nearly went to college at UNC so those ties aren't too deep. A few years ago I was in the elevator with Rick Barnes at the Nike camp and (I forget the exact words) he is basically resigned to the fact that Durant could be one and done in college. His "people" were grooming him for the NBA before the rules changed which forced him to go to college. As a sophmore he was playing the point at 6'7".

[Jimgolf]

Originally Posted by tomegun

Durant began his high school career at National Christian, in Maryland.

You are absolutely correct. My bad. Durant is originally from Suitland, MD. I don't know where I got the impression he was from Dallas, but I'll have to reprogram that part of the brain.

[Johnny Ringo]

Best high school basketball. I can jump in here because I have been involed to some degree in several states.

1) Indiana is the best due to atmoshphere - good players as well, but atmoshphere, coverage, hype and importance placed on it ranks it No. 1 in my book. Also, can add tradition ... It used to be greater before they went to a class system. Biggest mistake ever made by the IHSAA.

2) State of Washington. Very under-rated.

I have been in Las Vegas, Nevada, Iowa, Idaho, New Jersey, Maine.

None of these states even come close to Washington and Washington is a bit by the Hoosier state. Las Vegas is by far the worst in all aspects!

[tomegun]

Originally Posted by Johnny Ringo

Best high school basketball. I can jump in here because I have been involed to some degree in several states.

1) Indiana is the best due to atmoshphere - good players as well, but atmoshphere, coverage, hype and importance placed on it ranks it No. 1 in my book. Also, can add tradition ... It used to be greater before they went to a class system. Biggest mistake ever made by the IHSAA.

2) State of Washington. Very under-rated.

I have been in Las Vegas, Nevada, Iowa, Idaho, New Jersey, Maine.

None of these states even come close to Washington and Washington is a bit by the Hoosier state. Las Vegas is by far the worst in all aspects!

Why do you think so lowly of Las Vegas? Don't get me wrong, the DC area will blow Vegas away, but Vegas isn't terrible either. I don't know, when I go back (retire) maybe I will say the same thing. By the way, how much time did you spend in Vegas and when?

[Johnny Ringo]

Originally Posted by tomegun

Why do you think so lowly of Las Vegas? Don't get me wrong, the DC area will blow Vegas away, but Vegas isn't terrible either. I don't know, when I go back (retire) maybe I will say the same thing. By the way, how much time did you spend in Vegas and when?

No excitement in the games. All games from frosh to varsity are all played consecutively in the two on-site gyms. Rarely do you see a band or more than just the friends and family members at a game. Atmoshphere is horrible. There is no community feel in Las Vegas - it has grown too fast.

Coaches are not very good as a whole. And the games refelct that. Just a horrible setting.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by Johnny Ringo

No excitement in the games. All games from frosh to varsity are all played consecutively in the two on-site gyms. Rarely do you see a band or more than just the friends and family members at a game. Atmoshphere is horrible. There is no community feel in Las Vegas - it has grown too fast.

Coaches are not very good as a whole. And the games refelct that. Just a horrible setting.

Damn, that sounds almost entirely like the Girl's basketball around here.

Sorry I could not resist.

Peace

[Corndog89]

Originally Posted by Johnny Ringo

No excitement in the games. All games from frosh to varsity are all played consecutively in the two on-site gyms. Rarely do you see a band or more than just the friends and family members at a game. Atmoshphere is horrible. There is no community feel in Las Vegas - it has grown too fast.

Coaches are not very good as a whole. And the games refelct that. Just a horrible setting.

Have you been in Vegas recently? I ask because I'm pretty sure I'm moving there before next b-ball season. I recall reading in Referee Magazine a couple years ago that there was a HUUUUGE shortage of officials in Vegas because it has grown soooo big, soooo fast. I wonder how many newer, minimally qualified varsity officials are there, and if that may contribute to the quality of play?

As I mentioned earlier in this thread, the quality of play here in Hawaii is average at best. Derek Low at Washington State is a very gifted player, and there is a local kid playing here at UH, but very few local kids play college basketball (as opposed to football where they excel). However, I enjoy calling games here because there is intensity in every game...the kids really play hard.

[tomegun]

Originally Posted by Corndog89

Have you been in Vegas recently? I ask because I'm pretty sure I'm moving there before next b-ball season. I recall reading in Referee Magazine a couple years ago that there was a HUUUUGE shortage of officials in Vegas because it has grown soooo big, soooo fast. I wonder how many newer, minimally qualified varsity officials are there, and if that may contribute to the quality of play?

I can tell you this, I go to Vegas for a tournament and I tried to get some quality officials and I struggled. I asked all the guys I know if there was anyone new who they thought could do a good job at the tournament and they came up with zero! I'm doing the same thing this year and I haven't heard of any guys who are really good and new. Maybe my standards are too high, but if the guy in charge gives me a gym and I fly home (I will be there in about two years) a warm body just will not do.

[JRutledge]

IHSA 100 Year Legends

Here is a website recognizing the all time greats in our state.

I do not know if Illinois is the best or not, but it damn close.

Current pros involve Dwayne Wade, Kevin Garnett, Eddie Curry, Michael Finley, Shaun Livingston, Quentin Richardson and Luther Head.

Current top college players like Jon Scheyer (Duke), Sherron Collins (Kansas), Julian Wright (Kansas) and Tony Freeman (Iowa). I could name more but that would take some time.

And of course you cannot go without naming Isiah Thomas, Jack Sikma and Quinn Buckner.

This is always an interesting debate, but if is very subjective. I just know a lot of great players come from this state and it is not completely unusual to see players at the HS level here that end up on TV at the next levels.

Peace

[Mark Padgett]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

I do not know if Illinois is the best or not, but it damn close.

And of course you cannot go without naming Isiah Thomas, Jack Sikma and Quinn Buckner.

Peace

Don't forget the greatest ever, George Mikan!

[JRutledge]

I will admit that each time I started to list a name, I would come up with someone else. It got to the point I just stopped and kept who I already listed.

Peace

[Jimgolf]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

Kevin Garnett

All right, i was wrong about Durant, but Kevin Garnett is not from Illinois. He played his senior year at Farragut Career Academy, but the rest of his life he was in South Carolina. In fact, he was Mr. Basketball in South Carolina his junior year.

BTW, Michael Jordan was born in Brooklyn, but I'm not going to claim him for New York.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by Jimgolf

All right, i was wrong about Durant, but Kevin Garnett is not from Illinois. He played his senior year at Farragut Career Academy, but the rest of his life he was in South Carolina. In fact, he was Mr. Basketball in South Carolina his junior year.

BTW, Michael Jordan was born in Brooklyn, but I'm not going to claim him for New York.

I did not say where he was from. I only care that he played his senior season in one of the toughest leagues before he went to the NBA. He solidified his ability by playing in Chicago. He could have stayed in South Carolina but he did not. I was not born in Illinois, should I say I did not officiate in Illinois?

Peace