11 months ago
15
Jason Jordan
Jul 10, 2025, 09:00 AM ET
In the tone of the "SportsCenter" quest -- modeled aft the archetypal 2005 "SportsCenter Across America" circuit to deed each 50 states successful 50 days -- we're spotlighting immoderate of the apical hoopers repping cardinal stops on the way.
To fastener successful the champion boys' and girls' hoops endowment since 2000, we're weighing everything from vocation accolades and on-court interaction to legacy, designation and power connected the game.
In this edition, we're focused connected the Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia country colloquially known arsenic the DMV.
From Kevin Durant to Kristi Toliver, these hoopers correspond immoderate of the finest to ever play precocious schoolhouse hoops successful the region.
Men
1. Kevin Durant, Oak Hill Academy (Virginia)/Montrose Christian (Maryland)
His case: Durant was a schoolboy fable successful the D.C. country for aggregate years, averaging 23.6 points and 10.2 rebounds a crippled for Montrose Christian during his elder play successful 2005-06. He was adjacent much ascendant moving with the D.C. Blue Devils AAU squad during the summertime and consistently took his accumulation up arsenic helium leveled up, winning Player of the Year arsenic a freshman astatine Texas, being selected No. 2 by the Seattle SuperSonics successful the 2007 NBA draught and going connected to triumph 2 NBA titles with the Golden State Warriors (2017, 2018). Durant was named NBA MVP successful 2014.
2. Carmelo Anthony, Oak Hill Academy (Virginia)
His case: Anthony led the Oak Hill Warriors to a 32-1 grounds successful 2001-02, averaging 21.7 points and 7.4 rebounds a crippled en way to being named a McDonald's All-American. He went connected to predominate astatine Syracuse, averaging 22.2 points and 10 rebounds a crippled to pb the Orange to their archetypal nationalist rubric successful 2003, claiming Most Outstanding Player successful the NCAA tournament. Anthony was selected No. 3 by the Denver Nuggets successful the 2003 NBA draught and went connected to beryllium a 10-time NBA All-Star and a six-time All-NBA selection. He volition beryllium enshrined successful the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame successful September.
3. Brandon Jennings, Oak Hill Academy (Virginia)
His case: Jennings dismantled the contention astatine the highest level successful precocious school, averaging 35.5 points, 7.5 assists, 5 rebounds and 4 steals a crippled for the nationalist hoops powerhouse. He claimed Virginia's Gatorade Player of the Year and Naismith Player of the Year awards arsenic a elder successful 2008. Jennings, who finished his precocious schoolhouse vocation ranked No. 1 successful the ESPN 100, played professionally successful Italy for 1 twelvemonth alternatively of going to assemblage and was selected No. 10 by the Milwaukee Bucks successful the 2009 draft. In 9 NBA seasons, Jennings averaged 14.1 points, 5.7 assists and 3 rebounds a game.
4.Luka Garza, Maret School (Washington)
His case: Garza was a matchup nightmare during his precocious schoolhouse days with the Fighting Frogs, averaging 24.6 points, 11.7 rebounds, 2.5 blocks and 1.1 assists during his elder play successful 2016-17. He lone elevated his lasting astatine Iowa, wherever his jersey hangs successful the rafters aft winning National Player of the Year and Big Ten Player of the Year honors twice. Garza is Iowa's all-time scoring person with 2,306 vocation points. Garza was the 52nd draught prime by the Detroit Pistons successful 2021.
5.Markelle Fultz, DeMatha Catholic (Maryland)
His case: Fultz was ranked No. 7 successful the ESPN 100 successful 2016 and averaged 19.1 points and 8.8 rebounds for DeMatha arsenic a senior. He dominated the contention successful his freshman play astatine Washington, averaging 23.2 points, 5.7 rebounds, 5.9 assists and 1.2 blocks, and was selected No. 1 successful the 2017 draught by the Philadelphia 76ers.
Women
1. Kristi Toliver, Harrisonburg High School (Virginia)
Her case: Toliver dominated the contention successful precocious school, pumping successful 2,527 vocation points and averaging 28.5 points, 5.7 rebounds and 6.2 assists arsenic a senior, claiming Virginia's Gatorade Player of the Year grant and suiting up successful the McDonald's All-American Game successful 2005. Toliver helped Maryland triumph the nationalist rubric arsenic a freshman successful 2006 aft draining a 3-pointer to unit overtime successful the Terrapins' 78-75 triumph implicit Duke. She went connected to beryllium named a two-time All-American, three-time All-ACC enactment and the 2009 ACC Player of the Year. Toliver was picked No. 3 by the Chicago Sky successful the 2009 WNBA draft, was a three-time All-Star and won 2 titles.
2. Angel Reese, St. Frances Academy (Maryland)
Her case: Reese was a ascendant unit with the Panthers, averaging 18 points and 20 rebounds for her vocation and checking successful astatine No. 2 successful the ESPNW 100 her elder twelvemonth successful 2019-20. Reese led Saint Frances to 3 consecutive IAAM championships past dominated for 2 years astatine Maryland earlier transferring to LSU to elevate her lasting adjacent further, starring the Tigers to a nationalist rubric arsenic a junior. She led the SEC successful scoring and rebounding during her inferior and elder seasons earlier being picked No. 7 by the Chicago Sky successful the 2024 draft. She has already made her people successful the WNBA, becoming the fastest subordinate successful league past to scope 500 points and 500 rebounds. That could perchance airy successful examination to Reese's interaction connected the crippled disconnected the tribunal arsenic a taste improvement done manner and media.
3. Marissa Coleman, St. John's College High School (Washington)
Her case: Coleman was a cardinal playmaker for the Cadets, snagging D.C.'s Gatorade Player of the Year honors successful 2004 and 2005 and finishing her precocious schoolhouse vocation with 2,057 points and 1,750 rebounds. Coleman starred astatine Maryland arsenic a freshman, claiming ACC Rookie of the Year and helping the Terrapins triumph the nationalist rubric successful 2006. She amassed much than 2,000 points and 1,000 rebounds successful her vocation successful College Park. Coleman played 9 seasons successful the WNBA and was an All-Star successful 2015.
4. Monique Currie, Bullis School (Maryland)
Her case: Currie was an All-American arsenic a Bulldogs elder successful 1999-2000, erstwhile she averaged 21.6 points, 8.2 rebounds and 2.5 steals a crippled and scored 2,151 vocation points successful precocious school. She was adjacent much legendary astatine Duke, wherever she became the archetypal subordinate successful ACC women's hoops past to station 2,000 points, 800 rebounds, 400 assists and 200 steals successful her career. Currie was named ACC Player of the Year successful 2005 aft averaging 17.5 points and 7.1 rebounds and was selected No. 3 by the Charlotte Sting successful the 2006 WNBA draft. Currie played 14 nonrecreational seasons and compiled vocation averages of 10.3 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.8 assists.
5.Azzi Fudd, St. John's College High School (Washington)
Her case: Fudd was the archetypal sophomore to beryllium named Gatorade National Player of the Year and past claimed 2 consecutive D.C. Gatorade Player of the Year honors during her inferior and elder seasons. She led the Cadets with 25.2 points, 7.1 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 3.2 steals and was ranked No. 1 successful the ESPNW 100 successful 2020. In the 2024-25 season, Fudd was named First Team All-Big East and helped the UConn Huskies assertion the nationalist title, averaging 17.5 points a crippled successful the NCAA tournament.
