Def up there. The young man at Prolific Prep, D Peterson, is the best I’ve seen in person. (J Kidd maybe second best.) But you did say “high school” regarding Burries.
Riordan vs Roosevelt CIF Open Championship Saturday
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He was the best HS player I ever saw in person. Didn’t get to watch the Burries kid. Will look at the NFHS on demand and check him out
For me IN PERSON, in no particular order: Senque Carey, Aaron Gordon, Stanley Johnson, Ivan Rabb.
He was the best I ever played versus, played with, and seen in person.
Coming in close second
Ricky Price
Stephon Marbury
Paul Pierce
Luther 'Mr. Oh No He Didn't' Davis, Leimert Park Legend never made it out south central though.
For me, Jason Kidd is the top guy I saw live, but Burries may be second. Only saw him once, or maybe my opinion could be different.
Others: Stanley Johnson was SO great in HS and did very well at Arizona, but has only been a fringe/sometimes rotation player in the NBA, which surprised the hell out of me...
Aaron Gordon was great at Mitty but was dominated by Johnson the times they met in playoff games, if I recall correctly, but Gordon's a star in the NBA, Johnson not.
That shows just how HARD it is to make it in the League... (and also how hard it is to scout; a lot of lottery picks have failed to stick).
At the end of Johnson's years in HS, I was saying he'd make the HOF.. El wrongo...
At the end of Kidd's HS career, I was saying he would be a first-ballot lock for the HOF. Well, that one I got right.
Others: Stanley Johnson was SO great in HS and did very well at Arizona, but has only been a fringe/sometimes rotation player in the NBA, which surprised the hell out of me...
Aaron Gordon was great at Mitty but was dominated by Johnson the times they met in playoff games, if I recall correctly, but Gordon's a star in the NBA, Johnson not.
That shows just how HARD it is to make it in the League... (and also how hard it is to scout; a lot of lottery picks have failed to stick).
At the end of Johnson's years in HS, I was saying he'd make the HOF.. El wrongo...
At the end of Kidd's HS career, I was saying he would be a first-ballot lock for the HOF. Well, that one I got right.
Here are the only NorCal prep stars who have been named California's Mr. Basketball two years in a row: Fred LaCour (St. Ignatius); Bill Cartwright (Elk Grove); Jason Kidd (St. Joseph's); Aaron Gordon (Mitty).For me, Jason Kidd is the top guy I saw live, but Burries may be second. Only saw him once, or maybe my opinion could be different.
Others: Stanley Johnson was SO great in HS and did very well at Arizona, but has only been a fringe/sometimes rotation player in the NBA, which surprised the hell out of me...
Aaron Gordon was great at Mitty but was dominated by Johnson the times they met in playoff games, if I recall correctly, but Gordon's a star in the NBA, Johnson not.
That shows just how HARD it is to make it in the League... (and also how hard it is to scout; a lot of lottery picks have failed to stick).
At the end of Johnson's years in HS, I was saying he'd make the HOF.. El wrongo...
At the end of Kidd's HS career, I was saying he would be a first-ballot lock for the HOF. Well, that one I got right.
Kidd could have gone pro-after St. Joes and made an impact in the league. I am not sure AG, or Burries could do that.
Originally attended Riverside Poly. But things blew up at Poly due to widespread recruiting and irregularities. He got caught up in it.
That might be true, in part, because Kidd was actually a full year older than his prep class back in the day, making him 19 at graduation.
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i still to this day cannot believe that out of schea cotton , chris burgess , and baron davis that baron davis would play 14 years in the NBA and both schea cotton and chris burgess wouldn't play 1 nba game .... insane
Shea was so much bigger than everyone else at a young age he never developed anything but to go right through you. My chest still has the wounds. Lollll.
Then the whole grades and test scores held him up a couple years. That didn't help his years where he would have been getting pro ready at NC State.
I second this. Darryn Peterson is also a full year younger than Burries.
Peterson won the Naismith player of the year, something nobody in the Bay Area has probably done since the award was given out.
Yes he’s from Ohio, but we as a community are blessed and lucky to be able to see him play.
Bill Self said it’s his best recruit he’s ever had and Dru Joyce, Lebrons guy, said he’s the best HS player since Lebron and I agree.
Burries, will be a top 10-15 pick in 2026, Peterson is a lock for top 3. Peterson also dropped 61 pts against the No 1 player in the country and Grind Session Defensive MVP AJ Dybantsa.
As good as CA HS Ball is and it’s probably the best in the Country, it still has nothing on the Grind Session or EYBL
Bro you make a lot of sense but do you ever research the history of basketball or just guess. JASON KIDD WAS A NAISMITH PLAYER OF THE YEAR. Jesus Christ man.
Let me explain this plain and simple. Nobody, literally nobody was a better high school player than Jason was until LeBron showed up. Anyone who tells you anything different is about as moronic as it gets.
And no offense Darren isn’t from the Bay Area. Not born and raised here. So how do you consider him the only kid in the Bay Area. Prolific Prep is not Bay Area basketball period. One day you may get it
What if one of the African imports won player of the year. Would be eligible since he is from the mother land?
My personal opinion is if you come in from another country the odds of you winning player of the year are slim to none nationally. Schools can recruit the world, places like PP can pull talent from all over. But fact is the comment was about the Bay Area.
Aaron Gordon, Damian Lillard, Kidd, Gary Payton, that’s real Bay Area basketball. Add in Jermey Lin, Leon Powe, Andrew Gooden, am into a billion in earnings yet. The bay will never be able to debate the south, but at the same time it is my belief that kids need to from the bay to be referred to the bay.
I saw a comment that Stokes may transfer to a Bay Area high school. Well, that’s buying a state title period. I don’t find that impressive at all.
Yeah 30 years ago I was 7 years old.
Not everyone on this board is an old fart
Oops did I offend someone?
Yot didn’t offend me at all young fella. But instead of being like others on this board learn about Bay Area basketball and understand the facts. Let me ask you a question. And I believe I asked you this once before.
Who from PP who you pump the hell up is having more success than JKidd, GP, AG, or a few other nba players. You unfortunately got sucked into the prep school mania. Ever heard of Findlay. Quite a few kids from the Bay Area. Want to know what their career earnings combined were. Well it’s simple, try never made an nba bench for most. If you’re the man you don’t have to play with others who are the man. And many in the Bay Area stayed in high school. Didn’t need prep school or academy influence
His combination of strength, athleticism, and shooting touch I haven’t seen equaled in HS to this day. Though I watched Burries, the kid from Roosevelt, in some highlight of the Open Championship game. Very, very smooth shooter, outstanding jumper,can handle the ball and stop and pop with the best of them.
The sample size isn't enough to go all the way back to Gary Payton.
But since gordon... I'd say prolific has definitely outdone Mitty.
I remember seeing Robinson in the D5 title game... Brethren Christian of Cypress had little size, like maybe their biggest guy was 6'3".
(Okay, my memory isn't THAT good, had to look up the opponent's name)
But I do remember that they draped 3 guys all over Darnell the whole game... It slowed him a LITTLE, but Emery won the game by 30-ish despite that ploy.
(Okay, my memory isn't THAT good, had to look up the opponent's name)
But I do remember that they draped 3 guys all over Darnell the whole game... It slowed him a LITTLE, but Emery won the game by 30-ish despite that ploy.
Gotta add Dame Lillard who is doing quite well coming from Oakland High/Weber St.
J Kidd was incredible in HS. A lot of us were saying first ballot HOF after St. Joseph's. Played against my brother when he was St. Mary's/Berkeley and hit a three with his left hand. That small gym went crazy.For me, Jason Kidd is the top guy I saw live, but Burries may be second. Only saw him once, or maybe my opinion could be different.
Others: Stanley Johnson was SO great in HS and did very well at Arizona, but has only been a fringe/sometimes rotation player in the NBA, which surprised the hell out of me...
Aaron Gordon was great at Mitty but was dominated by Johnson the times they met in playoff games, if I recall correctly, but Gordon's a star in the NBA, Johnson not.
That shows just how HARD it is to make it in the League... (and also how hard it is to scout; a lot of lottery picks have failed to stick).
At the end of Johnson's years in HS, I was saying he'd make the HOF.. El wrongo...
At the end of Kidd's HS career, I was saying he would be a first-ballot lock for the HOF. Well, that one I got right.
Kidd was the best I’ve seen, although Cartwright was a beast! I was a little skeptical on Kidd in the pros since he was 19 in HS, but not only did he sway all skeptics, he was a future HOFer playing in HS at 19. Just amazing!
His freshman year at Cal Kidd hushed a ton of those remaining skeptics and got the Bears into the Sweet 16, and as we all know, upsetting Duke in the process. I heard Cartwright was something too. Elk Grove High, right? Was a bit before my time. During the same era as Cartwright many of my older partners/coaches/teachers tell me the best they seen in HS was Berkeley High's (and Cal's) Gene Ransom (RIH).
As far as ball handling guards, yeah, Gene Ransom was the best. Electric in the open court in a fast break. He was must see HS basketball. Gym was electric when he played. Berkeley had some nice teams in that era
SM had some decent teams around that time. Had O’Dowd and St Joes in league though
Anyone know whats happening with O'Dowd as far as not having those one or two stud players (i.e, Paris Austin, Ivan Rabb) they usually have every year? I guess the last guy like that was Lewis but he left.
