In the spirit of the "SportsCenter" quest -- modeled after the original 2005 "SportsCenter Across America" tour that hit all 50 states in 50 days -- we're spotlighting some of the top hoopers repping key stops along the way.
To rank the top boys' and girls' basketball talent since 2000, we're placing a heavy emphasis on high school accolades -- state titles, national honors, individual awards -- along with on-court dominance, long-term legacy, recognition and overall influence on the game.
In this edition, we're focused on the "Golden State" of California.
From LaMelo Ball to Kelsey Plum, these hoopers represent some of the finest to ever play high school basketball in the region.
Men
1. LaMelo Ball, Chino Hills High School
His case: Ball had a whirlwind high school run, bouncing between programs in his final season and a half, but he's best known for the foundation he laid at Chino Hills, where he averaged 27.5 points per game as a sophomore after helping the Huskies win a state title as a freshman. During his sophomore season, Ball famously dropped 92 points in a 146-123 win over Los Osos (California).
Instead of going to college, he spent a year playing professionally in Australia, where he averaged 17 points, 6.8 assists, 7.6 rebounds and 1.6 steals per game. He went on to be picked No. 3 overall by the Charlotte Hornets in the 2020 NBA draft and won Rookie of the Year after averaging 15.7 points, 5.9 rebounds, 6.1 assists and 1.6 steals a game. In four NBA seasons, Ball is averaging 21 points, 7.4 assists and six rebounds a game. He was named an NBA All-Star in 2022.
2. Kawhi Leonard, Martin Luther King High School
His case: Leonard wasn't a household name in high school, checking in at No. 56 overall in the ESPN 100 for 2009, but he starred for the Martin Luther King Wolves, where he led the team to a 30-3 record and a CIF-Southern Section Division I-AA title after averaging 22.6 points, 13.1 rebounds, 3.9 assists and three blocks during his senior season.
He shined at San Diego State, claiming Mountain West Conference Freshman of the Year and leading the Aztecs to back-to-back conference titles, averaging 15.7 points and 10.4 rebounds a game. He was picked No. 15 overall by the Indiana Pacers and was traded to the San Antonio Spurs on the same night. In 12 NBA seasons, Leonard has won two NBA titles, claimed two NBA Finals MVP awards and two Defensive Player of the Year awards.
3. Evan Mobley, Rancho Christian School
His case: Mobley led the Rancho Christian Eagles with 20.5 points, 12.2 rebounds, 5.2 blocks and 4.6 assists during his senior season in 2020. That resulted in him claiming the Morgan Wooten National High School Player of the Year award and his second-straight Gatorade Player of the Year award for the state.
Mobley, who finished No. 3 overall in the ESPN 100 in 2020, took it to another level at USC as a freshman, putting up 16.4 points, 8.7 rebounds, 2.9 blocks and 2.4 assists per game. That season, he became the first player ever to snag Pac-12 Player of the Year, Freshman of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year hardware in the same season. Mobley was picked No. 3 overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2021 NBA draft and finished as runner-up for Rookie of the Year. In four NBA seasons he has averaged 16.4 points, nine rebounds and 2.9 assists.
4. Jrue Holiday, Campbell Hall High School
His case: Holiday checked in at No. 4 overall in the ESPN 100 for 2008 after averaging 25.9 points, 11.2 rebounds, 6.9 assists and 4.8 steals per game while leading the Campbell Hall Vikings to the Division IV state title in a performance that earned him Gatorade National Player of the Year honors.
Holiday was solid at UCLA as a freshman, averaging 8.5 points, 3.8 rebounds and 3.7 assists; good enough to be named to the Pac-10 All-Freshman Team. He was picked No. 17 overall by the Philadelphia 76ers in the 2009 NBA draft. In 16 NBA seasons, Holiday has won two NBA titles, played in two NBA All-Star games and has been named to the All-Defensive First Team three times.
5. Jalen Green, Prolific Prep
His case: Green was a dynamic force as a senior, averaging 31.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and five assists for the Prolific Prep Crew, which finished 31-3 and captured the Grind Session World Championship. Green finished No. 1 overall in the ESPN 100 for 2020 and opted for the G League over college where he pumped in 17.9 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game.
He was picked No. 2 overall by the Houston Rockets in the 2021 NBA draft and has averaged 20.1 points, 3.4 assists and 4.3 rebounds per game in his career.
Women
1. Diana Taurasi, Don Antonio Lugo High School
Her case: Taurasi starred as a senior in 2000, averaging 28.8 points, 12.9 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game for the Don Antonio Lugo Conquistadors. That led to her being named the 2000 Naismith and Parade Magazine National High School Player of the Year.
She elevated her dominance at UConn, claiming National Player of the Year honors twice and leading the Huskies to three-straight national titles. In her 20-year WNBA career, Taurasi won Rookie of the Year, three WNBA titles, played in 11 All-Star games and is the league's all-time scoring leader.
2. Kelsey Plum, La Jolla Country Day School
Her case: Plum powered La Jolla Country Day School to a state title as a junior and averaged 27.1 points, 8.5 rebounds, 3.7 steals and 3.3 assists a game during her senior year when she was named to the McDonald's All American game.
Plum finished No. 26 overall in the ESPNW 100 for 2013 and was even more dominant for the Washington Huskies. She became the NCAA's all-time scoring leader with 3,527 points. The San Antonio Stars (now the Las Vegas Aces) selected her No. 1 overall in the 2017 WNBA draft, and Plum currently suits up for the Los Angeles Sparks. In seven seasons, she has been named a WNBA All Star four times and won two WNBA titles.
3. Sabrina Ionescu, Miramonte High School
Her case: Ionescu led Miramonte to the CIF open division title game in her senior season where she averaged 25.3 points, 8.8 assists, 7.6 rebounds, 4.5 steals and 1.3 blocks a game. Finishing No. 4 overall in the ESPNW 100 for 2016, Ionescu earned MVP honors of the McDonald's All American game and went on to star at Oregon where she won the Pac-12 Player of the Year and National Player of the Year awards twice.
Ionescu became the first player in NCAA history with 2,000 career points (2,562), 1,000 career rebounds (1,040) and 1,000 career assists (1,091). The New York Liberty picked her at No. 1 overall in the 2020 WNBA draft. A three-time All-WNBA selection and four-time All Star, Ionescu helped the Liberty capture their first WNBA title in 2024.
4. Candice Wiggins, La Jolla Country Day
Her case: Wiggins drove La Jolla Country Day to two state titles, two runner-up finishes and was named CIF Player of the Year in each of her four seasons before starring in the McDonald's All American game as a senior in 2004.
In year one at Stanford, Wiggins was named Pac-12 Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year. She went on to win Player of the Year two more times and led the Cardinal to the Final Four in 2008. She was picked No. 3 overall by the Minnesota Lynx in the ensuing WNBA draft. Wiggins was named Sixth Woman of the Year in 2008 and helped the Lynx claim a WNBA title in 2011.
5. JuJu Watkins, Sierra Canyon School
Her case: Watkins headlined a Sierra Canyon squad to a 31-1 record and the CIF-Southern Section Open Division title, averaging 27.5 points, 13.7 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 2.5 steals and 1.7 blocks as a senior in 2023, when she finished No. 1 overall in the ESPNW 100. That led to her claiming Gatorade National Player of the Year after taking home California's Gatorade Player of the Year award as a junior.
As a freshman, Watkins went on to lead USC to its first Pac-12 tournament title since 2014 and its first Elite Eight berth since 1994. She also set a freshman scoring record with 920 points. Watkins finished second in scoring in Division I, averaging 27.1 points per game and was named Pac-12 Freshman of the Year.