"Little" Guys

High school basketball is an enigmatic animal. There are multiple levels of competition, based on a school's enrollment size, and therefore different levels of exposure and prestige associated with different players from differing regions and levels. However, the level of competition remains just as tough in the smaller regions than in the largest. The difference is small, and the talent is identical. However, players from private schools and smaller public institutions, with the exception of a few standouts, receive less respect and aplomb than those in large public schools.

What the public doesn't know is that one must look no further than the Orlando Magic's star center, Dwight Howard, to find an example of a small school star succeeding in the NBA. Howard played for Class A Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy, also home to NBA alumni Javaris Crittenton, a small private school playing in the "lowest" region in Georgia high school basketball competition. However while the elite prospects are still recruited and deserving players are given their chances by college coaches and NBA scouts, the public writes off many small school basketball stars as a product of little to no competition and lower talent levels.

This blogger was guilty of this ignorant sentiment. Until very recently that is. Recently I had the opportunity to spend time with two varsity basketball players enrolled in St. Francis (also a Class A athletic program) in Alpharetta. The two players are featured as starting guards/fowards for St. Francis, and are being recruited by mid major Division I programs as well as big name schools (Yale, Georgia Tech, etc.). What many sports fans, even high school basketball fans, fail to realize is that while there is a lack of depth in Class A basketball as opposed to Class AAAAA basketball (i.e. Norcross, Wheeler, Milton), the top talent in the "inferior" divisions would very much hold their own against stars from even the largest divisions. And while the pair of St. Francis standouts may never play professional basketball, the idea that they can not compete against players from big name programs is proposterous. In fact, either one could most likely start on most other varsity teams in the state.

This attitude is not just limited to high school basketball however. The difference from Division II and Division III college basketball is negligible, and even the difference between the best Division II and the worst Division I teams is just as small. Top talent across the board is very much similar, and the stigma of coming from a small high school or unknown program should in no way limit the respect a talented player receives.
























2009 Class A GHSA State Champions