50 days, 50 states: Taurasi, LaMelo headline top hoopers from California high schools

This feature highlights top high school basketball talent from California since 2000, emphasizing high school accolades, on-court dominance, legacy, and influence. It profiles several elite players:

LaMelo Ball: Ball starred at Chino Hills, averaging 27.5 PPG as a sophomore after helping win a state title as a freshman. He famously scored 92 points in a single game. Skipping college, he played professionally in Australia before being drafted 3rd overall by the Charlotte Hornets in 2020. He won NBA Rookie of the Year and is a 2022 All-Star, averaging 21 PPG in his career.

Kawhi Leonard: Though ranked 56th in the 2009 ESPN 100, Leonard led Martin Luther King High to a 30-3 record and a CIF-SS D1-AA title, averaging 22.6 PPG and 13.1 RPG as a senior. He excelled at San Diego State, winning MWC Freshman of the Year. Drafted 15th in 2011, he has won two NBA championships, two Finals MVP awards, and two Defensive Player of the Year awards.

Evan Mobley: As a senior at Rancho Christian in 2020, Mobley averaged 20.5 PPG, 12.2 RPG, and 5.2 BPG, earning Morgan Wooten National Player of the Year and his second Gatorade State POY award (ranked 3rd ESPN 100). At USC, he made history by winning Pac-12 Player, Freshman, and Defensive Player of the Year in the same season. Drafted 3rd overall in 2021 by Cleveland, he was Rookie of the Year runner-up.

Jrue Holiday: Holiday was ranked 4th in the 2008 ESPN 100 after averaging 25.9 PPG, 11.2 RPG, 6.9 APG, and 4.8 SPG, leading Campbell Hall to a Division IV state title and winning Gatorade National Player of the Year. After one season at UCLA (Pac-10 All-Freshman), he was drafted 17th in 2009. In 16 NBA seasons, he has won two NBA titles, been a two-time All-Star, and made three All-Defensive First Teams.

Jalen Green: Green averaged 31.5 PPG, 7.5 RPG, and 5 APG as a senior for Prolific Prep (31-3, Grind Session champs), finishing as the #1 player in the 2020 ESPN 100. He chose the G League over college, averaging 17.9 PPG. Drafted 2nd overall by Houston in 2021, he has averaged 20.1 PPG in his NBA career.

Diana Taurasi: Taurasi dominated as a senior at Don Antonio Lugo in 2000, averaging 28.8 PPG, 12.9 RPG, and 4.2 APG, winning both Naismith and Parade Magazine National Player of the Year. At UConn, she won National Player of the Year twice and led the team to three straight national titles. In her 20-year WNBA career, she is the league's all-time leading scorer, won Rookie of the Year, three WNBA titles, and made 11 All-Star teams.