Videos: Top 5 high school videos of NBA superstars featuring LeBron James, Steph Curry, Joel Embiid and more

Kevin Durant

Kevin Durant was already a confident and smooth scorer in prep. [Photo: Boardroom]

Kevin Durant was described as a unicorn when he entered the NBA in 2007. In his high school days, there were already unmistakable glimpses of what he would become. KD was skinny, had a gigantic wingspan and the smoothness of a gifted scorer.

In all three places where Kevin Durant played high school basketball, he got better every year. KD went to National Christian in Fort Washington and then spent a year with the renowned Oak Hill Academy before returning to Montrose Christian in his senior year.

In an interview with Draymond Green later in his career, Durant explained that transferring schools was his way of looking for next-level competition. His work ethic and already enviable physical gifts would help him become one of the most sought-after high school players to enter college.

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Steph Curry

Skinny and undersized, Steph Curry work on every aspect of his game to become a good high school basketball player. [Photo: Sporting News]

Unlike LeBron James, Steph Curry wasn’t surrounded by hoopla. He regularly played in half-empty gyms and, more often than not, was the smallest player on the floor. The future two-time MVP has always been skinny, so it wasn’t a surprise that he looked quite fragile.

Playing for Charlotte Christian School, SCurry had to grind his way to become part of the roster. The NBA’s greatest 3-point shooter did not even try out for the varsity team in his first year, admitting later he was too nervous and scared.

The adversity that he had to go through just to get a spot on the team gave him lifelong lessons about perseverance and patience. Without the length, size and athleticism of most basketball players, Curry religiously worked on every aspect of his game until he could make up for his disadvantages.

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LeBron James

LeBron James already caused media frenzy back in high school. [Photo: Sports Illustrated Vault]

LeBron James was different. In his senior year at St. Vincent-St. Mary High School in Akron, Ohio, the young James was already a national sensation. He was already more covered than top college players and was immune to the bright lights surrounding almost every game.

As the James hype was going full blast, a young, versatile player named Trevor Ariza was also starting to make his name in high school basketball. James’ Fighting Irish eventually met Ariza’s Westchester High in Los Angeles.

Ariza, now James’ teammate with the LA Lakers, reportedly talked trash to the “Chosen One.” James dropped 52 points in that game, which is the same total Westchester High School managed to score.

The game against Ariza was just one of the many in James’ senior basketball schedule that solidified his status as a future NBA star.