Bill Walton (right) is still the only basketball player in California history who has been Mr. Basketball for high school, national Player of the Year in college and MVP in the NBA. At left is Mr. Basketball Kawhi Leonard, who has been MVP in the NBA Finals for two different teams. Photos: Cal-Hi Sports archives & Scott Kurtz.
In addition to state records in various sports, we have also maintained alumni lists of those from California high schools who’ve collected major awards and honors for college and the pros. For boys basketball, we have Hall of Fame members, U.S. Olympic Team members, first and second team All-NBA players, college players of the year and consensus college All-Americans. All can be scanned in this post and we’ll continue to update them as the years roll on.
Note: We hope you enjoy this free post on CalHiSports.com. We will have new class-by-class player rankings from associate editor Ronnie Flores coming up soon that will be for Gold Club members only. You can now sign up for $3.99 per month or $9.99 for three months to see all of our authentic California high school features and lists. Yearly rate of just 6.8 cents per day also can be done. For details, CLICK HERE.
Many may not know that it took until 1993 when there was a player from a Southern California high school who was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mass. Since Bill Walton from Helix of La Mesa went in, though, the region has become arguably one of the best in the world for producing NBA megastars.
Northern California might still be able to field an all-time top five that could top one from SoCal, mainly because Oakland McClymonds grad Bill Russell is still being ranked highest among those from California on various all-time NBA player rankings. Those rankings, with Michael Jordan strong at No. 1, were all seemingly updated in the last few days upon the completion of the ESPN 10-part docuseries “The Last Dance.”
What follows below are various lists all published previously in the Cal-Hi Sports State Record Book and Almanac and all begun by late Cal-Hi Sports founder Nelson Tennis. They’ve simply now been updated and posted on this website so they can be researched and accessed at any time. They will all be initially posted for free but then switched to Gold Club when they’re added as links in the record book files.
Bill Russell would still have to be known as the greatest player ever from a California school. Will any of the current NBA superstars from the state one day catch up to him? Photo: SteinerSports.com.
Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
Springfield, Mass.
Players from California high schools in order of year inducted:
1959 – Hank Liusetti, San Francisco Galileo
1974 – Bill Russell, Oakland McClymonds
1975 – Bill Sharman, Porterville
1977 – Jim Pollard, Oakland Technical
1988 – K.C. Jones, San Francisco Commerce
1993 – Bill Walton, La Mesa Helix
1996 – Gail Goodrich, Los Angeles Poly
1996 – George Yardley,
Newport Beach Newport Harbor
2010 – Dennis Johnson, Compton Dominguez
2012 – Don Barksdale, Berkeley
2012 – Reggie Miller, Riverside Poly
2012 – Jamaal Wilkes, Ventura & Santa Barbara
2013 – Gary Payton, Oakland Skyline
2018 – Jason Kidd, Alameda St. Joseph
2019 – Paul Westphal, Redondo Beach Aviation
Coaches:
1998 – Alex Hannum, Los Angeles Hamilton
2004 – Bill Sharman, Porterville
2011 – Tex Winter, Huntington Park
2013 – Jerry Tarkanian, Pasadena
NBA MVP Award Winners (Since 1955-56)
1957-58 – Bill Russell, Celtics (Oakland McClymonds)
1960-61 – Bill Russell, Celtics (Oakland McClymonds)
1960-62 – Bill Russell, Celtics (Oakland McClymonds)
1960-63 – Bill Russell, Celtics (Oakland McClymonds)
1960-65 – Bill Russell, Celtics (Oakland McClymonds)
1977-78 – Bill Walton, Trailblazers (La Mesa Helix)
2016-17 – Russell Westbrook, Thunder (Lawndale Leuzinger)
2017-18 – James Harden, Rockets (Lakewood Artesia)
NBA Finals MVPs (Since 1969)
1977 – Bill Walton, Trailblazers (La Mesa Helix)
1979 – Dennis Johnson, Celtics (Compton Dominguez)
2008 – Paul Pierce, Celtics (Inglewood)
2014 – Kawhi Leonard, Spurs (Riverside M.L. King)
2019 – Kawhi Leonard, Raptors (Riverside M.L. King)
Russell Westbrook had No. 4 jersey retired at Leuzinger in 2017. Photo: NBADestiny.com.
NBA All-Star Game MVPs (Since 1950-51)
1955 – Bill Sharman, Celtics (Harbor City Narbonne & Porterville)
1963 – Bill Russell, Celtics (Oakland McClymonds)
2015 – Russell Westbrook, Thunder (Lawndale Leuzinger)
2016 – Russell Westbrook, Thunder (Lawndale Leuzinger)
2020 – Kawhi Leonard, Clippers (Riverside M.L. King)
NBA Rookies of the Year (Since 1952-53)
1957-58 – Woody Sauldsberry, Warriors (Compton)
1971-72 – Sidney Wicks, Trailblazers (Los Angeles Hamilton)
1974-75 – Keith Wilkes, Warriors (Ventura & Santa Barbara)
1994-95 – Jason Kidd, Mavericks (Alameda St. Joseph)*
2012-13 – Damian Lillard, Trailblazers (Oakland)
*Co-Rookie of the Year with Grant Hill.
NBA Defensive Players of the Year (Since 1982-83)
1984-85 – Mark Eaton, Jazz (Westminster)
1086-87 – Michael Cooper, Lakers (Pasadena)
1988-89 – Mark Eaton, Jazz (Westminster)
1995-96 – Gary Payton, Sonics (Oakland Skyline)
2011-12 – Tyson Chandler, Knicks (Compton Dominguez)
2014-15 – Kawhi Leonard, Spurs (Riverside M.L. King)
2015-16 – Kawhi Leonard, Spurs (Riverside M.L. King)
NBA Sixth Man of the Year (Since 1982-83)
1985-86 – Bill Walton, Celtics (La Mesa Helix)
NBA All-Star Game Slam Dunk Winners
1992 – Cedric Ceballos, Suns (Compton Dominguez)
1993 – Harold Miner, Heat (Inglewood)
1994 – Isaiah Rider, Timberwolves (Alameda Encinal)
1995 – Harold Miner, Heat (Inglewood)
1996 – Brent Barry, Clippers (Concord De La Salle)
Note: Aaron Gordon, Magic (San Jose Archbishop Mitty) should have won for 2020 and 2016.
Jason Kidd traveled to Southern California prior to junior season at St. Joseph for a magazine cover photo shoot. Photo: Cal-Hi Sports archives.
.
All-NBA First & Second Team Selections
(1946-47)
1947-48 – Howie Dallmar, Warriors
(San Francisco Lowell)
1951-52 – Jim Pollard, Lakers (Oakland Technical)*
1952-53 – Bill Sharman, Celtics
(Harbor City Narbonne & Porterville)*
1953-54 – Jim Pollard, Lakers (Oakland Technical)*
1954-55 – Bill Sharman, Celtics
(Harbor City Narbonne & Porterville)*
1955-56 – Bill Sharman, Celtics
(Harbor City Narbonne & Porterville)
1956-57 – Bill Sharman, Celtics
(Harbor City Narbonne & Porterville)
1956-57 – George Yardley, Pistons
(Newport Beach Newport Harbor)*
1957-58 – Bill Sharman, Celtics
(Harbor City Narbonne & Porterville)
1957-58 – George Yardley, Pistons (Newport Beach Newport Harbor)
1957-58 – Bill Russell, Celtics (Oakland McClymonds)*
1958-59 – Bill Sharman, Celtics (Harbor City Narbonne & Porterville)
1958-59 – Bill Russell, Celtics (Oakland McClymonds)
1959-60 – Bill Sharman, Celtics (Harbor City Narbonne & Porterville)*
1960-61 – Bill Russell, Celtics (Oakland McClymonds)*
1961-62 – Bill Russell, Celtics (Oakland McClymonds)*
1962-63 – Bill Russell, Celtics (Oakland McClymonds)
1963-64 – Bill Russell, Celtics (Oakland McClymonds)*
1964-65 – Bill Russell, Celtics (Oakland McClymonds)
1965-66 – Bill Russell, Celtics (Oakland McClymonds)*
1956-67 – Bill Russell, Celtics (Oakland McClymonds)*
1967-68 – Bill Russell, Celtics (Oakland McClymonds)*
1973-74 – Gail Goodrich, Lakers (Los Angeles Polytechnic)
1974-75 – Phil Chenier, Bullets (Berkeley)*
1975-76 – Phil Smith, Warriors (San Francisco Washington)*
1976-77 – Paul Westphal, Suns (Redondo Beach Aviation)
1976-77 – Bill Walton, Trailblazers (La Mesa Helix)*
1977-78 – Paul Westphal, Suns (Redondo Beach Aviation)*
1977-78 – Bill Walton, Trailblazers (La Mesa Helix)
1978-79 – Paul Westphal, Suns (Redondo Beach Aviation)
1978-79 – Marques Johnson, Bucks (Los Angeles Crenshaw)
1979-80 – Paul Westphal, Suns (Redondo Beach Aviation)
1979-80 – Marques Johnson, Bucks (Los Angeles Crenshaw)*
1979-80 – Dennis Johnson, Sonics (Compton Dominguez)*
1980-81 – Marques Johnson, Bucks (Los Angeles Crenshaw)*
1980-81 – Dennis Johnson, Suns (Compton Dominguez)
1988-89 – Kevin Johnson, Suns (Sacramento)*
1989-90 – Kevin Johnson, Suns (Sacramento)*
1990-91 – Kevin Johnson, Suns (Sacramento)*
1993-94 – Kevin Johnson, Suns (Sacramento)*
1994-95 – Gary Payton, Sonics (Oakland Skyline)*
1995-96 – Gary Payton, Sonics (Oakland Skyline)*
1996-97 – Gary Payton, Sonics (Oakland Skyline)*
1997-98 – Gary Payton, Sonics (Oakland Skyline)
1998-99 – Gary Payton, Sonics (Oakland Skyline)*
1998-99 – Jason Kidd, Suns (Alameda St. Joseph)
1999-00 – Gary Payton, Sonics (Oakland Skyline)
1999-00 – Jason Kidd, Suns (Alameda St. Joseph)
2000-01 – Jason Kidd, Suns (Alameda St. Joseph)
2001-02 – Jason Kidd, Nets (Alameda St. Joseph)
2001-02 – Gary Payton, Sonics (Oakland Skyline)*
2002-03 – Jason Kidd, Nets (Alameda St. Joseph)*
2003-04 – Jason Kidd, Nets (Alameda St. Joseph)
2006-07 – Gilbert Arenas, Wizards (Van Nuys Grant)*
2008-09 – Paul Pierce, Celtics (Inglewood)*
2010-11 – Russell Westbrook, Thunder (Lawndale Leuzinger)*
2011-12 – Russell Westbrook, Thunder (Lawndale Leuzinger)*
2012-13 – Russell Westbrook, Thunder (Lawndale Leuzinger)*
2013-14 – James Harden, Rockets (Lakewood Artesia)
2014-15 – Russell Westbrook, Thunder (Lawndale Leuzinger)*
2014-15 – James Harden, Rockets (Lakewood Artesia)
2015-16 – Russell Westbrook, Thunder (Lawndale Leuzinger)
2015-16 – Kawhi Leonard, Spurs (Riverside M.L. King)
2015-16 – Damian Lillard, Trailblazers (Oakland)*
2016-17 – James Harden, Rockets (Lakewood Artesia)
2016-17 – Kawhi Leonard, Spurs (Riverside M.L. King)
2016-17 – Russell Westbrook, Thunder (Lawndale Leuzinger)
2017-18 – James Harden, Rockets (Lakewood Artesia)
2017-18 – Damian Lillard, Trailblazers (Oakland)
2017-18 – Russell Westbrook, Thunder (Lawndale Leuzinger)*
2017-18 – DeMar DeRozan, Raptors (Compton)*
2018-19 – James Harden, Rockets (Lakewood Artesia)
2018-19 – Damian Lillard, Trailblazers (Oakland)
2018-19 – Kawhi Leonard, Raptors (Riverside M.L. King)*
*Indicates 2nd team; others 1st team.
U.S. Olympic Team Members
1948: Don Barksdale (Berkeley)
1956: K.C. Jones (San Francisco Commerce)
1956: Bill Russell (Oakland McClymonds)
1956: Ron Tomsic (Oakland Fremont)
1956: Jim Walsh (San Francisco St. James)
1960: Darrell Imhoff (Alhambra)
1964: Joe Caldwell (Los Angeles Fremont)
1988: Stacey Augmon (Pasadena Muir)
1996: Reggie Miller (Riverside Poly)
1996: Gary Payton (Oakland Skyline)
2000: Gary Payton (Oakland Skyline)
2000: Jason Kidd (Alameda St. Joseph)
2008: Jason Kidd (Alameda St. Joseph)
2008: Tayshaun Prince (Compton Dominguez)
2012: Russell Westbrook (Lawndale Leuzinger)
2012: James Harden (Lakewood Artesia)
2012: Tyson Chandler (Compton Dominguez)
2016: Paul George (Palmdale Knight)
2016: Klay Thompson (Rancho SM Santa Margarita)
2016: DeMar DeRozan (Compton)
Lakewood Artesia’s James Harden began to become a dominant scorer as sophomore at Arizona State. He was a consensus All-American that season. Photo: Student Sports archives.
College Players of the Year
From California High Schools
Naismith Award
(Most outstanding male college player of year since 1969)
1972 – Bill Walton, UCLA (La Mesa Helix)
1973 – Bill Walton, UCLA (La Mesa Helix)
1974 – Bill Walton, UCLA (La Mesa Helix)
1977 – Marques Johnson, UCLA (Los Angeles Crenshaw)
Wooden Award
(Since 1976)
1977 – Marques Johnson, UCLA (Los Angeles Crenshaw)
1995 – Ed O’Bannon, UCLA (Lakewood Artesia)
NABC
(National Association of Basketball Coaches, since 1975)
1977 – Marques Johnson, UCLA (Los Angeles Crenshaw)
2002 – Drew Gooden, Kansas (El Cerrito)
Oscar Robertson Award
(Since 1959)
1971 – Sidney Wicks, UCLA (Los Angeles Hamilton)
1972 – Bill Walton, UCLA (La Mesa Helix)
1973 – Bill Walton, UCLA (La Mesa Helix)
1974 – Bill Walton, UCLA (La Mesa Helix)
1977 – Marques Johnson, UCLA (Los Angeles Crenshaw)
1995 – Ed O’Bannon, UCLA (Lakewood Artesia)
NCAA Final Four MOPs
(Most Outstanding Player of NCAA tourney since 1939)
1942 – Howie Dallmar, Stanford (San Francisco Lowell)
1955 – Bill Russell, USF (Oakland McClymonds)
1970 – Sidney Wicks, UCLA (Los Angeles Hamilton)
1972 – Bill Walton, UCLA (La Mesa Helix)
1973 – Bill Walton, UCLA (La Mesa Helix)
1995 – Ed O’Bannon, UCLA (Lakewood Artesia)
1997 – Miles Simon, Arizona (Santa Ana Mater Dei)
Consensus College All-Americans
(Based on NCAA formula of major All-American teams; first team players since 1929)
1929 – Vern Corbin, Cal (Piedmont)
1933 – Jerry Nemer, USC (Los Angeles)
1935 – Lee Guttero, USC (Los Angeles Lincoln)
1936 – Hank Liusetti, Stanford (San Francisco Galileo)
1937 – Hank Liusetti, Stanford (San Francisco Galileo)
1938 – Hank Liusetti, Stanford (San Francisco Galileo)
1945 – Howie Dallmar, Penn (San Francisco Lowell)
1948 – Kevin O’Shea, Notre Dame (San Francisco St. Ignatius)
1950 – Bill Sharman, USC (Porterville)
1955 – Bill Russell, USF (Oakland McClymonds)
1956 – Bill Russell, USF (Oakland McClymonds)
1960 – Darrell Imhoff, Cal (Alhambra)
1962 – Billy McGill, Utah (Los Angeles Jefferson)
1965 – Gail Goodrich, UCLA (Los Angeles Poly)
1971 – Sidney Wicks, UCLA (Los Angeles Hamilton)
1972 – Bill Walton, UCLA (La Mesa Helix)
1972 – Ed Ratleff, Long Beach St. (Long Beach Jordan)
1973 – Bill Walton, UCLA (La Mesa Helix)
1973 – Ed Ratleff, Long Beach St. (Long Beach Jordan)
1973 – Keith Wilkes, UCLA (Ventura & Santa Barbara)
1974 – Bill Walton, UCLA (La Mesa Helix)
1974 – Keith Wilkes, UCLA (Ventura & Santa Barbara)
1975 – Dave Meyers, UCLA (La Habra Sonora)
1977 – Marques Johnson, UCLA (Los Angeles Crenshaw)
1978 – David Greenwood, UCLA (Los Angeles Verbum Dei)
1978 – Freeman Williams, Portland St. (Los Angeles Manual Arts)
1979 – David Greenwood, UCLA (Los Angeles Verbum Dei)
1981 – Steve Johnson, Oregon St. (San Bernardino San Gorgonio)
1990 – Gary Payton, Oregon St. (Oakland Skyline)
1992 – Harold Miner, USC (Inglewood)
1994 – Jason Kidd, Cal (Alameda St. Joseph)
1995 – Ed O’Bannon, UCLA (Lakewood Artesia)
1997 – Keith Van Horn, Utah (Diamond Bar)
1998 – Paul Pierce, Kansas (Inglewood)
2001 – Casey Jacobsen, Stanford (Glendora)
2002 – Andrew Gooden, Kansas (El Cerrito)
2004 – Josh Childress, Stanford (Lakewood Mayfair)
2007 – Aaron Afflalo, UCLA (Compton Centennial)
2009 – James Harden, Arizona State (Lakewood Mayfair)
2017 – Lonzo Ball, UCLA (Chino Hills)
2018 – Marvin Bagley, Duke (Chatsworth Sierra Canyon)*
*Last high school he played for as a junior.
Mark Tennis is the co-founder and publisher of CalHiSports.com. He can be reached at markjtennis@gmail.com. Don’t forget to follow Mark on the Cal-Hi Sports Twitter handle: @CalHiSports
