2026 NBA All-Star Weekend: Revisiting L.A.'s best high school players since 2000 - ESPN

As the NBA's brightest stars get ready for the All-Star Game on Sunday at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, one can't help recalling the deep wealth of homegrown talent that has emerged from the Los Angeles area.

From NBA champions to college legends, L.A.'s high school talent pool is seemingly limitless.

Considering their high school achievements, we managed to zero in on a talent-laden roster since 2000 that is strong enough to give this year's All-Stars a tough out.

Ball had a legendary high school career, most notably highlighted by his 92-point game as a sophomore. That year, he averaged 27.5 points, 9.6 assists and 4.2 rebounds at Chino Hills High. The previous year, the youngest Ball — alongside his brothers Lonzo and LiAngelo — helped Chino Hills to a 35-0 record and a state title. Ball played professionally in Lithuania and Australia before his NBA career.

Leonard was a late bloomer nationally, checking in at No. 56 in the SC Next 100 in 2009. Still, he put up big numbers as a senior at Martin Luther King High School in Riverside, California, averaging 22.6 points, 13.1 rebounds, 3.9 assists and three blocks. He was named California Mr. Basketball.

Harden led Artesia High School in Lakewood, California, to back-to-back state titles and averaged 18.8 points, 7.9 rebounds and 3.9 assists as a senior in 2007. The McDonald's All-American was ranked No. 14 in the SC Next 100 in the class of 2007.

Chandler was a dominant force at Dominguez High School in Compton, California, dominating the opposition with averages of 26 points, 15 rebounds and eight blocks en route to a state title as a senior. Chandler, who was ranked No. 4 in the SC Next 100 in the class of 2001, was a McDonald's All American before skipping