Drew Gooden: The latest in a long line

by Dave Bollwinkel

June 24, 2002

  Having watched Drew Gooden since he was a ninth grader at El Cerrito High School it is great to see success come to a young man who has both worked hard and kept his ego in check.  Although he is confident he isn't arrogant.  Maybe it is because he knows something about history.  On Wednesday when David Stern announces Drew's name he will be the latest in a long line of first round draft picks from Northern California.  Because he is the last it doesn't mean he is the least but he has a long way to go in the NBA to rank with greatest pros produced by NorCal high schools.

  While today's young players recognize the names of Jason Kidd and Gary Payton the list began long before these two all-stars came on the scene.  In Sunday's San Francisco Chronicle Ron Kroichick wrote an article focusing on the Bay Area high school first round picks over the past 15 years.  Using Ron's piece to jog our memory let's take a look back at the top NBA players developed north of Fresno.

  Certainly McClymonds High School's Bill Russell is the star with the most rings.  Plus he gives hope to every gawky young big man because Russell wasn't a great high school player.  Keep in mind that you need not have been the best at a young age to grow into being a dominate NBA player.  Toronto's Antonio Davis is a good example of developing late.  Another McClymonds High product, Davis wasn't a first round pick and honed his game in Europe before becoming an inside force in the NBA.  Russell may have been the first, and Davis the latest, but in between these future NBA stars walked the halls at Mac;  Paul Silas, Joe Ellis, Jim Hadnot and Nate Williams.

  Of all the Oakland high schools McClymonds may have produced the most NBA players but until he makes it to "the league" Tech's Leon Powe has to take a back seat to the following:

            Gary Payton - Skyline

            Greg Foster - Payton's more publicized high school teammate at Skyline

            Lester Conner - Fremont

  Staying in the East Bay we find Cleveland Cavalier forward Lamond Murray and the much maligned Isiah Rider.  Go back to the glory days of Berkeley High School and you find first round picks Phil Chenier and John Lambert.  Chenier's back injury may have cut his career short, but not before he was an NBA all-star.  Drive through the Caldecot Tunnel and the suburbs gave us a pair of Barrys, Brent and Jon, currently in the league.

  Drive across the Bay Bridge to "the city" and although there has been a talent draught as of late that doesn't mean there haven't been native San Franciscans who made a mark in the NBA.  Look around the Oakland Arena and you'll see just a handful of retired jerseys.  One of them was worn by former Sacred Heart and long time Warrior star Tom Meschery.  Golden State made Saint Ignatius High's Bob Portman a first round pick out of Creighton in 1969.   Washington High's Phil Smith may have been a second round draft choice but he helped lead the Golden State Warriors to an NBA title in 1975.  Although he's before my time those in the know will tell you that San Francisco high school legend Fred La Cour was best the city ever sent on to the NBA.

  Although the South Bay hasn't produced the same depth of talent of talent as the East Bay it has given us size in Del Mar High School's Mark McNamara, quickness in Camden High's Raymond Townsend, and overall excellence in Live Oak's Ricky Berry.  Plus a matching pair in brothers Bud and Ralph Ogden.

  If we move out of the Bay Area and into the valley the Capitol City of Sacramento's contribution to the NBA is highlighted by Kevin Johnson.  When you combine KJ with Jason Kidd and Gary Payton has any region produced more all-star point guards during the past two decades?  Sacramento has also given the NBA some size in Hiram Johnson's James Donaldson, much like Bill Russell he was a nobody coming out of high school,  Darnell Hillman, and Elk Grove's Bill Cartwright.  Gridley's Isaac Austin demonstrates that you need not be from the big city to make it big in the NBA. 

  While I am sure this list is incomplete, and I apolize to those who I may have neglected to include, it does help to put Drew Gooden's impending lottery selection in historical perspective.  Drew has had a great college career, he is an exceptional NBA prospect, but in Russell, Kidd, KJ, and Payton he has some big shoes to fill if he is going to join the elite of NBA players who grew up in Northern California.

  Every week Dave Bollwinkel shares with you ideas that will benefit players, parents, and coaches.  Coach Bollwinkel brings to our site 25 years of college coaching experience, including 9 seasons as a head coach.  While you may have seen and heard Dave doing color commentary for basketball this past season on Action Sports Cable Network his real focus is on the development of leadership and teamwork.  To find out more about what he has to offer coaches and players take a look at  www.CoachOnandOfftheCourt.com  and read him here every week.