High School Basketball's Top Scorers: Legends Of The Game

who averaged the most points in high school basketball

Basketball is a sport that has gained popularity worldwide, with many people playing it at the amateur and professional levels. Scoring 100 points in a single basketball game is a rare feat, and only a few players have been able to achieve this. In the United States, there have been 25 instances of players scoring 100 points or more in high school basketball games, with 20 of them being male players and seven being female. Denise Long of Union-Whitten High School in Iowa averaged a still-standing national record of 68.2 points per game during the 1967-68 season. On the other hand, Burnsville High School's Heater holds the record for the highest point total in a high school basketball game worldwide, with 135 points.

Characteristics Values
Player with the most points in a single game Bob Harrison (139 points)
First player to score 100 points in a single game Herman Saygar (113 points)
Female player with the most points in a single game Epiphanny Prince (113 points)
Player with the highest average points per game Denise Long (68.2 points per game)
Player with the most wins Jerry Lucas (76 straight wins)
Player with the highest single-game total worldwide Heater (Burnsville High School, West Virginia) (135 points)
Player with the highest single-game total worldwide, irrespective of gender, age, or competition level Mats Wermelin (Sweden) (272 points)
Player with the highest single-game total between national teams Lou Salvador (Philippines) (116 points)
Greatest high school basketball player Kareem, Wilt, Kevin Garnett, Emoni Bates, Chris Webber, LBJ, Bennie Fuller, Pete Maravich, Earl Maginault, Kobe, and LeBron

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Denise Long's record-breaking season

Denise Long Rife, born in 1951 in Whitten, Iowa, is an American former basketball player. Standing at 5'11" ,she played for Union-Whitten High School, where she dominated the state scene like no other player. Long's record-breaking season came in her senior year of 1967-68, where she averaged a still-standing national record of 68.2 points per game, totalling 1,986 points for the season. During this season, she also became the first female to score 100 points in a high school basketball game, scoring 111 points in a state playoff game against Dows High School. She also led her team to a state championship win that year.

Long's impressive scoring feats were achieved in the six-on-six format of the time, which allowed her to amass a total of 6,250 points over her high school career. This broke the national scoring record and stood until the mid-1980s when Lynne Lorenzen surpassed it by nearly 500 points. Long's senior year average of 68.2 points per game was more than the combined points scored by Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan in any season they played at any level.

Long's achievements gained national attention, and she was drafted by the San Francisco Warriors (now known as the Golden State Warriors) in 1969, becoming the first woman ever drafted by an NBA team. However, the selection was voided by NBA Commissioner Walter Kennedy, who cited the league's policy of not drafting players straight from high school or women at the time. Despite this setback, Long's groundbreaking achievements paved the way for women's basketball, and over 50 years later, the Bay Area welcomed its first WNBA expansion team.

Long's impact extended beyond her playing career, as she inspired future generations of women's basketball players. She was inducted into the Iowa Girls Basketball Hall of Fame in 1975 and later became the fifth woman to be elected to The Sunday Register's Iowa Sports Hall of Fame. Her legacy is a testament to her remarkable talent and the impact she had on the sport, leaving an indelible mark in the history of basketball.

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High-scoring male players

While there is no readily available information on the male players who averaged the most points in high school basketball, there are a few notable mentions of high-scoring male players.

In 1941, 13-year-old 8th grader Bob Harrison scored all 139 points for his team in an 89-139 win. This feat is even more impressive considering his young age and the fact that it occurred during a middle school game, not a high school game, where players are typically older and more developed.

Moving on to high school basketball, the first recorded instance of a player scoring 100 points was in 1913 when Herman Saygar of Culver High School (Indiana) scored 113 points. Since then, there have been 25 verified occurrences of players scoring 100 points in a single high school basketball game, 20 of them by male players. One of the most impressive performances was by a player from Burnsville High School (West Virginia), who scored 135 points, making 53 of 70 field goals and 29 of 41 free throws. This remains the highest total for a high school player worldwide.

When considering the greatest high school basketball players, names like Kareem, Wilt Chamberlain, Kevin Garnett, Chris Webber, and Emoni Bates are often mentioned. Kareem dominated his competition to the extent that dunking was banned in college basketball just before he enrolled. Wilt Chamberlain, who went on to have a legendary NBA career, was also a force to be reckoned with in high school, regularly scoring 70-90 points per game. Emoni Bates, who now plays for the Cavs, was the High School Gatorade Player of the Year, showcasing his outstanding talent at a young age.

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The Ball brothers

The oldest of the three, Lonzo Ball, was the orchestrator of Chino Hills' offense and stood out for his court vision and basketball IQ. He led Chino Hills to a 35-0 record during his senior year, winning the Gatorade National Player of the Year award. After a successful college season with the UCLA Bruins, Lonzo was selected second overall in the 2017 NBA Draft by the Lakers and later traded to the New Orleans Pelicans.

LiAngelo Ball, the middle child, is an American professional basketball player and played for Chino Hills High School, where he won a state championship and achieved national success with his brothers. As a junior, he averaged close to 34 points per game and scored 53 points in a game against Dorsey High School. He initially committed to play for the UCLA Bruins but was suspended from the team due to shoplifting. He then signed with the Lithuanian professional team Prienai and later joined the G League.

The youngest of the trio, LaMelo Ball, emerged as a showman on the court, dazzling spectators with his flashy plays. He played alongside his brothers at Chino Hills High School and scored 27 points in his first game as a starter. In his sophomore season, he averaged 26.7 points and almost 10 assists per game, earning MaxPreps Sophomore All-American first-team recognition. LaMelo chose to forgo college basketball and play professionally in Australia for the Illawarra Hawks of the National Basketball League (NBL) in 2019. He was later selected third overall by the Hornets in the 2020 draft.

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Ronnie Fields

Fields was an exceptionally talented basketball player, known for his scoring ability and athleticism. He possessed a remarkable 50-inch vertical leap, which allowed him to dominate near the basket. In his senior year, he led his team to an 11-1 record in the Chicago Public League, averaging an impressive 32.4 points, 12.2 rebounds, 5.1 assists, 4.5 blocks, 4 steals, and 4.5 dunks per game.

After high school, Fields signed a letter of intent at DePaul University but was later ruled academically ineligible and denied admission. He then declared for the 1996 CBA Draft and was selected by the LaCrosse Bobcats. Fields played for the Rockford Lightning in the CBA during the 1996-97 season and was named to the CBA All-Rookie Second Team. He also spent time in the Philippine Basketball Association, playing for the Tanduay Rhum Masters.

Fields returned to the CBA in 2008, signing with the Minot SkyRockets as a starting shooting guard. Despite struggling with outside shooting, he averaged an impressive 21.4 points, 4.9 assists, and a league-leading 2.7 steals per game in his last full season. Fields' CBA career is highlighted by his scoring and stealing prowess, as he led the league in steals multiple times and was the only player to lead in both scoring and steals in back-to-back seasons.

Today, Fields is the founder, owner, and coach of Ronnie Fields Elite, a basketball program for middle and high school students in Chicago. He is also the head boys' varsity basketball coach at Chicago Hope Academy and the head basketball trainer at the Life Time gym in Oak Brook, Illinois. Fields' journey is documented in the film "Bounce Back: The Ronnie Fields Story," which showcases his impact on the game and his life beyond basketball.

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Chris Webber

Mayce Edward Christopher Webber III, also known as "C-Webb", is an American former professional basketball player. Webber played 15 seasons in the NBA, with the largest portion of his career spent with the Sacramento Kings. In high school, Webber attended Detroit Country Day School from 1987 to 1991 and was the most recruited Michigan high school basketball player since Magic Johnson. During his time at Detroit Country Day School, Webber led his team to three MHSAA State Championships. As a senior in high school, Webber averaged 29.4 points and 13 rebounds per game. He was named Mr. Basketball of Michigan and the 1990–1991 National High School Player of the Year.

After graduating from high school, Webber attended the University of Michigan for two years. While at Michigan, Webber led the group of players known as the "Fab Five", which included himself, Juwan Howard, Jalen Rose, Jimmy King, and Ray Jackson. This group, all of whom entered Michigan as freshmen in the fall of 1991, took the basketball team to the NCAA finals twice, losing both times. The Fab Five became immensely popular as they were seen as bringing a hip-hop flavour to the game. Four of the Fab Five (Webber, Rose, Howard, and King) made it to the NBA. Webber was a first-team All-American and led the Michigan Wolverines' 1991 incoming freshman class, reaching the 1992 and 1993 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship games as freshmen and sophomores.

Webber was drafted as the number one overall pick in the 1993 NBA Draft by the Orlando Magic but was traded to the Golden State Warriors on draft night. During his NBA career, Webber also played for the Washington Bullets/Wizards, Philadelphia 76ers, and Detroit Pistons. He was a 5-time NBA All-Star, a 5-time All-NBA Team member, and the NBA Rookie of the Year. Webber had an outstanding first year, averaging 17.5 points and 9.1 rebounds per game and winning the NBA Rookie of the Year Award. He performed well in the 2007 Playoffs despite receiving limited minutes, averaging 10 points and 6 rebounds per game and shooting 52.4% from the field.

Since retiring from the NBA, Webber has become an analyst on NBA TV's NBA Gametime Live and an on-air commentator for NBA games. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2021.

Frequently asked questions

Denise Long of Union-Whitten High School (Iowa) averaged a still-standing national record of 68.2 points per game.

Some notable male high school basketball players with high scores include Wilt Chamberlain, Emoni Bates, Chris Webber, and Kareem.

Epiphanny Prince of Murry Bergtraum High School (New York) scored 113 points in a single game.

Yes, in 1941, 13-year-old 8th grader Bob Harrison scored all 139 points for his team in an 8-win game.

The number of points scored can vary depending on game length, opponent skill level, and the league in which the game is played.

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