Hoops Habit
Fansided

Ranking the 10 greatest NBA players drafted out of high school

By Dylan Carter

Los Angeles' Kobe Bryant #8 attempts to steal the ball away from Cleveland's LeBron James #23 during the NBA Players Hurricane Relief Game at the Toyota Center, September 11, 2005 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/WireImage)
Los Angeles' Kobe Bryant #8 attempts to steal the ball away from Cleveland's LeBron James #23 during the NBA Players Hurricane Relief Game at the Toyota Center, September 11, 2005 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/WireImage) /
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NBA center Darryl Dawkins of the Philadelphia 76ers (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /

10. Darryl Dawkins made the NBA leap as a High Schooler in 1975

One of the all-time great role players of this league, center Darryl Dawkins was the first person to be selected directly from high school in the NBA Draft. Although it was controversial at the time, ‘Chocolate Thunder’ played 14 seasons in the NBA — most of which was spent between the Philadelphia 76ers and New Jersey Nets.

Dawkins did everything you could ask of a center in his day. He was a punishing rim defender and shot blocker who asserted his will at the basket. Measuring in at an inch below seven feet tall, Dawkins was such a ferocious dunker that he forced the NBA to adopt breakaway rims because he repeatedly shattered backboards.

Although he never reached All-Star status, Dawkins is a legend in his own right whose name still echoes through hoops lore. For this specific list, he was a pioneer of the game.