Ranking the 10 greatest NBA players drafted out of high school

7. Jermaine O’Neal was sneakily one of the best two-way centers in the NBA.

Stuck in a backup role for the first four seasons of his pro career, Jermaine O’Neal grew frustrated. Drafted directly out of high school for his high pedigree at such a young age, he felt that he deserved, and was capable of, much more than he was allowed to show. His wish was eventually granted and O’Neal became the starting center of the Indiana Pacers.

For the next eight seasons, O’Neal went on to average 18.6 points, 9.6 rebounds and 2.4 blocks per game en route to six All-Star games and three All-NBA selections. He possessed natural instincts as a shot blocker, oftentimes coming in from the weakside to obliterate a week layup attempt. Notwithstanding his stout 6-foot-11 frame, O’Neal was quite mobile, which helped him navigate the court freely as a help defender.

He was a skilled post scorer, due in large part to his phenomenal footwork coupled with that signature agility. With an exceptional face-up game, he’d oftentimes use ball-fakes, spins and pivots to maneuver around his defender to create easier looks at the basket. O’Neal had nice touch at the basket, which made it easier to finish many of these dazzling plays.

There were some temperament issues along the way, but O’Neal’s on-court performance spoke for itself. He’s certainly one of the most memorable players of the 2000s.