October 24, 2013; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors center Jermaine O'Neal (7) dribbles the basketball during the third quarter against the Portland Trail Blazers at Oracle Arena. The Trail Blazers defeated the Warriors 90-74. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-Imagn Images Kyle Terada-Imagn Images

Kobe Bryant, Jermaine O'Neal And The Other High School Player In 1996 NBA Draft

Originally posted on Back in the Day NBA on SI
By Shandel Richardson | Last updated Apr 15, 2025 9:01 AM ET

Kobe Bryant and Jermaine O'Neal helped continue the trend of high school players performing well in the NBA when both were drafted in 1996.

Bryant became a Hall of Famer while O'Neal was a six-time All-Star. Lost in all the hoopla was the story of Taj McDavid, a high school star who also entered the draft that year. Davis went undrafted and never played in the league.

"A really, really good high school basketball player who did something profoundly ambitious, profoundly understandable considering his age and I guess also profoundly dumb," longtime sportswriter Jeff Pearlman said on his Pressbox Chronicles podcast.

Pearlman points out McDavid had a solid senior season in high school, winning the Class 2A Player of the Year award in South Carolina. McDavid's mother was also quoted as saying her son could become "another Michael Jordan."

At the time, the NBA began scouting high school talent because future Hall of Famer Kevin Garnett was drafted in the lottery the previous year. Pearlman said McDavid was a victim of thinking too big, too soon.

"McDavid got caught up in something that happened at the time," Pearlman. "It was NBA fever for young players."

LEBRON-JORDAN TAKE AGES POORLY

Media personality Colin Cowherd has always preferred Michael Jordan over LeBron James.

A take he made about the two from six years ago just may give James the edge. On his show, Cowherd made a bold claim about the debate.

"I saw Michael Jordan at 40 years old," Cowherd said. "LeBron is 34 years old. He will never be as good as Michael Jordan was at 40. LeBron James at 40 will not be in an NBA game six years from now."

He later added, "I don't buy stats. LeBron will be a tidal wave of stats over Michael Jordan but I'll tell you one thing LeBron will never be: he will never be as good as Jordan was at 40. No way, no how."

LeBron take that didn’t age well #lebronjames #lebron #michaeljordan #mj #nba #basketball #sport #lakers #hoops...

James is not only still dominating at 40, he has the Los Angeles Lakers as the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference playoffs.

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This article first appeared on Back in the Day NBA on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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