The Jump:

Sebastian Telfair and the High Stakes Business of High School Ball

February 16, 2005

Ian O'Connor

The Prime Time could brag on two straight LeBron James appearances.

Jeff Hewitson, who ran the Prime Time, made sure he landed Dwight Howard the year after he was through with LeBron. The Prime Time would give Howard a chance to secure his position as the number one pick in the June draft.

The top player in the Class of 2004 didn't create half the stir caused by the top player in the Class of 2003 -- LeBron drove a brand-new Hummer, Howard a 1984 Ford Crown Victoria . But Howard was all Cadillac on the court. There wasn't an amateur player in America , maybe in the world, who looked so much like a center and handled the ball so much like a guard.

"There's no way you can take Emeka Okafor ahead of this kid," said one scout from an NBA Central Division team. "He can do everything, and you can tell he's a good kid. No tattoos, clean-cut, his dad's a state trooper, his uncle's a district attorney.

"Dwight's a slam dunk. He's got the whole package."

He also had braces. That's what struck me when I first met him: his youth. Howard was so big, so good, and so sure to be world famous, I'd forgotten that he was an 18-year-old Finding Nemo fan until he smiled and flashed those braces.

Howard had established goals of becoming the first black president of the United States , of convincing the NBA to make the crucifix part of its league logo, and of becoming a better player than LeBron James.

"I think I can surpass him," Howard said. He didn't sound inclined to waste any time trying.

"I always wanted to be the first pick in the draft," Howard said. "I've worked myself up to where I'm at the 5-yard line and David Stern is waving his hands saying, 'Come on in for a touchdown.' So I don't want to drop the ball."

Page 1» | Page 2 | Page 3» | Page 4»