Team USA before they were stars: The high schools of men's basketball

With Olympic basketball set to begin this weekend, the Team USA men are days away from beginning their campaign to atone for the country’s failure to win the 2023 FIBA tournament.

These are the best of the best who hail from the United States. With legends like LeBron James, Kevin Durant and Steph Curry coming back for what is likely their final run, returning Olympians in Anthony Davis, Bam Adebayo, Devin Booker, Jayson Tatum and Jrue Holiday, and first-timers in Anthony Edwards, Derrick White and Tyrese Haliburton and Derrick White, the team is primed to compete.

But these stars weren’t always Olympians. Years ago — and in some cases, over a decade ago — they were in high schoolers, looking for their college opportunity that would best lead to NBA stardom (or in one notable case, not college).

Take a look at these players’ histories, from when they were not Olympics, not All-NBA talent, not even college players, but high schoolers making a name for themselves.