A few of us have had a debate going on recently about what makes a great player at the high school level. Is it that individual who is has the potential in the future to play at another level? Or is it a player who gets it done, noticeably, right here, right now?In this debate, many people argue that the player who has the most potential in the future is the greatest player at the high school level. They are a very good, if not great...yes, let's use the word great, they are a great high school player. They are a high school player that can make huge differences in a game with their individual skills, but they are not playing what might be considered the most key position.
The other player may not have as much potential in college or even beyond, but they can flat get it done, every game, at the most key position.
Let me give you a basketball analogy. What if I had a 6'8" player with great potential, but cannot dominate a game with their skills yet. You will see brilliance on ocassion, but not consistently. And even if you did, if the guards don't get the ball to him, he can't showcase the talent. Maybe he plays in a system that doesn't showcase that talent.
But then you have a scoring point guard. A point guard with the ball in his hands all the time and can flat score the basketball. With him, you are in every game and winning a lot. Who do you pick first if you are starting a team?
I don't think there is a wrong answer to that question, but, in my opinion, you have to start with the guy who has the ball and can score it and will come through as a competitor. Yes, the big kid, or wing, or small forward with more potential is a good player and will be better in the future, but I want who will win for me now.
Larry Bird is a great example of this. If you voted the 5 all time high school players from Indiana, Bird wouldn't be on most lists. He was a great player at Springs Valley HS, but had to be lobbied onto the Indiana All Star team (politics was involved, I am sure). He starts out and is a good player at IU for the couple of weeks he was there, but nothing that made you turn your head. He then drops out of college, ages and goes on to have a great career at Indiana State and then the Boston Celtics. He would not be a kid that I would pick for my top 5 all time Indiana high school players, but if you asked me to pick the 5 all time top NBA players from Indiana...he is on the list.
But again, it is a debate, and there really is no right or wrong answer to that question. The only issue I can see is that most of us would love to have that problem of who is the greater player. Please...bring that problem to me.
