Videos: Top 5 high school videos of NBA superstars featuring LeBron James, Steph Curry, Joel Embiid and more

Playing well in high school basketball is a big step to a bright future in the NBA. [Photo: Sporting News]

Before NBA players filled arenas with their incredible exploits, they learned the basics and played hoops mostly in front of family and friends. LeBron James, Steph Curry, Kevin Durant the late Kobe Bryant and so many others first starred in high school.

It’s worth looking back at the raw athleticism and skills of future NBA superstars who were just starting to learn the ropes. At this stage, their love for the game was what mainly drove them to be their best. Their budding games showed glimpses of what they would become once they entered the best pro basketball league in the world.

Here are a few highlights of NBA players who showcased their basketball talents in high school:

NBA players who made high school basketball their launching pad to stardom

Joel Embiid

Unlike the other names on this list, Joel Embiid did not start playing serious basketball until he was 15. Embiid’s preferred sports were volleyball and soccer. The Cameroonian even planned to play professional volleyball in Europe.

Embiid’s entry into basketball was horrible. The Philadelphia 76ers revealed how bad he was at basketball when he was kicked out by the coach. Playing a strange game in a strange place was a lot to take in, and Embiid struggled, to say the least.

Happy 25th Birthday to Joel Embiid!

He started playing basketball at age 15
He was the #1 center in the nation at 18
3rd pick in the NBA Draft at 20
All-NBA at 24

Check out his High School Highlights: bit.ly/2n4sCvi https://t.co/hn49mPX9JR

Philly’s All-Star center eventually turned things around. He finished his senior year averaging 13.0 points, 9.7 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game. Embiid led The Rock School in Gainesville, Florida, to a 33-4 record and a state championship.

Kobe Bryant

Before Kobe Bryant became a beloved and iconic LA Lakers legend, the five-time champion displayed his skills at Lower Merion High in Philadelphia. Just how good Bryant already was came quickly to the fore when he made the varsity team in his freshman year.

Bryant had already started showing that unfailing belief in himself and fierce competitiveness. In his senior year, the Aces were the state champions in 1996. But before they won the state title, Bryant showed stubbornness that would become a trademark of his 20-year career in pro basketball.

Starting guard 6’6’ from Lower Merion High School, Kobe Bryant. https://t.co/9B7FvSQkTJ

After breaking his nose before the semifinal game, Bryant refused to wear a protective mask and led Lower Merion to the championship game.

The “Black Mamba” had a sizzling high school career, averaging 30.8 points, 12.0 rebounds, 6.5 assists, 4.0 steals and 3.8 blocks. His incredible numbers would make him a first-round pick by the Charlotte Hornets, who traded him to the LA Lakers in a draft-night deal.