First-round NBA draft picks from Arizona high schools: Deandre Ayton, Mike Bibby and more
13 Arizona high school or prep academy players have been first-round NBA draft picks through the years.
The first was Fat Lever, the former Arizona State and Tucson Pueblo High standout, who was taken 11th overall in 1982.
The most recent was Joshua Primo, who went 12th overall in 2021 after spending time at AZ Compass Prep.
More: Arizona's 2022 NBA draft connections include Shaedon Sharpe, Benn Mathurin, TyTy Washington
13 first-round NBA draft picks from Arizona
Take a look at the 13 first-round NBA draft picks that played at an Arizona high school or prep academy before the 2022 NBA draft.
2021- Joshua Primo - 12th overall - Alabama - AZ Compass Prep
2020 - Josh Green - 18th overall - Arizona - Glendale Mountain Ridge
2019 - Brandon Clarke - 21st overall - Gonzaga - Phoenix Desert Vista
2018 - Deandre Ayton - 1st overall - Arizona - Phoenix Hillcrest Prep
2018 - Marvin Bagley III - 2nd overall - Duke - Phoenix Hillcrest Prep/Tempe Corona del Sol High
2008 - Jerryd Bayless - 11th overall - Arizona - Phoenix St. Mary's High School
2005 - Channing Frye - 8th overall - Arizona - Phoenix St. Mary's High School
2001 - Richard Jefferson - 13th overall - Arizona - Phoenix Moon Valley High School
1998 - Michael Bibby - 2nd overall - Arizona - Phoenix Shadow Mountain High School
1989 - Sean Elliott - 3rd overall - Arizona - Tucson Cholla High School
1986 - Mark Alarie - 18th overall - Duke - Phoenix Brophy College Preparatory
1984 - Bernard Thompson - 19th overall - Fresno State - Phoenix South Mountain High School
1982 - Fat Lever - 11th overall - ASU - Tucson Pueblo High School
More: Arizona's Dalen Terry rises in NBA mock drafts, decides to turn pro and leave Wildcats
2022 NBA draft class could be historic for Arizona
Several former Arizona high school or prep academy players could join the above list in 2022.
Former Dream City Christian guard Shaedon Sharpe, former Cesar Chavez High and AZ Compass Prep guard TyTy Washington, former Gilbert Perry guard Jalen Williams, former Dream City Christian guard MarJon Beauchamp and former Tempe Corona Del Sol and Hillcrest Prep guard Dalen Terry have all appeared in first-round NBA mock draft projections for the June 23 NBA draft.
Could they all be selected in the first round of the 2022 NBA draft?
VOTE: Which Arizona connection will be drafted highest in the 2022 #NBAdraft? (More options: https://t.co/sN1NdbFgpR) @azcentral @azc_preps
— azcentral sports (@azcsports) June 8, 2022
Reach Jeremy Cluff at jeremy.cluff@arizonarepublic.com. Follow him on Twitter @Jeremy_Cluff.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: First-round NBA draft picks from Arizona high schools