James Harden vs. Russell Westbrook: Who was the better high school basketball player?
Russell Westbrook - High School Highlights Video: Russell Westbrook high school highlights
Oklahoma City Thunder star stood out for Leuzinger High School in Southern California.
Hoops. They did it again.
The remarkable 2014-15 performances of James Harden and Russell Westbrook continued on Sunday with the two going head-to-head in an epic showdown.
File photo by Louis Lopez
James Harden, Artesia
Harden had 41 points on 12-of-22 shooting and Westbrook recorded his 11th triple double of the season with 40 points, 13 assists and 11 rebounds in Houston's 115-112 victory.
The debate of who will be the league's MVP continued — Golden State's Stephen Curry is certainly in the mix as well — but who will win the scoring title (Harden is at 27.68 and Westbrooke 27.66) is just as up in the air.
It also stirs up the quandary who was the better prep player, a question we've asked before. In post-game interviews, Harden talked about the two growing up in Southern California.
Harden played at Artesia (Lakewood) and Westbrook at nearby Leuzinger (Lawndale).
"That's my brother from childhood," Harden told reporters. "We've grown up together. We've grown up into some great young men. Obviously he's a great player. He got another triple-double tonight. He's a great competitor. So every time we go against each other it's going to be a great battle."
Westbrook, with a massive five-inch growth spurt heading into his sophomore year, turned into one of the region's most lethal scorers and dominating players.
File photo by Dirk Dewachter
Russell Westbrook, Leuzinger
The then 6-foot-3, 170-pound guard averaged 25.1 points, 8.7 rebounds and 3.1 steals per game for the 25-4 Olympians his senior season in 2005-06, leading his team to a 25-4 season.
He scored at least 30 eight times that season with a career high of 51 in a 81-65 win over Carson.
Harden was on one of the top teams in the country the following season — 2006-07 — leading Artesia to an easy state championship. The polished 6-5 senior had 22 points and three fourth-quarter dunks leading the Pioneers (33-2) to a 91-64 Division III title over Bishop O'Dowd-Oakland at Arco Arena.
Harden averaged 18.8 points and 7.9 rebounds per game for the Pioneers his senior season. He was a model of consistency, scoring at least 20 in 19 games with a high of 31. He shot a remarkable 62 percent from the floor and made 41 3-pointers.
Los Angeles Times prep writer Eric Sondheimer covered both when they were in high school.
"Harden was better as a high school player," Sondheimer wrote. "(He was) much further along and played on a much better team. He was a star from freshman on. Westbrook was late bloomer oozing with athleticism and potential. I saw Westbrook when he had few offers as a senior but you could tell he might be very good down the road."
James Harden - High School Highlights Video: James Harden high school highlights
NBA MVP candidate was a superstar for Artesia High School.
