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Few states have produced the level of legendary athletic talent that Pennsylvania has throughout history. Some states can claim more in sheer numbers; not many can say they match the upper-echelon talent.
What states can say athletes like Wilt Chamberlain, Kobe Bryant, Joe Montana and Stan Musial have played high school sports within their borders? Crazier yet, the high school achievements of these all-time greats may not even be better than feats of athletes like Mackenzie Allessie, Terrelle Pryor and Dawn Staley.
Who is the all-time greatest Pennsylvania high school athlete?
As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, USA TODAY is launching its 250 for 250 series, looking to answer that question by celebrating the best athletes from each state.
From fans' votes, five athletes will be selected to represent the state as legends who have defined high school sports.
With that in mind, here are the Pennsylvania high school athlete nominees.
Kicking off the Pennsylvania list with one of the state's multi-sport legends. Adderly was an athletic force for Northeast High School in Philadelphia, excelling in football, basketball and baseball. He earned All-City honors in all three sports—plus, he lettered in track—and while his focus was shifted toward basketball, it was football that truly became his calling card. Adderly was selected to the first-ever Big 33 Football Classic in 19557, which would be one note of distinction in a glorious career that ended in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
The greatest field hockey scorer in high school history, Mackenzie Allessie holds the record for goals in a season (124) and career (351) as well as career points (838). In fact, she has twice as many career goals as the player with the second-most in NFHS history.
Saquon Barkley dominated as a senior, rushing for 1,856 yards and 31 touchdowns, elevating his career total to over 3,600 yards and 63 TDs. In track, he competed in the 100-meter dash, long jump, shot put and high jump.
[IMG alt="Kobe Bryant photographed on court at Lower Merion High School
Kobe Prep Boysfront 08 S Bko Usa Pa"]https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_sports_articles_558/1e309ac7a7a69ee10ee2bf13cb07caa9[/IMG]
One of the basketball greats who made the leap to the NBA straight from high school, Kobe Bryant played varsity all four years and led Lower Merion to its first state championship in 53 years. He was the Naismith and Gatorade National Player of the Year as a senior, averaging 30.8 points, 12 rebounds, 6.5 assists, four steals and 3.8 blocks per game, and finished his career with 2,883 points scored.
Over Wilt Chamberlain’s three years at Overbrook, he won the Public League three times and the city championship twice, and as a senior, had a three-game stretch with 74, 78 and 90 points, the third of which came in just 28 minutes of play. According to the Basketball Network, he averaged 37.4 points per game, finishing with 2,252 in his high school career.
Tony Dorsett was named to the All-State team in his junior and senior seasons, rushing for 1,034 yards and 19 touchdowns as a junior and 1,238 yards as a senior, per Pro Football History. He went on to become a Super Bowl champion with the Dallas Cowboys.
A three-time state champion, Spencer Lee won 144 wrestling matches in a row, only losing one time in his career — a championship loss as a senior. Lee won the U17 and U20 World Championships while in high school and a silver medal at the 2024 Olympics.
Chance Marsteller never lost in high school. He went 166-0, becoming Pennsylvania’s fifth undefeated wrestler to win four high school championships — the fourth of which he won despite having a stress fracture in his back, according to the National Wrestling Hall of Fame — and was named Outstanding Wrestler three times.
Joe Montana manned the quarterback position when passing was far less prominent than today, becoming an All-American as a senior as he threw for 1,000 yards in back-to-back seasons, according to the Monvalley Independent, and led Ringgold to its first WPIAL playoff game in school history. He was also an All-American in basketball.
While playing for Donora High School, Stan Musial signed a contract with the St. Louis Cardinals’ Monessen club — still about two months shy of his seventeenth birthday, according to SABR. He also played basketball and ping pong and danced, according to the outlet. He parlayed his athletic prowess into a 22-year, Hall of Fame MLB career.
A three-sport athlete, Joe Namath dominated the Pennsylvania sports scene, leading the football team to a 9-0 record and a championship as a senior, starting on the basketball team and dunking as a guard, and playing outfield in baseball.
Micah Parsons broke onto the scene as a freshman, recording 27 tackles for loss and 18.5 sacks, according to MaxPreps. He continued dominating on defense, rising to become a top-5-ranked player in the nation and recording 64.5 TFLs and 41.5 sacks, and as a senior, he rushed for 1,239 yards and 27 touchdowns on only 109 carries.
Terrelle Pryor was an electric high school football player, becoming the first athlete in Pennsylvania to throw and run for 4,000 yards each (4,340 passing, 4,238 rushing). He led Jeannette to a 16-0 record, its first state championship, and helped the team set a record with 860 total points, an average of 55 points per game. He was MaxPreps’ Boys National Athlete of the Year.
The 1988 USA TODAY National High School Player of the Year, Dawn Staley never lost a game in high school. She led Dobbins to a 60-0 record and three city league championships, averaging 33.1 points per game, according to Philly Mag.
Who is the greatest Pennsylvania high school athlete of all time?
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: These high school athletes defined the state of Pennsylvania — who's the greatest?
Continue reading...
What states can say athletes like Wilt Chamberlain, Kobe Bryant, Joe Montana and Stan Musial have played high school sports within their borders? Crazier yet, the high school achievements of these all-time greats may not even be better than feats of athletes like Mackenzie Allessie, Terrelle Pryor and Dawn Staley.
Who is the all-time greatest Pennsylvania high school athlete?
As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, USA TODAY is launching its 250 for 250 series, looking to answer that question by celebrating the best athletes from each state.
From fans' votes, five athletes will be selected to represent the state as legends who have defined high school sports.
With that in mind, here are the Pennsylvania high school athlete nominees.
Herb Adderley, Football, Boys Basketball, Baseball, Northeast High School (Philadelphia)
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Kicking off the Pennsylvania list with one of the state's multi-sport legends. Adderly was an athletic force for Northeast High School in Philadelphia, excelling in football, basketball and baseball. He earned All-City honors in all three sports—plus, he lettered in track—and while his focus was shifted toward basketball, it was football that truly became his calling card. Adderly was selected to the first-ever Big 33 Football Classic in 19557, which would be one note of distinction in a glorious career that ended in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Mackenzie Allessie, Girls Field Hockey, Donegal High School (Mt. Joy)
The greatest field hockey scorer in high school history, Mackenzie Allessie holds the record for goals in a season (124) and career (351) as well as career points (838). In fact, she has twice as many career goals as the player with the second-most in NFHS history.
Saquon Barkley, Football, Boys Basketball, Track and Field, Whitehall High School
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Saquon Barkley dominated as a senior, rushing for 1,856 yards and 31 touchdowns, elevating his career total to over 3,600 yards and 63 TDs. In track, he competed in the 100-meter dash, long jump, shot put and high jump.
Kobe Bryant, Boys Basketball, Lower Merion High School (Ardmore)
[IMG alt="Kobe Bryant photographed on court at Lower Merion High School
Kobe Prep Boysfront 08 S Bko Usa Pa"]https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_sports_articles_558/1e309ac7a7a69ee10ee2bf13cb07caa9[/IMG]
One of the basketball greats who made the leap to the NBA straight from high school, Kobe Bryant played varsity all four years and led Lower Merion to its first state championship in 53 years. He was the Naismith and Gatorade National Player of the Year as a senior, averaging 30.8 points, 12 rebounds, 6.5 assists, four steals and 3.8 blocks per game, and finished his career with 2,883 points scored.
Wilt Chamberlain, Boys Basketball, Overbrook High School (Philadelphia)
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Over Wilt Chamberlain’s three years at Overbrook, he won the Public League three times and the city championship twice, and as a senior, had a three-game stretch with 74, 78 and 90 points, the third of which came in just 28 minutes of play. According to the Basketball Network, he averaged 37.4 points per game, finishing with 2,252 in his high school career.
Tony Dorsett, Football, Boys Basketball, Hopewell High School (Aliquippa)
Tony Dorsett was named to the All-State team in his junior and senior seasons, rushing for 1,034 yards and 19 touchdowns as a junior and 1,238 yards as a senior, per Pro Football History. He went on to become a Super Bowl champion with the Dallas Cowboys.
Spencer Lee, Boys Wrestling, Franklin Regional High School (Murrysville)
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A three-time state champion, Spencer Lee won 144 wrestling matches in a row, only losing one time in his career — a championship loss as a senior. Lee won the U17 and U20 World Championships while in high school and a silver medal at the 2024 Olympics.
Chance Marsteller, Boys Wrestling, Kennard-Dale High School (Aliquippa)
Chance Marsteller never lost in high school. He went 166-0, becoming Pennsylvania’s fifth undefeated wrestler to win four high school championships — the fourth of which he won despite having a stress fracture in his back, according to the National Wrestling Hall of Fame — and was named Outstanding Wrestler three times.
Joe Montana, Football, Baseball, Boys Basketball, Ringgold High School (Monongahela)
Joe Montana manned the quarterback position when passing was far less prominent than today, becoming an All-American as a senior as he threw for 1,000 yards in back-to-back seasons, according to the Monvalley Independent, and led Ringgold to its first WPIAL playoff game in school history. He was also an All-American in basketball.
Stan Musial, Baseball, Boys Basketball, Donora High School (Monongahela)
While playing for Donora High School, Stan Musial signed a contract with the St. Louis Cardinals’ Monessen club — still about two months shy of his seventeenth birthday, according to SABR. He also played basketball and ping pong and danced, according to the outlet. He parlayed his athletic prowess into a 22-year, Hall of Fame MLB career.
Joe Namath, Football, Boys Basketball, Baseball, Beaver Falls High School
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A three-sport athlete, Joe Namath dominated the Pennsylvania sports scene, leading the football team to a 9-0 record and a championship as a senior, starting on the basketball team and dunking as a guard, and playing outfield in baseball.
Micah Parsons, Football, Central Dauphin High School (Harrisburg)
Micah Parsons broke onto the scene as a freshman, recording 27 tackles for loss and 18.5 sacks, according to MaxPreps. He continued dominating on defense, rising to become a top-5-ranked player in the nation and recording 64.5 TFLs and 41.5 sacks, and as a senior, he rushed for 1,239 yards and 27 touchdowns on only 109 carries.
Terrelle Pryor, Football, Boys Basketball, Jeannette High School
Terrelle Pryor was an electric high school football player, becoming the first athlete in Pennsylvania to throw and run for 4,000 yards each (4,340 passing, 4,238 rushing). He led Jeannette to a 16-0 record, its first state championship, and helped the team set a record with 860 total points, an average of 55 points per game. He was MaxPreps’ Boys National Athlete of the Year.
Dawn Staley, Girls Basketball, Dobbins Tech High School (Philadelphia)
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The 1988 USA TODAY National High School Player of the Year, Dawn Staley never lost a game in high school. She led Dobbins to a 60-0 record and three city league championships, averaging 33.1 points per game, according to Philly Mag.
Who is the greatest Pennsylvania high school athlete of all time?
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: These high school athletes defined the state of Pennsylvania — who's the greatest?
Continue reading...
