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Victor Wembanyama put on a show during Game 1 of the 2026 Western Conference Finals on Monday, May 18.
The French superstar became the youngest player in NBA history (22 years, 134 days) to score at least 40 points and grab at least 20 rebounds in a playoff game, with his 41-point, 24-rebound performance in 49 minutes.
REQUIRED READING: High school basketball shot clock: Which states have it, which states don't? Why?
Wembanyama did so after learning Oklahoma City star and Western Conference Final foe Shai Gilgeous-Alexander won 2026 NBA MVP honors for the 2025-26 season.
The matchup between Wembanyama and Gilgeous-Alexander — even though they play different positions — is something NBA fans could have the luxury of watching for the years ahead, with both the Spurs and Thunder poised to remain among the best teams in the league.
Well before any of the participants in the WCF reached the NBA, they played basketball at lower levels before moving up the ladder.
Here's what you need to know about where the starters for both the Thunder and Spurs in the Western Conference played high school basketball:
Gilgeous-Alexander began his prep career at St. Thomas More Catholic Secondary School in Hamilton, Ontario, although he did not make the school's junior team. He then transferred to Sir Allan MacNab Secondary School (also in Hamilton) before playing his junior and senior seasons at Hamilton Heights Christian Academy in Chattanooga, Tennessee. He averaged 18.4 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per game during his senior season.
After beginning his prep career in Quebec, Canada, Dort moved to Arlington Country Day School in Jacksonville, Florida, ahead of his sophomore year. His junior season was played at Conrad Academy in Orlando. He returned to Canada to play at the Athlete Institute — a prep school in Mono, Ontario — for his senior season. Dort committed to Arizona State to play collegiate basketball.
Although Williams was born in Denver, his family moved to Arizona when he was seven. He played high school basketball for Perry High School in Gilbert, Arizona. As a senior, he averaged more than 25 points per game. He grew about eight inches from his sophomore to senior year of high school. He played college basketball at Santa Clara for three seasons.
Holmgren teamed up with fellow NBA star Jalen Suggs at Minnehaha Academy in Minneapolis. The childhood friends won multiple state titles while teaming up before Suggs graduated in 2020. As a senior in 2021, Holmgren led his program to his fourth Class 3A state title while averaging 21 points and 12.3 rebounds per game.
Neither starting center in the WCF attended high school in the United States. Hartenstein was born in Eugene, Oregon, but the family moved to Germany, where his father played professionally.
Castle averaged 20.1 points, 9.5 rebounds, 4.8 assists, three steals and two blocks per game as a senior for Newton High School (Covington, Georgia). His performance earned him a chance to play in the 2023 McDonald's All-American Boys game, and he earned five-star status. He played collegiate ball at Connecticut.
Vassell — the eldest starter for the Spurs at 25 years old — attended Peachtree Ridge High School in Suwanee, Georgia, during his prep career. During his senior season, Vassell finished with 21.6 points and 8.9 rebounds per game.
Harper was a big-time recruit out of Don Bosco Preparatory High School in Ramsey, New Jersey. The five-star recruit averaged 22.4 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game as a senior, leading the program to a 29-3 record and the NJSIAA Non-Public A state championship. Harper opted to attend Rutgers over offers from Duke, Kansas, Indiana and Auburn, among others.
Champagnie attended Bishop Loughlin Memorial High School in Brooklyn, New York, where he played alongside his twin brother, Justin. As a senior, Champagnie averaged 17.2 points and was named to the CHSAA ‘AA’ All-League first-team. He opted to attend St. John's for college over offers from Pittsburgh — where his brother attended — and other programs.
Wembanyama did not attend high school in America. Rather, he attended secondary school in France, graduating in 2021. He played for the Nanterre club team while attending school nearby. After finishing school, Wembanyama played professionally for two seasons in France before entering the 2023 NBA Draft.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NBA Western Conference Finals starters — from high school to WFC star
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The French superstar became the youngest player in NBA history (22 years, 134 days) to score at least 40 points and grab at least 20 rebounds in a playoff game, with his 41-point, 24-rebound performance in 49 minutes.
REQUIRED READING: High school basketball shot clock: Which states have it, which states don't? Why?
Wembanyama did so after learning Oklahoma City star and Western Conference Final foe Shai Gilgeous-Alexander won 2026 NBA MVP honors for the 2025-26 season.
The matchup between Wembanyama and Gilgeous-Alexander — even though they play different positions — is something NBA fans could have the luxury of watching for the years ahead, with both the Spurs and Thunder poised to remain among the best teams in the league.
Well before any of the participants in the WCF reached the NBA, they played basketball at lower levels before moving up the ladder.
Here's what you need to know about where the starters for both the Thunder and Spurs in the Western Conference played high school basketball:
Oklahoma City Thunder
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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Gilgeous-Alexander began his prep career at St. Thomas More Catholic Secondary School in Hamilton, Ontario, although he did not make the school's junior team. He then transferred to Sir Allan MacNab Secondary School (also in Hamilton) before playing his junior and senior seasons at Hamilton Heights Christian Academy in Chattanooga, Tennessee. He averaged 18.4 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per game during his senior season.
Luguentz Dort
After beginning his prep career in Quebec, Canada, Dort moved to Arlington Country Day School in Jacksonville, Florida, ahead of his sophomore year. His junior season was played at Conrad Academy in Orlando. He returned to Canada to play at the Athlete Institute — a prep school in Mono, Ontario — for his senior season. Dort committed to Arizona State to play collegiate basketball.
Jalen Williams
Although Williams was born in Denver, his family moved to Arizona when he was seven. He played high school basketball for Perry High School in Gilbert, Arizona. As a senior, he averaged more than 25 points per game. He grew about eight inches from his sophomore to senior year of high school. He played college basketball at Santa Clara for three seasons.
Chet Holmgren
Holmgren teamed up with fellow NBA star Jalen Suggs at Minnehaha Academy in Minneapolis. The childhood friends won multiple state titles while teaming up before Suggs graduated in 2020. As a senior in 2021, Holmgren led his program to his fourth Class 3A state title while averaging 21 points and 12.3 rebounds per game.
Isaiah Hartenstein
Neither starting center in the WCF attended high school in the United States. Hartenstein was born in Eugene, Oregon, but the family moved to Germany, where his father played professionally.
San Antonio Spurs
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Stephon Castle
Castle averaged 20.1 points, 9.5 rebounds, 4.8 assists, three steals and two blocks per game as a senior for Newton High School (Covington, Georgia). His performance earned him a chance to play in the 2023 McDonald's All-American Boys game, and he earned five-star status. He played collegiate ball at Connecticut.
Devin Vassell
Vassell — the eldest starter for the Spurs at 25 years old — attended Peachtree Ridge High School in Suwanee, Georgia, during his prep career. During his senior season, Vassell finished with 21.6 points and 8.9 rebounds per game.
Dylan Harper
Harper was a big-time recruit out of Don Bosco Preparatory High School in Ramsey, New Jersey. The five-star recruit averaged 22.4 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game as a senior, leading the program to a 29-3 record and the NJSIAA Non-Public A state championship. Harper opted to attend Rutgers over offers from Duke, Kansas, Indiana and Auburn, among others.
Julian Champagnie
Champagnie attended Bishop Loughlin Memorial High School in Brooklyn, New York, where he played alongside his twin brother, Justin. As a senior, Champagnie averaged 17.2 points and was named to the CHSAA ‘AA’ All-League first-team. He opted to attend St. John's for college over offers from Pittsburgh — where his brother attended — and other programs.
Victor Wembanyama
Wembanyama did not attend high school in America. Rather, he attended secondary school in France, graduating in 2021. He played for the Nanterre club team while attending school nearby. After finishing school, Wembanyama played professionally for two seasons in France before entering the 2023 NBA Draft.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NBA Western Conference Finals starters — from high school to WFC star
Continue reading...
