Stoudemire Draft Selection

Lore & Background

In the 2002 NBA draft, the Phoenix Suns held the ninth overall pick. The front office selected Amar'e Stoudemire, a high school player from Cypress Creek High School in Orlando, Florida. He was the only prep-to-pro player chosen in the first round that year. Stoudemire had been considered a five-star recruit and the No. 1 player in the nation by Scout.com. He had originally committed to the University of Memphis but later de-committed to declare for the NBA draft. His high school career was marked by transfers between five schools in two states, but he still earned major honors, including being named Florida's Mr. Basketball and playing in the 2002 McDonald's All-American Game alongside future New York Knicks teammates Carmelo Anthony and Raymond Felton. In his rookie season, Stoudemire averaged 13.5 points and 8.8 rebounds per game, with a season high of 38 points against the Minnesota Timberwolves on December 30, 2002. He won the NBA Rookie of the Year award, beating out Yao Ming and Caron Butler.

In Their Own Story

The draft room was quiet as the first eight picks came off the board. When the Phoenix Suns were on the clock with the ninth selection, they called the name of Amar'e Stoudemire, the high school star from Cypress Creek. He was the only high school player taken in the first round of the 2002 NBA draft. Stoudemire had been the No. 1 player in the nation according to Scout.com, and he had de-committed from the University of Memphis to make himself available. In his first season, he put up 13.5 points and 8.8 rebounds per game, and on December 30, 2002, he scored 38 points against the Minnesota Timberwolves, the highest score by a prep-to-pro player until LeBron James broke it a year later. He won the Rookie of the Year award, becoming the first player drafted directly out of high school to do so.

Reader's Guide

The Phoenix Suns held the ninth overall pick in the 2002 NBA draft. They selected Amar'e Stoudemire, a high school player from Cypress Creek High School in Orlando, Florida. Stoudemire was the only high school player taken in the first round that year. He had been listed as the No. 1 player in the nation by Scout.com and had de-committed from the University of Memphis to enter the draft. In his rookie season, he averaged 13.5 points and 8.8 rebounds per game, with a season high of 38 points against the Minnesota Timberwolves on December 30, 2002. He was selected to the NBA All-Rookie First Team and won the NBA Rookie of the Year award, beating out Yao Ming and Caron Butler, becoming the first player drafted out of high school to win the award.

Did You Know?

• Stoudemire was the only high school player taken in the first round of the 2002 NBA draft.
• He was the first player drafted out of high school to win the NBA Rookie of the Year award.
• Stoudemire scored 38 points against the Minnesota Timberwolves on December 30, 2002, the highest score by a prep-to-pro player until broken a year later by LeBron James.
• He was listed as the No. 1 player in the nation by Scout.com in 2002.
• Stoudemire played in the 2002 McDonald's All-American Game with future New York Knicks teammates Carmelo Anthony and Raymond Felton.