California Mr. Basketball


Each year the California Mr. Basketball award is given to the person chosen as the best high school boys basketball player in the U.S. state of California. It has been awarded since 1905. Many have gone on to play in the NBA.
Voting is done in a points system. Each voter selects first, second, and third place votes. A player receives five points for each first-place vote, three points for each second-place vote, and one point for a third-place vote. The player who garners the most points receives the award.

Award winners

YearPlayerHigh schoolCollegeNBA draft
2025Brayden BurriesEleanor Roosevelt, Eastvale, CaliforniaArizona
2024Trent PerryHarvard-Westlake School, Studio City, CaliforniaUCLA
2023Jared McCainCorona Centennial, Corona, CaliforniaDuke2024 NBA draft: First round, 16th overall by the Philadelphia 76ers
2022Donovan DentCorona Centennial, Corona, CaliforniaNew Mexico
2021Amari BaileySierra Canyon School, Chatsworth, CaliforniaUCLA2023 NBA draft: second round, 41st overall by the Charlotte Hornets
2020Brandon Boston Jr.Sierra Canyon School, Chatsworth, CaliforniaKentucky2021 NBA draft: second round, 51st overall by the Memphis Grizzlies
2019Onyeka Okongwu Chino Hills High School, Chino HillsUSC2020 NBA draft: first round, 6th overall by the Atlanta Hawks
2018Onyeka OkongwuChino Hills High School, Chino HillsUSC2020 NBA draft: first round, 6th overall by the Atlanta Hawks
2017Ethan ThompsonBishop Montgomery High School, TorranceOregon State
2016Lonzo BallChino Hills High School, Chino HillsUCLA2017 NBA draft: first round, 2nd overall by the Los Angeles Lakers
2015Ivan RabbBishop O'Dowd High School, OaklandCalifornia2017 NBA draft: second round, 35th overall by the Orlando Magic
2014Stanley JohnsonMater Dei High School, Santa AnaArizona2015 NBA draft: first round, 8th overall by the Detroit Pistons
2013Aaron Gordon Archbishop Mitty High School, San JoseArizona2014 NBA draft: first round, 4th overall by the Orlando Magic
2012Aaron GordonArchbishop Mitty High School, San JoseArizona2014 NBA draft: first round, 4th overall by the Orlando Magic
2011Ryan AndersonLong Beach Poly, Long BeachBoston College/Arizona
2010Allen CrabbeFrederick K. C. Price III High School, Los AngelesCalifornia2013 NBA draft: 2nd round, 31st overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers
2009Kawhi LeonardMartin Luther King High School, RiversideSan Diego State2011 NBA draft: 1st round, 15th overall by the Indiana Pacers
2008Jrue HolidayCampbell Hall School, North HollywoodUCLA2009 NBA draft: 1st Rnd, 17th overall by the Philadelphia 76ers
2007Taylor KingMater Dei High School, Santa AnaDuke/Villanova/Concordia
2006Chase BudingerLa Costa Canyon High School, CarlsbadArizona2009 NBA draft: 2nd Rnd, 44th overall by the Detroit Pistons
2005Amir JohnsonWestchester High School, Los AngelesNone2005 NBA draft: 2nd Rnd, 56th overall by the Detroit Pistons
2004DeMarcus NelsonSheldon High School, SacramentoDuke2008 NBA draft: Undrafted, signed as a free agent by the Golden State Warriors
2003Trevor ArizaWestchester High School, Los AngelesUCLA2004 NBA draft: 2nd Rnd, 43rd overall by the New York Knicks
2002Hassan AdamsWestchester High School, Los AngelesArizona2006 NBA draft: 2nd round, 54th overall by the New Jersey Nets
2001Tyson Chandler Dominguez High School, ComptonNone2001 NBA draft: first round, 2nd overall by the Los Angeles Clippers
2000Tyson ChandlerDominguez High School, ComptonNone2001 NBA draft: 1st round, 2nd overall by the Los Angeles Clippers
1999Casey JacobsenGlendora High School, GlendoraStanford2002 NBA draft: 1st round, 22nd overall by the Phoenix Suns
1998Tayshaun PrinceDominguez High School, ComptonKentucky2002 NBA draft: 1st Rnd, 23rd overall by the Detroit Pistons
1997Baron DavisCrossroads Schools, Santa MonicaUCLA1999 NBA draft: 1st round, 3rd overall by the Charlotte Hornets
1996Corey BenjaminFontana High School, FontanaOregon State1998 NBA draft: 1st round, 28th overall by the Chicago Bulls
1995Paul PierceInglewood High School, InglewoodKansas1998 NBA draft: 1st Rnd, 10th overall by the Boston Celtics
1994Jelani GardnerSt. John Bosco High School, BellflowerPepperdine/California
1993Charles O'BannonArtesia High School, LakewoodUCLA1997 NBA draft: 2nd Rnd, 32nd overall by the Detroit Pistons
1992Jason Kidd St. Joseph Notre Dame High School, AlamedaCalifornia1994 NBA draft: 1st Rnd, 2nd overall by the Dallas Mavericks
1991Jason KiddSt. Joseph Notre Dame High School, AlamedaCalifornia1994 NBA draft: 1st Rnd, 2nd overall by the Dallas Mavericks
1990Ed O'BannonArtesia High School, LakewoodUCLA1995 NBA draft: 1st Rnd, 9th overall by the New Jersey Nets
1989Tracy MurrayGlendora High School, GlendoraUCLA1992 NBA draft: 1st Rnd, 18th overall by the San Antonio Spurs
1988Chris MillsFairfax High School, Los AngelesArizona/Kentucky1993 NBA draft: 1st Rnd, 22nd overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers
1987LeRon EllisMater Dei High School, Santa AnaSyracuse/Kentucky1991 NBA draft: 1st Rnd, 22nd overall by the Los Angeles Clippers
1986Scott WilliamsGlen A. Wilson High School, Hacienda HeightsNorth Carolina
1985Tom LewisMater Dei High School, Santa AnaPepperdine/USC
1984John Williams Crenshaw High School, Los AngelesLSU1986 NBA draft: 1st Rnd, 12th overall by the Washington Bullets
1983John WilliamsCrenshaw High School, Los AngelesLSU1986 NBA draft: 1st Rnd, 12th overall by the Washington Bullets
1982Tony JacksonBishop O'Dowd High School, OaklandDePaul
1981Dwayne PoleeManual Arts High School, Los AngelesPepperdine/UNLV1986 NBA draft: 3rd Rnd, 54th overall by the Los Angeles Clippers
1980Ralph JacksonInglewood High School, InglewoodUCLA1984 NBA draft: 4th Rnd, 71st overall by the Indiana Pacers
1979Darren DayeJohn F. Kennedy High School, Los AngelesUCLA1983 NBA draft: 3rd Rnd, 57th overall by the Washington Bullets
1978Greg GoorjianCrescenta Valley High School, La Crescenta-MontroseUNLV
1977Phil BarnerFremont High School, OaklandUniversity of Oregon-
1976Rich BranningMarina High School, Huntington BeachNotre Dame1980 NBA Draft: 4th Rnd, 76th overall by the Indiana Pacers
1975Bill Cartwright Elk Grove High School, Elk GroveSan Francisco1979 NBA draft: 1st Rnd, 3rd overall by the New York Knicks
1974Bill CartwrightElk Grove High School, Elk GroveSan Francisco1979 NBA draft: 1st Rnd, 3rd overall by the New York Knicks
1973Marques JohnsonCrenshaw High School, Los AngelesUCLA1977 NBA draft: 1st Rnd, 3rd overall by the Milwaukee Bucks
1972Cliff PondexterSan Joaquin Memorial High School, FresnoLong Beach State1974 NBA draft: 1st Rnd, 16th overall by the Chicago Bulls
1971Roscoe PondexterSan Joaquin Memorial High School, FresnoLong Beach State1974 NBA draft: 3rd Rnd, 56th overall by the Boston Celtics
1970Bill WaltonHelix High School, La MesaUCLA1974 NBA draft: 1st Rnd, 1st overall by the Portland Trail Blazers
1969Keith WilkesVentura High School, VenturaUCLA1974 NBA draft: 1st Rnd, 11th overall by the Golden State Warriors
1968Paul WestphalAviation High School, Redondo BeachUSC1972 NBA draft: 1st Rnd, 10th overall by the Boston Celtics
1967Curtis RoweJohn C. Frémont High School, Los AngelesUCLA1971 NBA draft: 1st Rnd, 11th overall by the Detroit Pistons
1966Dennis AwtreyBlackford High School, San JoseSanta Clara1970 NBA draft: 3rd Rnd, 12th overall by the Philadelphia 76ers
1965Bob PortmanSt. Ignatius College Preparatory, San FranciscoCreighton1969 NBA draft: 1st Rnd, 7th overall by the San Francisco Warriors
1964Russ CritchfieldSalinas High School, SalinasCalifornia
1963Edgar LaceyJefferson High School, Los AngelesUCLA1968 NBA draft: 4th Rnd, 43rd overall by the San Francisco Warriors
1962Joe EllisMcClymonds High School, OaklandSan Francisco1966 NBA draft: 2nd Rnd, 13th overall by the San Francisco Warriors
1961Gail GoodrichJohn H. Francis Polytechnic High School, Los AngelesUCLA1965 NBA draft: Territorial pick by the Los Angeles Lakers
1960Paul SilasMcClymonds High School, OaklandCreighton1964 NBA draft: 2nd Rnd, 10th overall by the St. Louis Hawks
1959Steve GrayGeorge Washington High School, San FranciscoSt Mary's1963 NBA draft: 3rd Rnd, 20th overall by the San Francisco Warriors
1958Billy McGillJefferson High School, Los AngelesUtahNBA 1962–1965
1957Tom MescheryLowell High School, San FranciscoSt. Mary's1961 NBA draft: 1st Rnd, 7th overall by the Philadelphia Warriors
1956Fred LaCour St. Ignatius College Preparatory, San FranciscoSan Francisco1960 NBA draft: 3rd Rnd, 22nd overall by the St. Louis Hawks
1955Fred LaCourSt. Ignatius College Preparatory, San FranciscoSan Francisco1960 NBA draft: 3rd Rnd, 22nd overall by the St. Louis Hawks
1954Willie DavisAlameda High School, Alameda
1953Bill BondSt. Anthony High School, Long BeachStanford
1952Willie NaullsSan Pedro High School, Los AngelesUCLA1956 NBA draft: 2nd round, 9th overall by the St. Louis Hawks
1951Ken SearsWatsonville High School, WatsonvilleSanta Clara1955 NBA draft: 1st round, 4th overall by the New York Knicks
1950Don BraggGalileo High School, San FranciscoUCLA1955 NBA draft by the Minneapolis Lakers

Most winners by college

  • includes multiple winners