High school: 10 signature moments

1. When LeBron met 'Melo (Feb. 10, 2002)

LeBron James, then the nation's top junior, faced the best senior, Carmelo Anthony, at the Sovereign Bank Arena in Trenton, N.J. Billed as class warfare between friendly rivals, James scored 36 points on 12-of-27 shooting, grabbed eight rebounds, dished out five assists and had six steals for St. Vincent-St. Mary (Akron, Ohio). Anthony answered with 34 points on 14-of-25 shooting, 11 rebounds and two assists to lead Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.) to a 72-66 win. For all the hype that winds up deflated, this matchup delivered on every note.

2. De La Salle's last stand (Sept. 5, 2004)

In winning 151 consecutive games, the Spartans had averaged a victorious margin of 49-7. The rout ran the other way, however, for the Concord, Calif., school on a rainy 2004 season opener against Bellevue (Skyline, Wash.) at Qwest Field in Seattle. The final was 39-20, De La Salle's first loss since 1991. While schools across the country have since tried to match the streak (Independence of Charlotte, N.C. bowed out at 109 in September 2007; Smith Center in Kansas fell after 79 last fall), the Spartans figure to be atop the list for a long time.

3. The power of Mauer (June 6, 2001)

A two-sport star (football and baseball) at Cretin-Derham Hall in St. Paul, Minn., Mauer was the Minnesota Twins' pick to lead off the 2001 amateur draft. Though he could have accepted a scholarship to play quarterback for Florida State, Mauer, who hit .605 his senior year, made the move to baseball. On draft day, Twins director of scouting Mike Radcliff said: "Without a doubt, Joe is the best high school athlete in the country. His talents, tools and exceptional makeup give him the chance to be an impact major league player." By golly, Bobby Bowden would have agreed.

4. Off to Israel (April 23, 2009)

San Diego High junior Jeremy Tyler one-upped trailblazer Brandon Jennings by heading overseas before graduating from high school. The 6-foot-11 center made the jump, in part, because he was bored with the local competition. When Tyler was a freshman, his prep coach predicted he would be the next Bill Walton from Southern California, but so far his journey as the first American to leave high school for abroad has taken his game wayward. According to reports, Tyler, who is being paid $140,000 to play for Maccabi Haifa, has earned a reputation as being lazy, soft and inattentive.

5. The no-hit kid (April 2009)

Patrick Schuster of Mitchell High in Trinity, Fla., was never perfect during his streak of four no-hitters (a record in the state and two shy of the national mark), but he was consistent. The lanky lefty recorded 60 strikeouts (two games included 17 strikeouts) in front of standing-room-only crowds. When he finally allowed a hit, he said it was a relief.

6. Hasay runs away from the pack (July 4, 2008)

In front of more than 20,000 fans at Heyward Field in Eugene, Ore., the 16-year-old, 5-foot-1 Jordan Hasay set a 1,500-meter high school record at the U.S. Olympics trials. The Mission College Prep (San Luis Obispo, Calif.) star, who had captured fans' attention from her middle school days, only increased the buzz with that record as well as four state titles. Now an Oregon Duck, she continues to make a splash both on the school team and the national radar.

7. Another miracle for St. Anthony (March 8, 2008)

As the subject of author Adrian Wojnarowski's best-selling The Miracle of St. Anthony, legendary St. Anthony High (Jersey City, N.J.) coach Bob Hurley oversaw an unexpected title run in 2004, but his '08 squad was his best of the decade. In going 32-0, the Friars, who featured Rutgers guard Mike Rosario, Villanova swingman Dominic Cheek and Kansas slasher Tyshawn Taylor, set a new national record for state titles with No. 25.

8. Osterman shuts down Team USA (August 2000)

Taking the mound as a 17-year-old for the Katy (Texas) Cruisers, Cat Osterman gave up no runs and one hit and struck out 11 in five innings in an exhibition game against Team USA. (The Cruisers lost 1-0 in eight innings, but a week later they would win the American Softball Association's national championship.) After a stellar career for the Texas Longhorns, Osterman won her own gold medal with the national team in 2004.

9. Lacrosse sensations complete their prep careers (June 7, 2007)

Senior twin brothers Shamel and Rhamel Bratton led Huntington (N.Y.) High on Long Island to 63 consecutive victories before an 11-10 loss to John Jay (Cross River, N.Y.) in double overtime of the Class B state semifinals. Now juniors at Virginia, the Brattons have helped revolutionize the game with their stellar prep careers and heralded recruitments.

10. Indecision 2008 (Feb. 6, 2008)

The most anticipated college-announcement press conference of the decade belonged to quarterback Terrelle Pryor. Nine television trucks lined the parking lost of his Jeannette, Pa., high school, and three rows of seats were set up for media members. But Pryor got cold feet. Down to Penn State, Ohio State and Michigan, he pulled a quarterback delay and did not announce for another 40 days. When he finally selected the Buckeyes, he did so in much quieter fashion: a phone call to coach Jim Tressel.