Chaminade Prep Alumni Making Waves in Professional Sports
Chaminade Prep Alumni Making Waves in Professional Sports
Chaminade Prep in St. Louis, Missouri, has established itself as a breeding ground for elite athletes, with two of its most notable alumni, Matthew Tkachuk and Jayson Tatum, currently excelling in their respective sports.
Jayson Tatum: The Rising Star of the Boston Celtics
Jayson Tatum, a standout player for the Boston Celtics, has been a rising star since his high school days. Tatum averaged nearly 30 points per game in high school, leading his team to a state championship. His high school career culminated in being named the 2016 Gatorade National Player of the Year. This season, Tatum continues to showcase his scoring prowess, averaging 30.1 points per game in the NBA. Beyond individual accolades, he has also led the Celtics to the NBA Finals last season and has reached the Eastern Conference finals four times, solidifying his status as one of the league's premier talents.
Matthew Tkachuk: A Force in the NHL
Matthew Tkachuk took a different path, leaving Chaminade after ninth grade to join the U.S. National Development Team. Now in his seventh NHL season, Tkachuk has emerged as a formidable player, scoring 40 goals in consecutive seasons. His contributions have been vital for the Florida Panthers, who are just one win away from their first Stanley Cup Final appearance since 1996.
Brentwood Academy: A Hotbed of Talent
Brentwood Academy in Tennessee has produced top-tier athletes such as Darius Garland and Jalen Ramsey. Garland made waves early, starting varsity basketball in eighth grade and winning four state championships. By his senior year, he was averaging 27.6 points per game. Currently, Garland plays for the Cleveland Cavaliers, where he leads the team in assists and averages 21.6 points per game this season.
Jalen Ramsey, another Brentwood standout, was a multi-sport athlete who set a Tennessee state record in the long jump. Ramsey's illustrious football career includes a BCS national championship at Florida State and a Super Bowl victory with the Los Angeles Rams. A three-time All-Pro, Ramsey now plays for the Miami Dolphins.
Highland Park High: Producing Champions in Multiple Sports
Highland Park High in Texas boasts alumni like Matthew Stafford and Clayton Kershaw. Stafford won a state championship in 2005 and has since posted nine 4,000-yard seasons in the NFL, throwing 333 touchdown passes. His crowning achievement came when he led the Los Angeles Rams to victory in Super Bowl LVI.
Clayton Kershaw, a dominant force in baseball, had a perfect high school season, striking out 139 batters and even achieving an all-strikeout perfect game. In the MLB, Kershaw has won three Cy Young Awards and the National League MVP. He played a crucial role in the Dodgers' 2020 World Series win and trails Justin Verlander for most strikeouts in postseason history.
La Jolla Country Day: A Legacy of Excellence
In California, La Jolla Country Day has produced stars like Kelsey Plum and Tommy Edman. Plum was a powerhouse in high school, scoring over 2,000 points and grabbing more than 600 rebounds, leading her team to a state championship. She was the first overall pick in the 2017 WNBA draft and has become a pivotal part of the Las Vegas Aces, helping them secure a WNBA title.
Tommy Edman set school records for hits, runs, doubles, and stolen bases at La Jolla. Now a versatile asset for the St. Louis Cardinals, Edman has started at second base, third base, and shortstop, with a career batting average of .271.
Norcross High: Shaping Future Stars
Norcross High in Georgia has also made its mark with athletes such as Diamond DeShields and Lorenzo Carter. DeShields was a dominant basketball player, winning three state titles and averaging 26 points per game as a senior. She was the No. 3 overall pick in the 2018 WNBA draft and played a crucial role in the Chicago Sky's 2021 championship run.
Lorenzo Carter, a football standout, led Norcross to a state championship with 132 tackles and six sacks as a senior. Despite an Achilles injury in 2020, Carter has made a strong return and currently plays for the Atlanta Falcons, amassing 18.5 career sacks.
Allen High: A Tradition of Success
Allen High in Texas nurtured athletes like Bo Nickal and Kyler Murray. Murray led his team to three state titles with 43 consecutive wins and accounted for 186 touchdowns during his prep career. He won the 2018 Heisman Trophy at Oklahoma and was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 NFL draft. Murray has since led the Arizona Cardinals to the playoffs in 2021.
Bo Nickal, a wrestling prodigy, won state championships in three different weight classes in high school and secured three national titles at Penn State. Nickal recently earned a UFC contract and remains undefeated in his professional career.
These schools have produced a remarkable array of talent, contributing significantly to the landscape of professional sports. Their alumni continue to inspire and demonstrate the level of excellence nurtured within these institutions.
