Guardians' Austin Hedges proposes to girlfriend on field after win

Austin Hedgeshad the best Sunday.

Hedges scored the first run in theCleveland Guardians'8-4win over theBaltimore Orioles, then saved his best score for the postgame, when he proposed to his girlfriend, Lexi Dickinson, on the field.

With a few friends and teammates present, a "Lexi, will you marry me?" message was displayedon the scoreboardat Cleveland's Progressive Field.

"Really hoping to win that game,"Hedges said. "I was going to do it regardless, but I really wanted to win that game to make it extra special."

Hedges, 33-year-old, 12-year major-league veteran catcher, admitted to being nervous the entire day.

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"Lots of nerves, lots of nerves," Hedges said. "A lot of nerves about – I'm always nervous for baseball games. I mean, obviously that's a good team over there and we want to win the series. And just trying to stay present, knowing that there was some activities after. But special day, special day to be able to soak it all in."

Hedges said that he's had the engagement ring since spring training and was looking for the right moment to propose to Dickinson, who he has had been dating since November 2024. After the successful proposal, Hedges' teammates joined in an on-field celebration.

Hedges has played six of his 12 big-league seasons in Cleveland, and also spent time with theSan Diego Padres,Pittsburgh PiratesandTexas Rangers, with whom he was a member of the team's 2023 World Series winners.

USA TODAY's eNewspaper is here- your source for timely, relevant stories, updated continuously.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Austin Hedges gets engaged after Guardians' win over Orioles

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April 22, 2026

Guardians' Austin Hedges proposes to girlfriend on field after win

Austin Hedgeshad the best Sunday. Hedges scored the first run in theCleveland Guardians'8-4win over theBaltimore Orioles, then...

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2026 NFL Draft host city Pittsburgh readies for record crowds: 'Gonna be nuts'

USA TODAY Sports has live coverage of the2026 NFL Draft.

On Dec. 15, 1947, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported that the upcoming NFL draft for the 1948 season would be held in Pittsburgh, although the exact date was unclear. The publication could only determine that representatives from 10 teams would gather sometime that week at the Fort Pitt Hotel, the de facto headquarters of thePittsburgh Steelers.

The 2026 draft, the first time the event has returned to Pittsburgh since, will be much more noticeable this time.

“We had to really work with the NFL to kind of figure out ‘How do we build this draft into a very dense downtown?’ … which is not easy to do,” president and CEO of Visit Pittsburgh Jerad Bachar told USA TODAY Sports by phone last week.

For three days, not only will Pittsburgh be the confluence of three rivers, but a melting pot of NFL fandom. Indeed, the NFL’s takeover will dominate the north shore of the by the Steelers’ home, Acrisure Stadium. The main entrance to the primary draft grounds is located about 200 yards away from the Pittsburgh Pirates’ home stadium, PNC Park.

Steelers wide receiver Michael Pittman relocated this offseason to downtown Pittsburgh after being traded by the Indianapolis Colts. Every time he drives home, he said, another structure related to the draft has been built.

“It’s already getting crazy down here,” Pittman told USA TODAY Sports.

He added: “More and more people are coming. The city is already super sports-themed, so I can’t imagine what it’s going to be like on the weekend of the draft. It’s gonna be nuts.”

Pittsburgh’s busiest days ever? Could be 2026 NFL draft

The NFL held the draft in New York for decades before moving it to Chicago in 2015. Since 2017, it’s been in a different host city every season, often one that is considered prohibited – by weather, stadium or size – from hosting a Super Bowl. The 2025 draft in Green Bay, Wisconsin, drew more than 600,000 fans, according to the NFL. Only more fans visited Nashville in 2019 for a draft.

Using the reported attendance from past host sites Detroit, Kansas City and Green Bay, Bachar said Pittsburgh modeled its estimate to of 500,000-700,000 over three days, or essentially 250,000 visitors per day. The Steel City’s population is 300,000. A month ago, the city hosted St. Patrick’s Day parade, which usually draws a similar number to what they expect to see daily for the draft.

“We’re looking at this as the St. Patrick’s Day Parade three days in a row,” Bachar said. “So we know we’re going to be ready for it. We know that we have the infrastructure that’s ready for it.”

The Steelers have been working with Visit Pittsburgh hand-in-hand. Visit Pittsburgh visited Kansas City and Detroit to learn hosting best practices. The organization also consulted with Philadelphia and Cleveland.

“Obviously, the bar has been set very high lately … so we’re looking forward to following in that tradition,” Steelers owner and president Art Rooney II told reporters when Pittsburgh was announced as the draft site for this year in 2024.

Rooney added that it could be the largest visitor event in the city’s history.

Pittsburgh schools closing during NFL draft

The school system won’t test that theory, however, as public schools – servicing 19,000 children – are moving to online learning from Wednesday to Friday. (Green Bay also closed schools last year.) Visit Pittsburgh met with school officials earlier this year.

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“We wanted them to have as much information as early as possible so they could decide what their school schedule was going to be,” Bachar said.

The biggest takeaway from meeting with other host cities, Bachar said, is that the NFL wants the draft front and center – simple as that may sound. The City of Bridges will be the backdrop for roughly 55 million viewers over three days. The angle of the stage and the angles provided by drone footage will highlight the confluence of the three rivers and the city’s architecture.

“The way to celebrate Pittsburgh is really just to show up and look at all of the amazing investment going into the city because of this event,” Bachar said.

The downtown area’s civic benefits – roads completed, sidewalks repaired, beatification projects finished – will outlast draft weekend. The event is free, and fans can access downtown via free rides on the light rail system or the park and ride system.

More:NFL draft in Pittsburgh: What to know about tickets, parking, schedule

2026 NFL draft will be much different than last time event was in Pittsburgh

The roots of pro football in Western Pennsylvania are deep. The Steelers are one of the NFL’s oldest and proudest franchises, and the Rooney family is considered a steward of the sport.

“Football is very much intertwined with the legacy of this entire region,” Bachar said.

Another reason why organizers are confident in audience projections is because of the event's location within the hotbed of football in the United States. Eleven other NFL markets and 35 Division I schools are within driving distance. The Steelers’ “black and yellow” is a worldwide brand.

Dan Marino and Joe Montana, two of the greatest quarterbacks to throw the pigskin, are from the Pittsburgh area. Coaching royalty such as Mike Ditka, Marty Schottenheimer and Bill Cowher hail from the area. The team’s new head coach, Mike McCarthy, became emotional during his introductory news conference while talking about growing up there. Three of the best NFL players in this century – Aaron Donald, Darelle Revis and Larry Fitzgerald – played collegiately at Pittsburgh, furthering the ties between the area and the game.

As the draft-site infrastructure underwent a final stretch of finishing touches about a week before NFL commissioner Roger Goodel was due to approach the podium to open the draft, it brought a visual understanding to Bachar of everything he and his team had been working toward for the last two years.

In late 1947, however, the draft had a different feel.

“The whole aura and atmosphere of the draft was completely different. The Rooneys' two offices on the first floor of the hotel were the site and 40 men were stuffed in there. The draft started at 6 p.m. and by early morning, the draft was concluded,” Heinz History Center chief historian and director of the Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum Anne Madarasztold the Beaver County Times,part of the USA TODAY Network, last year. “Sports reporters tried to figure out picks, owners like Rooney didn’t tell anyone who he drafted.”

That won’t be the case at this draft, which certainly won’t be that efficient – or fit into two rooms.

Contributing: Tyler Dragon, USA TODAY; Ethan Morrison, Beaver County Times

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:NFL draft host Pittsburgh ready for record crowd: How many are expected

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April 22, 2026

2026 NFL Draft host city Pittsburgh readies for record crowds: 'Gonna be nuts'

USA TODAY Sports has live coverage of the2026 NFL Draft. On Dec. 15, 1947, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported that the upcoming...

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Charges laid after apple crumble and custard thrown at Crown Jewels

Eight people have been charged with criminal damage after stunts targeting the Ritz hotel and the Crown Jewels.

Take Back Power, which describes itself as a non-violent civil resistance group, claimed it was behind a stunt which sawapple crumble and custard thrown at a display casecontaining the Crown Jewels in the Tower of London in December.

Days before that, activists from the group appeared to target the Ritz hotel byemptying bags of manure next to its Christmas tree.

On Sunday, the Metropolitan Police said that Ellen Redwood-Brown, 23, Tom Barber, 66, Toby Ellwood, 21, and Tjalle Rumley, 26, have been charged over the Ritz stunt.

Redwood-Brown, of Balmoral Road, Bristol, and Barber, of St Andrews Road, Nottingham, will appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Monday.

Ellwood, of Newport Gardens, Leeds, and Rumley, of Hereford Road, Acton, west London, will appear at the same court on 29 April.

Meanwhile, Fatima Ali, 19, of Rhodeswell Road, Tower Hamlets, east London, Miriam Cranch, 22, of Trelawn Avenue, Leeds, Mack Preston, 22, of Westferry Circus, Tower Hamlets, and Matthew Cooper, 50, of Oriel Gardens, Bath, have been charged in relation to the Crown Jewels stunt.

They will appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on 27 April.

Last month, Take Back Power said supporters in London, Manchester, Exeter and Trurocarried out a mass shoplifting campaignof “liberating boxes of food” from supermarkets to food banks.

David Kilroy, 66, of Hartley Park Gardens, Plymouth, has been charged with theft after an alleged incident of organised shoplifting at Sainsbury’s in Lewisham, south-east London on 14 March.

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He will appear at Bexley Magistrates’ Court on 29 April.

On Saturday, detectives arrested seven people attending a Take Back Power training event in Millman Street, Camden, north-west London.

The force said the arrests were linked to the group’s alleged plans for mass shoplifting.

They were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit theft before being taken into custody and later bailed.

Later on Saturday, a 25-year-old man handed himself in at a London police station after hearing that he was wanted by officers, the force said.

He was arrested on suspicion of encouraging the commission of theft and remains in custody.

A spokesperson for the group said those at the training event on Saturday were “simply learning about non-violence”.

The group has called for a citizen-led assembly that has the power to tax the rich.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner James Harman said of Saturday’s arrests: “There is a clear difference between lawful protest and criminal acts.

“We will continue to take action to disrupt this group where we have grounds to suspect they are involved in a wider conspiracy to commit criminal offences, including organised shoplifting and the unlawful occupation of shops.

“Theft, criminal damage and aggravated trespass are crimes, and the public expect the police to deal with them – which is exactly what we have done.”

byCosmopolite

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April 22, 2026

Charges laid after apple crumble and custard thrown at Crown Jewels

Eight people have been charged with criminal damage after stunts targeting the Ritz hotel and the Crown Jewels. Take Back Power, w...

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Demi Lovato Slips Into Neon Bikini Under Fully Sheer Dress Amid New Single

When it comes to teasing a new era,Demi Lovatoclearly knows how to make an applause-worthy grand entrance. The “Cool For The Summer” singer has once again turned heads with a bold, high-fashion moment that felt equal parts moody, cinematic, and unapologetically daring. Lovato slipped into a neon-hued bikini set, which helped her show off her gasp-worthy curves to pure perfection. The beyond-unique hue also worked wonders for her gorgeous complexion.

Demi Lovato wows in neon bikini under sheer dress

Have a look at Demi Lovato’s latest photo here:

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In her latest photo, Demi Lovato stepped out in a fully sheer, body-hugging dress. This was layered over a striking neon bikini, creating a look impossible to ignore.

The translucent fabric of the piece hugged her silhouette, subtly revealing the vibrant, stringy bikini underneath. Meanwhile, the rain-soaked setting and soft glow of the headlights in the background added a dramatic, almost film-like intensity.

The postDemi Lovato Slips Into Neon Bikini Under Fully Sheer Dress Amid New Singleappeared first onReality Tea.

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April 21, 2026

Demi Lovato Slips Into Neon Bikini Under Fully Sheer Dress Amid New Single

When it comes to teasing a new era,Demi Lovatoclearly knows how to make an applause-worthy grand entrance. The “Cool For The Summer” singer...

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“Little House on the Prairie” Actor Says Being a 'Teen Idol' Was a 'Blast,' Insists Anyone Who Says Otherwise Is a 'Faker'

On April 8, 2026, Patrick Labyorteaux released a video reflecting on his time as a "teen idol"

NEED TO KNOW

• The Little House on the Prairie actor recalled both he and his brother, Matthew, being featured in magazines like Tiger Beat in the '70s

• Instead of being embarrassed, the now 60-year-old fully embraces his past, saying he “loved doing it”

Patrick Labyorteauxbecame widely recognized for his role as Andy Garvey onLittle House on the Prairie,and as a young actor coming up in the '70s, he often found himself at the center of teen magazine culture.

Alongside his brother, Matthew, who also appeared onLittle House on the Prairieas Albert Ingalls, Labyorteaux became a familiar face not just on television screens, but on glossy pages lining supermarket shelves.

That exposure launched him into a category reserved for a select few young stars of the era and looking back, he doesn’t shy away from the label — in fact, he embraces it.

“I was a teen idol. I can't believe it when I say it, but yeah, I was a teen idol. I was in the magazines, I was in16 Magazine,Tiger Beat,” the actor said onThe Patrick LabyorSheauxon April 8. “My brother and I were both in them, and I was just the perfect age to be in them.”

In the video, Labyorteaux spoke candidly about how much he genuinely enjoyed the experience, pushing back against the idea that teen idol status was anything less than thrilling.

“We were onLittle House on the Prairie, and they put us in magazines, and I swear to you, I absolutely loved it,” he admitted. “I mean, come on, what's better than being a teen idol?”

“You get all of these pictures of you in magazines. All these girls are going crazy for you, and it was awesome,” Labyorteaux added.

Still, the now 60-year-old is quick to clarify that his experience didn’t reach the chaotic heights often associated with other teen idols and global pop sensations.

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“It wasn't like the Beatles for me. It wasn't like the Beatles at all,” he explained, noting that while there was fan mail and occasional recognition, “it wasn't like we were chased down.”

"And again, these areLittle Housefans. So they'd what? Storm into the house and offer to churn your butter? This was not like a dangerous fandom," he noted.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE's free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Instead, Labyorteaux remembers having a “really good time” with other young actors who were also featured in the magazines, likeOne Day at a Time's Glen Scarpelli andAll in the Family'sDanielle Brisebois.

“We'd go bowling, or we'd have these events where you'd meet up with the other celebrities,” he recalled. “It was really, really fun.”

What stands out most is his refusal to downplay the joy of that era. “Do not believe those fakers who say, ‘Oh, it wasn't that great.’ Yeah, it was. It was awesome,” he emphasized.

Labyorteaux said he "hates" when people act like the title is "so stupid" and "try to act cool." Instead, for Labyorteaux, being a teen idol isn’t something to outgrow with embarrassment — it is a moment in time he still appreciates to this day, calling it “a blast.”

After making himself known onLittle House on the Prairie, Labyorteaux went on to play Bud Roberts onJAGand three episodes ofNCIS, among other credits.

Read the original article onPeople

byCosmopolite

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April 21, 2026

“Little House on the Prairie” Actor Says Being a 'Teen Idol' Was a 'Blast,' Insists Anyone Who Says Otherwise Is a 'Faker'

On April 8, 2026, Patrick Labyorteaux released a video reflecting on his time as a "teen idol" NEED TO KNOW ...

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Who is the NBA GOAT? The greatest U.S. basketball players of all time, from MJ to 'Pistol Pete'

While today's sports fans may not be able to imagine an American sports scene without basketball, more than 115 years passed between the signing of the "Declaration of Independence" and thefirst game of hoops in Springfield, Massachusetts.

James Naismith's invention began its spread across the nation in 1891. One year later, colleges began playing. The NBA was founded in 1949, and George Mikan quickly became the first professional basketball superstar. Now, as we near our nation's 250th birthday, we look back at the best U.S. athletes to play this uniquely American sport.

About USA TODAY's '250 for 250' series

Now through July 4, USA TODAY Sports is releasing our "250 for 250" list of America's top homegrown athletes of all time. Each week we'll bring you all-time standouts from across the sports world, and give readers a chance to vote on who should be featured.

Learn more about the series at usatoday.com.

You can also vote in a name that you feel is missing from this list byvisiting our interactive poll.

Now, on to the list of our nation's top homegrown men's basketball players:

Michael Jordan, Laney High School (NC)

Jordan first became a national star when he hit the game-winning shot for North Carolina in the 1982 national championship game. He then took the NBA to new global heights as a six-time champion with the Chicago Bulls and member of the original Dream Team. Jordan won five NBA MVP awards and his "Air Jordan" shoe line and Jordan brand transformed Nike and the basketball apparel industry.

LeBron James, St. Vincent-St. Mary High School (OH)

James was a high school sensation who lived up to all the hype to become the NBA’s all-time leading scorer and the most influential player of his generation. The Akron, Ohio native has won four NBA titles with three different teams, three MVP awards and three Olympic gold medals. He ushered in the league's player empowerment era when he made "The Decision" to leave the Cleveland Cavaliers for the Miami Heat in 2010 and became the first NBA player to earn more than $1 billion in salary during his active career.

Kobe Bryant, Lower Merion High School (PA)

The 5-time NBA champion spent his entire 20-year NBA career with the Los Angeles Lakers, initially starring alongside Shaquille O'Neal en route to three-straight titles (2000-02) under coach Phil Jackson. Bryant then won two more NBA championships without O'Neal and earned league MVP honors in 2008. He died tragically in a helicopter crash in Southern California in January 2020.

Who's the NBA's GOAT? 30 players who have the best claim

Stephen Curry, Charlotte Christian School (NC)

The greatest 3-point shooter in NBA history burst onto the scene as a March Madness star who led the country in scoring and set NCAA records for 3-point shooting at Davidson. Curry then led the Golden State Warriors to four NBA championships and his infectious style of play, with the ability to hit shots from anywhere inside the halfcourt line, helped change the way the game is played by relying on the 3-point shot to historic levels.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Power Memorial Academy (NY)

Abdul-Jabbar, under the name Lew Alcindor, led Power Memorial Academy to a national record 71-straight wins and won three-straight NCAA championships at UCLA (1967-69) while being named Most Outstanding Player of the NCAA Tournament in all three appearances. Abdul-Jabbar won an NBA record six MVP awards and six NBA titles with the Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Lakers. The skyhook became his signature move.

Earvin 'Magic' Johnson, Everett High School (MI)

Johnson's rivalry with Larry Bird, beginning when Johnson won an NCAA championship with Michigan State over Bird's Indiana State team in 1979, jumpstarted the NBA's growth during the 1980s. Johnson won five NBA titles and three MVP awards, revolutionizing the point guard position and turning the "Showtime" Lakers into a national sensation with his combination of size, court vision and sublime passing skills.

Larry Bird, Springs Valley High School (IN)

Bird became a household name after leading Indiana State to the 1979 national championship game and began a career-long rivalry with Magic Johnson that helped define an entire generation of NBA basketball. "The Hick From French Lick" won three NBA championships and three-straight MVP awards (1984-86) with the Boston Celtics. He is also the only person in NBA history to be named rookie of the year, MVP, NBA Finals MVP, NBA All-Star Game MVP, coach of the Year, and executive of the Year.

Bill Russell, McClymonds High School (CA)

Russell led San Francisco to back-to-back NCAA titles (1955-56) and served as captain of the U.S. Olympic men's basketball team that won a gold medal at the 1956 Melbourne Games before becoming the most important figure of the NBA's greatest dynasty. Russell won 11 NBA championships in 13 seasons with the Boston Celtics as a dominating defensive force, including eight titles in a row at one point. He also served as a player-coach for the Celtics later in his career, becoming the first Black coach in a major U.S. sport and the first to win an NBA championship in 1969.

Wilt Chamberlain, Overbrook High School (PA)

Chamberlain's prodigious ability on offense using his 7-foot-1 frame allowed him to lead the NBA in scoring, rebounding and assists at various points in his legendary career. He is the only player in NBA history to score 100 points in a game and the only player to average more than 30 points and 20 rebounds for a season. He won two NBA championships and four MVP awards, with his matchups against Bill Russell's Celtics turning into the league's biggest attraction for years.

Shaquille O'Neal, Cole High School (TX)

O'Neal's combination of size, power, footwork and personality made him a dominating figure on and off the court during his NBA career, initially when he was drafted No. 1 overall by the Orlando Magic in 1992 and later when he won NBA championships with the Los Angeles Lakers and Miami Heat. He is one of only three players in NBA history to win the regular-season MVP award, All-Star Game MVP award and NBA Finals MVP award in the same year (2000). He remains a ubiquitous presence with his role on "Inside the NBA" and a plethora of endorsement deals.

Tim Duncan, St. Dunstan's Episcopal High School (U.S. Virgin Islands)

Duncan won five NBA titles and three MVP awards over 19 years with the San Antonio Spurs, emerging as arguably the greatest power forward of all-time thanks to his remarkable consistency. He is the only player in NBA history to earn all-NBA and all-defense honors in each of his first 13 seasons.

Kevin Durant, Montrose Christian School (MD)

"The Slim Reaper" is viewed as one of the greatest scorers in NBA history, with four Olympic gold medals, two NBA championships, one NBA Finals MVP and a regular-season MVP to his credit. He remains one of the league's stars after finishing his 18th NBA regular season with the Houston Rockets this year.

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Oct. 26: The Brooklyn Nets' Michael Porter Jr. dunks in front of the San Antonio Spurs' Victor Wembanyama at Frost Bank Center.

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Dribble into this collection of dunk photos as NBA stars posterize opponents

Allen Iverson, Bethel High School (VA)

Iverson was one of the most influential players of his time because of his fearless athleticism as a 6-foot guard, his signature crossover move, his embrace of hip-hop culture and even his hairstyle (cornrows). Iverson was a four-time NBA scoring champion who won MVP in 2011 when he led the Philadelphia 76ers to the NBA Finals.

Oscar Robertson, Crispus Attucks High School (IN)

Robertson, or "The Big O," is one of the NBA's greatest point guards and the first player in league history to average a triple-double over an entire season. The 1964 MVP and 11-time all-NBA selection also forced the NBA to become the first major American professional sports league to establish free agency when he filed class-action antitrust lawsuit that led to the "Oscar Robertson Rule" in 1976.

Elgin Baylor, Spingarn High School (DC)

Little-recruited out of Washington, D.C. due to segregation laws, Baylor led Seattle University to the 1958 national championship game and became a significant NBA star over 14 years with the Lakers. Baylor earned first team all-NBA honors 10 times and is credited with bringing a more athletic and creative style to the game, using superior hang time and an array of mid-air moves to become one of the most emulated players of his generation.

Jerry West, East Bank High School (WV)

West led West Virginia to the 1959 national championship game and served as co-captain of the gold-medal winning 1960 U.S. Olympic men's basketball team. Nicknamed "The Logo" because his silhouette became part of the league's logo, he was named all-NBA in 12 of his 14 seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers and remains the only player to be voted NBA Finals MVP from the losing team. He also won six NBA championships as the Lakers' general manager and was twice named NBA executive of the year, with the Lakers (1995) and Memphis Grizzlies (2004).

Julius Erving, Roosevelt High School (NY)

Known as "Dr. J," Erving was the best player in the ABA when it merged with the NBA in 1976 and earned four MVP awards between the two leagues. He won two ABA titles with the Nets before winning an NBA championship in 1983 as part of the Philadelphia 76ers. Erving is also considered one of basketball's greatest dunkers, both in games and during Slam Dunk contests.

Moses Malone, Petersburg High School (VA)

Malone is one of the greatest rebounders of all-time who starred in the ABA and NBA over 21 seasons after becoming the first player in modern basketball to go directly from high school to the professional ranks. Malone was named NBA MVP three times and won an NBA title with the Philadelphia 76ers in 1983.

Kevin Garnett, Farragut Career Academy (IL)/Mauldin High School (SC)

Garnett starred for the NBA's Minnesota Timberwolves and Boston Celtics, and "The Big Ticket" remains one of five players in league history to have been named the NBA's MVP award and its defensive player of the year at various points of his 21-year career. Garnett was a 15-time All-Star who won an NBA championship with the Celtics in 2008.

Charles Barkley, Leeds High School (AL)

Barkley is arguably the NBA's best undersized power forward and the 1993 MVP winner remains one of the league's most influential voices through his role on "Inside the NBA." Barkley, a member of the original Dream Team, was a 10-time all-NBA selection during his NBA career with the Philadelphia 76ers, Phoenix Suns and Houston Rockets.

Karl Malone, Summerfield High School (LA)

Malone, nicknamed the "Mailman," ranks third all-time on the NBA's scoring list and won two MVP awards teaming with point guard John Stockton on the Utah Jazz. He was a first team all-NBA selection for 11-straight seasons (1989-99).

David Robinson, Osbourn Park High School (VA)

Nicknamed "The Admiral" for his standout college career at Navy, in which he experienced a massive growth spurt, Robinson became a perennial NBA All-Star with the San Antonio Spurs upon fulfilling a two-year military commitment. He was the 1995 NBA MVP and won two NBA titles, while leading the league in scoring, rebounding and blocked shots at various points.

Isiah Thomas, St. Joseph High School (IL)

Thomas, one of the league's greatest point guards, was the leader of the 1981 Indiana men's basketball team that won a national championship and the "Bad Boy" Pistons teams that won NBA championships in 1988 and 1989. He ranked third in assists in NBA history when he retired.

John Havlicek, Bridgeport High School (OH)

Havlicek, known as "Hondo," won eight NBA championships with the Boston Celtics and retired in 1978 as the NBA's all-time leader in games played and third on the league's all-time scoring list.

George Mikan, Joliet Catholic (IL)

Mikan led the nation in scoring and won an NIT title at DePaul and then helped define the sport in its formative years because of his size. Mikan's dominance inside as a scorer, rebounder and shot blocker led to the creation of the goaltending rule and the "Mikan Rule" that widened the lane under the basket. He won seven NBA/NBL championships in an eight-year span (1947-54) with the Minneapolis Lakers. Mikan was one of the founders of the ABA and served as the league's first commissioner after his playing career.

Bob Cousy, Andrew Jackson High School (NY)

"The Houdini of the Hardwood" helped transform the point guard position for the modern era with his fast-paced dribbling and fantastic passing skills. He led the NBA in assists eight times, won six NBA championships and earned league MVP honors in 1957. Cousy also helped establish the NBA Players Association as the first trade union among the major U.S. professional sports leagues and served as its first president.

Pete Maravich, Daniel High School (SC)

"Pistol Pete" Maravich is the all-time leading scorer in NCAA history at LSU (1967-70) and averaged more than 44 points per game before the introduction of the 3-point line and shot clock. He was also a four-time all-NBA selection with the Atlanta Hawks and New Orleans/Utah Jazz.

Chris Paul, West Forsyth High School (NC)

Paul ranks second on the NBA's all-time assists lists after his 21st and final NBA season this year. The 6-foot point guard is an 11-time all-NBA selection and one of three players in league history to record 20,000 points, 10,000 assists and 2,000 steals for his career.

Meadowlark Lemon, Wiliston High School (NC)

Lemon had a legendary 24-year run with the Harlem Globetrotters thanks to halfcourt hook shots, dribbling tricks and charisma that earned him the "Clown Prince" nickname.

Dwyane Wade, Harold L. Richards High School (IL)

Wade won three NBA championships with the Miami Heat during a 16-year NBA career in which he became one of the sport's best shooting guards. He was named to eight all-NBA teams and 13 All-Star teams.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:The greatest American basketball players of all time

byCosmopolite

in

April 21, 2026

Who is the NBA GOAT? The greatest U.S. basketball players of all time, from MJ to 'Pistol Pete'

While today's sports fans may not be able to imagine an American sports scene without basketball, more than 115 years passed betwee...

Read More