Washington's High School GOAT: These 15 Legends Just Entered The Arena, And Fans Are About To Go Nuts
Alright, Emerald City! You know how we do it here in Washington. We produce absolute phenoms, straight up legends, at the prep level. And now, USA TODAY is rolling out their "250 for 250" series, asking the question every fan has argued over for years: who is the greatest Washington high school athlete of all time? Get ready, because the fan vote is officially ON, and it's gonna be a battle for the ages!
Emerald City's Finest: Ballers and Baseball Beasts
We're talking about a lineup of 15 names, and seriously, the talent is unreal. Our own backyard has produced some absolute monsters. Think about it: Seattle-born hoops legends who basically owned the court. Jamal Crawford, from Rainier Beach, wasn't merely good, he was a legend, snagging back-to-back Class 3A Player of the Year awards and dropping 22.3 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 7.8 assists his senior year. That's seriously wild!
Trade on Every Game with Kalshi
Click Here to sign up to Kalshi — Free $10 when you sign up using our link or use code: ONTAPSEA. The only federally regulated prediction market in the US. Trade on real sports outcomes. Available in all 50 states.
Then there's Michael Porter Jr., who turned Nathan Hale into an undefeated 29-0 championship machine. The dude averaged 36.2 points, 13.6 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 3.2 steals, and 2.7 blocks. He only played one season here, but what a season it was! And don't forget Brandon Roy, another Garfield High School legend who was twice named league MVP. He's coaching champs now, but he was a star for them first, absolutely.
On the diamond, Seattle's own Corbin Carroll from Lakeside School was on another level, no kidding. He hit .540 with 9 homers and a 1.859 OPS. Gatorade Washington Baseball Player of the Year, first-round pick straight out of high school. That's the kind of power we love to see!
Statewide Domination: From the Track to the Gridiron
But it's not just basketball and baseball dominating the conversation. Washington has produced multi-sport marvels and record-breakers across the board! Take Emeka Egbuka from Steilacoom, who was a two-way force in football, racking up 2,919 receiving yards, 45 receiving touchdowns, and 16 interceptions across his sophomore and junior years. He even had 31 total touchdowns in 2019-20, including receiving, rushing, punt returns, and pick-sixes. Absolute beast!
Pitching out of Renton, Tim Lincecum was straight up dominant his senior year at Liberty High. We're talking 12-1 with a 0.70 ERA and 183 strikeouts in 91 innings. That's 18.1 K/9! He led them to a championship, too. Seriously, a phenom.
And then there are the track stars! Alexa Efraimson from Camas set a national 1,600-meter U.S. girls high school record at 4:33.29, and even turned pro with Nike prior to her senior year. Spokane's own Gerry Lindgren set eight world high school records, including a 5,000-meter mark that stood for 40 years! And Libby Roberts from Spokane Valley? Four straight WIAA Mat Classic State wrestling championships, never lost to an in-state opponent. What a legend!
We've got football pioneers like Burlington's Mel Hein, an inaugural WIAA Hall of Famer who became a five-time All-Pro. And Tacoma's Ahmad Rashad, who thrived in football with three straight all-conference teams as a receiver before his Pro Bowl NFL career, and he even won a state high jump championship. The depth of talent here is just insane.
This is what makes Washington special, right? This insane history of athletic greatness. So, who do YOU think is the greatest? Get ready to argue, debate, and most importantly, VOTE for your favorite Washington high school athlete. Our state's legacy depends on it!
This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.