Sons of famous fathers who play high school basketball
March 6, 2014 by MaxPreps, AZPreps365
Having a professional sports star father can be a tough act to follow for high school athletes.
The expectations and comparisons to dad are inevitable. Some shy away from the athletic spotlight due to the large shadow. Others thrive thanks in part to their bloodlines.
Here's a look at several second-generation athletes thriving on the basketball court this season:
Photo by Jann HendryBrendan Bailey, American Fork (Utah)
Famous father: Thurl Bailey, who spent 11 years in the NBA before playing professionally in Greece and Italy.
Making his own name: A rapidly growing 6-foot-7 sophomore, Brendan is averaging 11 points per game for the Cavemen – a title contender in Utah's 5A classification.
Photo by Kevin FrenchMichael Bibby Jr., Shadow Mountain (Phoenix)
Famous father: Mike Bibby, who helped Arizona win a national title and spent 14 years in the NBA. He was among the Top 10 in the league in assists on three occasions.
Making his own name: Michael Jr., a sophomore point guard, averaged 19.3 points and 7.7 assists per game in leading Shadow Mountain to Arizona's Division II state title this season.
Photo by Randy SartinDevin Booker, Moss Point (Miss.)
Famous father: Melvin Booker, who spent parts of two seasons in the NBA after starring at Missouri. Melvin also attended and played for Moss Point while in high school.
Making his own name: Devin is one of the nation's top prospects and will play at Kentucky next year. The 6-4 guard averaged more than 31 points per game this season.
Photo by Nick KozaM.J. Cage, Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.)
Famous father: Michael Cage, who spent 15 seasons in the NBA and is now an assistant coach at Mater Dei.
Making his own name: M.J., a 6-10 sophomore, is averaging 15 points, 10.7 rebounds and 3.6 blocked shots per game for the Monarchs. Mater Dei is currently 30-0 and ranked No. 1 nationally by MaxPreps.
Photo by Jim RedmanAvery Johnson Jr., Plano West (Texas)
Famous father: Avery Johnson, who won an NBA title in 1999 with the Spurs as part of a 16-year professional career. "The Little General" went on to become head coach of the Mavericks and Nets and is now an analyst with ESPN.
Making his own name: A point guard like his father, Avery Jr. averaged 13.9 points and 3.9 assists per game in 2013-14 for Plano West.
Photo by Jann HendryMaxwell Kupchak, Brentwood School (Los Angeles)
Famous father: Mitch Kupchak, current Los Angeles Lakers general manager who also spent 10 years in the NBA as a player.
Making his own name: Maxwell, a 6-6 junior forward, is averaging 10.6 points and 6.5 rebounds per game for the Eagles.
Photo by Jim RedmanMo Lewis IV and Chris Lewis, Milton (Ga.)
Famous father: Mo Lewis, an All-Pro linebacker for the New York Jets around the turn of the century. Spent more than a decade in the NFL.
Making their own name: Mo IV (pictured above), a 6-6 senior, and Chris, a 6-8 sophomore, are the top two scorers (12.8 and 12.5 points per game, respectively) for one of Georgia's top programs. The Eagles participated in the prestigious City of Palms Classic in December and closed out the regular season with a win over Class AAAAAA title favorite Wheeler.
Photo by Paul DiSalvoChristian McCaffrey, Valor Christian (Highlands Ranch, Colo.)
Famous father: Ed McCaffrey, who spent 13 seasons as a wide receiver in the NFL with the Giants, 49ers and Broncos. He is now a radio color analyst for the Broncos.
Making his own name: Christian is one the nation's top multi-sport athletes. He will play football at Stanford but is also a basketball and track and field standout.
Photo by Mike BracaB.J. Stith, Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.)
Famous father: Bryant Stith, who spent 10 years in the NBA with Denver, Boston and Cleveland. After a successful run as head coach at Brunswick, he is now an assistant at Old Dominion University.
Making his own name: B.J. will follow his father's footsteps and play at Virginia next season. The 6-6 senior wing has helped Oak Hill achieve a 37-3 record this season.
The expectations and comparisons to dad are inevitable. Some shy away from the athletic spotlight due to the large shadow. Others thrive thanks in part to their bloodlines.
Here's a look at several second-generation athletes thriving on the basketball court this season:
Photo by Jann HendryFamous father: Thurl Bailey, who spent 11 years in the NBA before playing professionally in Greece and Italy.
Making his own name: A rapidly growing 6-foot-7 sophomore, Brendan is averaging 11 points per game for the Cavemen – a title contender in Utah's 5A classification.
Photo by Kevin FrenchFamous father: Mike Bibby, who helped Arizona win a national title and spent 14 years in the NBA. He was among the Top 10 in the league in assists on three occasions.
Making his own name: Michael Jr., a sophomore point guard, averaged 19.3 points and 7.7 assists per game in leading Shadow Mountain to Arizona's Division II state title this season.
Photo by Randy SartinFamous father: Melvin Booker, who spent parts of two seasons in the NBA after starring at Missouri. Melvin also attended and played for Moss Point while in high school.
Making his own name: Devin is one of the nation's top prospects and will play at Kentucky next year. The 6-4 guard averaged more than 31 points per game this season.
Photo by Nick KozaFamous father: Michael Cage, who spent 15 seasons in the NBA and is now an assistant coach at Mater Dei.
Making his own name: M.J., a 6-10 sophomore, is averaging 15 points, 10.7 rebounds and 3.6 blocked shots per game for the Monarchs. Mater Dei is currently 30-0 and ranked No. 1 nationally by MaxPreps.
Photo by Jim RedmanFamous father: Avery Johnson, who won an NBA title in 1999 with the Spurs as part of a 16-year professional career. "The Little General" went on to become head coach of the Mavericks and Nets and is now an analyst with ESPN.
Making his own name: A point guard like his father, Avery Jr. averaged 13.9 points and 3.9 assists per game in 2013-14 for Plano West.
Photo by Jann HendryFamous father: Mitch Kupchak, current Los Angeles Lakers general manager who also spent 10 years in the NBA as a player.
Making his own name: Maxwell, a 6-6 junior forward, is averaging 10.6 points and 6.5 rebounds per game for the Eagles.
Photo by Jim RedmanFamous father: Mo Lewis, an All-Pro linebacker for the New York Jets around the turn of the century. Spent more than a decade in the NFL.
Making their own name: Mo IV (pictured above), a 6-6 senior, and Chris, a 6-8 sophomore, are the top two scorers (12.8 and 12.5 points per game, respectively) for one of Georgia's top programs. The Eagles participated in the prestigious City of Palms Classic in December and closed out the regular season with a win over Class AAAAAA title favorite Wheeler.
Photo by Paul DiSalvoFamous father: Ed McCaffrey, who spent 13 seasons as a wide receiver in the NFL with the Giants, 49ers and Broncos. He is now a radio color analyst for the Broncos.
Making his own name: Christian is one the nation's top multi-sport athletes. He will play football at Stanford but is also a basketball and track and field standout.
Photo by Mike BracaFamous father: Bryant Stith, who spent 10 years in the NBA with Denver, Boston and Cleveland. After a successful run as head coach at Brunswick, he is now an assistant at Old Dominion University.
Making his own name: B.J. will follow his father's footsteps and play at Virginia next season. The 6-6 senior wing has helped Oak Hill achieve a 37-3 record this season.
