The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/510942
INSIDE MICHIGAN ATHLETICS Chris Webber Named Top Oakland County Preps Player Chris Webber is the top preps player to come out of Oakland County, an article from MIPrepZone.com proclaimed recently. The site ranked the top 50 high school players from the Michigan county with the help of "area coaches, local journalists and sports historians." "Utterly dominant and the best player in the nation as a prepster in 1991, Webber was the definition of a phenom and started all four years at Country Day, leading the Yellowjackets to three state titles in a row (the first of the program's nine) in 1989, 1990 and 1991," author Scott Burnstein wrote. "Over his last three years in high school, he averaged 25 points, 15 rebounds, six blocks and four slam dunks per game, overpowering opponents with sheer athleticism and strength, whether on the blocks or on the fast break. He was MVP and hit the game- winning shot in the 1991 McDonald's All-American Game. "In college, he was the centerpiece of the vaunted, trend-setting 'Fab Five' at Michigan, a group of five high-profile recruits that joined forces to guide the Wolverines to repeat appearances in the NCAA national championship game in 1992 and 1993, respectively. As a sophomore in 1993, Webber was the National Player of the Year and became the first pick in the NBA Draft by the Orlando Magic (later traded to the Golden State Warriors). "During his pro career, he played 15 years for five teams (Golden State, Sacra- mento, Detroit, Philadelphia and Washington). He was Rookie of the Year in 1994 and a five-time All-Star selection, compiling a career average of 20 points and just about 10 rebounds per night, and a legacy as one of the most dangerous power forwards in the NBA in the 1990s and early 2000s. "Retiring in 2008, he's currently a television broadcast analyst." Former U-M standouts Campy Russell and Tim McCormick also ranked in the top five at No. 2 and No. 4. "The most celebrated of the accomplished Russell brothers, the first family of hoops in the city of Pontiac, Campy was an All-American in high school at Central and college at the University of Michigan," Burnstein wrote. "While at Central he was a two-time first-team all-state pick and someone people tapped as the most lethal offensive high school player in the country. "Russell's 1970 Central team is considered by many the best team in Oakland County history — the Chiefs were upset in the state finals by Detroit Pershing 86-81 and Russell averaged 30 points, 10 rebounds and five assists per game (he broke his brother's single-game record with 48 points as a senior in 1971). "A three-year starter at Michigan, he averaged 24 points per game and was Big Ten Player of the Year in 1974 on a Wolverines squad that made it to the Elite Eight WEBBER