cliff alexander cliff alexander born november american professional basketball player played national_basketball_association nba completed freshman season team declared eligible nba draft played high school chicago won recognition national player year play organized basketball eighth grade late freshman season notable contributor high school varsity team ranked prospects national class prior sophomore season junior moved national class recognized american beginning senior season considered player talent stock rise following performance senior year number team country experts considered best player national class represented usa basketball international play talent scouts praised powerful game high alexander felt compared contrasted rival especially senior national attention alexander heavily recruited division basketball programs recruitment widely followed played classic summit earning mvp jordan brand classic alexander led chicago public high school league city championship quadruple overtime game lead story championship later freshman kansas play season national collegiate athletic association ncaa launched investigation eligibility high school career freshman alexander highly regarded football player play organized basketball eighth grade alexander played varsity team freshman little impact sat games december missed games heart late december started getting local attention reason remained undefeated playoffs contributed significant performances march eliminated playoffs class semifinal freshman alexander posted points rebounds blocks loss late season contributions gave added dimension team finished record following freshman season alexander began recognized local potential national recruit alexander considered best chicago area basketball prospect earned conference recognition sophomore late august alexander remained national alexander entered sophomore season area prospects firmly national class prospects whitney young high school teammates september alexander ranked december holiday tournament parker defeated alexander alexander shut january alexander went head head play defeated young margin alexander points rebounds blocks having personal foul disqualification despite alexander better game nearly dozen division programs attendance rematch february championship game alexander ineffective offense points parker taylor lost game broadcast following season statewide panel broadcaster voted alexander associated_press boys basketball class state honorable mention junior june american camp alexander selected outstanding player alexander recruit according sources endured summer foot injury sidelined mid july espn number ranked prospect received offer kentucky recruited indiana ohio_state wisconsin receiving offer kentucky told leading schools kentucky fall junior season illinois class mentioned time great statewide classes basketball players chicago_sun-times writer noted high chance fifth illinois class include noted class chance rival surpass classes players november kentucky tournament game alexander scored teams points field goal shooting defeat december faced parker holiday tournament time semifinals alexander posted points field goal shooting prevailed notably parker assumed alexander defensive assignment alexander gave lead time remaining alexander went scoreless rest game despite points rebounds blocked shots eliminated playoffs february loss morgan park high school went class state champion february class basketball rankings showed number expected young road finals include march meeting according march state playoff meeting young anticipated pit alexander making highly touted playoff matchup centers led francis sales high school chicago_tribune said big men good stake march alexander attended senior night february great plains caused controversial games including march young game delayed day young defeated supporting cast alexander scoring edge late april father believed possible package late april rumors alexander attend school jones attended alexander ranked fifth best player class offers schools common jones beginning june said chances jones slim alexander recognized team selection chicago_sun-times parker alexander recognized class team selection chicago_tribune named team alexander selected american team second team alexander senior summer preseason alexander member team backed summer basketball parker team showed potential noticed july stood july mac fire opposed teams led september updated ranking alexander maintaining number ranking time rivals described alexander powerful player high school ranks september alexander believed final selection december verbal commitment april signing national letter intent october classic schedule announced scheduled play january accounts kansas favorite girlfriend student kansas scheduled play duke blue chicago espn champions classic november scheduled announcement freshman kansas women basketball team illinois excited contention alexander time prospect considering illinois late senior year alexander level interest higher rose following illinois visit scheduled announcement date moved forward november october alexander officially eliminated candidate list leaving kansas illinois memphis contention november alexander ranked second points leader basketball usa preseason place vote ballots ranked ahead combined seven place votes alexander players named ballots preseason points leader gone win award prior years november verbal commitment announcement scheduled date according espn national class jones eve announcement kansas illinois favorites services verbal commitment kansas basketball november flanked father mother prior senior season usa_today named man preseason usa team jones turner alexander joined chicago_tribune preseason illinois basketball regular season alexander posted points rebounds blocks december victory super number ranked highly touted alexander serve game suspension game having assessed technical december alexander impressive start season december posted triple double points rebounds blocked shots week december earned midwest player week senior finally led past time defending tournament champion time defending class state champion win holiday tournament points rebounds blocks earning tournament mvp honors selection alexander stock continued rise senior according stats alexander posted impressive cause disbelief including chicago_tribune high school basketball writer associates early january alexander continued leading contender national player year holding second place basketball usa race january alexander led past featured class number ranked january alexander led victory number rated team country trailed points entering fourth quarter alexander points final minutes seconds key comeback alexander rebounds blocks following game writers including college basketball writer said alexander valid case present terms best high school basketball player country turner high school basketball writer regards performance performances nationally highly rated high school basketball team turn century ranking win number ranking nation according alexander performance moved rankings midseason ranked wide margin held number position ballots postseason playoffs began february february championship game clash alexander local press team announced playoffs began victories north charter high school alexander points rebounds blocks february defeated alexander points rebounds blocks earning february semifinals rematch beaten twice season alexander won reach anticipated city championship matchup young jones center alexander triple double points rebounds blocks matchup anticipated city championship game fellow mcdonald americans young players february alexander improved place total basketball usa holding place second place votes won city championship quadruple overtime alexander points rebounds blocks according credited rebounds came points rebounds remaining regulation depending sources believe championship game attended mayor chicago lead story late edition seven days later forced wins championship academic seven players title remain vacant alexander host local national player year awards winning multiple national player year awards young class playoffs met round sixteen march won regional contests despite wins games remained eligible compete playoffs differences eligibility rules march lost opening playoff game margin overtime marked loss season court alexander lineup alexander posted points rebounds blocks despite final minute regulation time trailed early led midway quarter starters ineligible play april posted points game high tied rebounds losing east team april mvp game posted points rebounds blocks awards honors alexander selected man 17th annual summit april center selected fellow fellow kansas commit selected player 37th annual april united center joined mcdonald american fellow recognized team city young teammates white chicago_sun-times february finalists prep player year award march alexander won year player year march players selected april jordan brand classic fellow fellow kansas commit recognized parade americans named associated_press class 1st team state alexander lost illinois basketball voting vote usa today team usa boys basketball team selection earned team american recognition april april earned national player year award comparisons prior sophomore season considered raw athletic according chicago_sun-times basketball reporter stage head head competition alexander following sophomore season rose brother noted alexander suited fast break offense likely half court set compared alexander needs improve outside shooting comparison valid needs improve low post mastery valid comparison alexander feels compared comfortable views shoot floor post moves sets good screens compares alexander compared robinson noting despite phenomenal play center lacking jump shot necessary play power forward known type player likely slam gets ball near rim high frequency attributed intuitive sense ball sheer dominance physical athletic presence unique talent july james told develop strength alexander compared local products court reasons think like future celebrity athletes alexander star street reminded role example named athlete month december quoted coach said people fail realize duke star duke bound young center cliff came like big wind thrown face senior fellow prep player year award finalist compared chicago_sun-times photographer follows beverly_hills cliff known polished alexander known dominating power game blocks reporter stated comparison saying generation area big men compared duo alexander gold standard speed power technique polish college career alexander entered college career conference preseason year according vote league head coaches preseason player ranking alexander listed number espn usa_today named preseason american team named honorable mention preseason american team listed candidate award watch list selection alexander included early december award watch list alexander began season coming bench november alexander double digit output points rider orlando classic semifinals tennessee november posted points finals michigan state november contributed blocks december big contest florida alexander posted team high rebounds points collegiate double double december alexander expected starting lineup time started december temple january oklahoma alexander posted points rebounds rebounds minutes played marked career high alexander individual season high alexander named big newcomer week january alexander second start season february replacing lineup posting points blocks rebounds february alexander undisclosed ncaa investigation measure play games february investigation mother initiation pre nba draft loan processing professional career portland trail april face battle ncaa saw miss games season alexander declared june nba draft alexander suffered right knee injury draft going alexander joined averaged rebounds assists blocks minutes game summer league july alexander signed beginning training camp alexander injury caused expected miss weeks non guaranteed contract players roster spots alexander missed entire preseason knee roster entered season depth chart despite minor torn issues alexander active time november portland seventh game season alexander played minutes november posting points rebounds block charlotte march flexible assignment rule alexander assigned league affiliate golden state warriors march recalled portland july alexander waived transaction maneuver create salary cap space cleared added roster national team career alexander selected represent inaugural americas championship august helped team achieve gold september world championship indonesia finished 9th record losing opening round playoffs personal life alexander father inch played basketball following time year terry declared nba draft professional career included time alexander picked basketball late lack available safe courts play chicago west neighborhood known community
Cliff Alexander