How Minnesota High Schools Continue to Shape Professional Basketball
From NBA arenas to international leagues, Minnesota high school basketball programs continue to produce elite talent. As the 2025–26 season unfolds, at least 17 alumni from Minnesota high schools are playing professionally, reinforcing the state’s reputation as a national and global basketball pipeline.
How Minnesota high schools continue to shape professional basketball
Minnesota’s basketball footprint stretches far beyond state lines. From packed high school gyms in Apple Valley, Hopkins, and North Minneapolis to NBA arenas and overseas leagues across Europe and the Middle East, players who once wore Minnesota high school jerseys are now competing at the highest professional levels of the game.
As the 2025–26 season unfolds, at least 17 players who attended Minnesota high schools are currently playing professional basketball, including eight on NBA rosters, others in NBA-affiliated systems, and a growing group thriving overseas. Together, they represent one of the strongest pipelines of basketball talent in the Midwest.
Minnesota talent in the NBA
At the NBA level, Minnesota high schools are especially well represented. Chet Holmgren, a Minnehaha Academy alum, has emerged as one of the league’s most impactful young big men with the Oklahoma City Thunder. His former teammate Jalen Suggs continues to anchor the Orlando Magic backcourt after a standout prep career in Minneapolis.
Apple Valley High School has produced one of the most successful sibling stories in recent NBA history. Brothers Tyus Jones and Tre Jones remain fixtures in the league, known for their poise, efficiency, and leadership at the point guard position. Apple Valley also claims Gary Trent Jr., who played in Minnesota before transferring out of state and is now an established NBA scorer.
Hopkins High School’s legacy continues through Amir Coffey and Zeke Nnaji, both of whom have carved out steady NBA careers. Minneapolis adds another name to the list with Jericho Sims, a Cristo Rey Jesuit High School alum whose athleticism and rim protection have kept him in NBA rotations.
NBA-affiliated and on the doorstep
Beyond standard NBA rosters, Minnesota high school alumni remain active in NBA-affiliated systems. DeLaSalle graduate Jamison Battle continues to work within an NBA organization, reflecting the increasingly common path of two-way contracts, call-ups, and developmental opportunities. Curtis Jones, who played at Minneapolis South and Cretin-Derham Hall, remains part of the NBA pipeline as well.
A global presence overseas
Minnesota’s basketball reach is not limited to the NBA. Several alumni are building strong professional careers overseas, competing in some of the world’s most respected leagues.
Cretin-Derham Hall standout Daniel Oturu plays at a high level internationally, while Hopkins High School continues to assert itself as a global pipeline through players like Ishmael El-Amin, Raymond Cowels III, and Siyani Chambers. DeLaSalle’s Gabe Kalscheur has found success in Europe, while Rochester John Marshall alum Tyler Cain represents Greater Minnesota on the international stage after years of professional play abroad.
More than numbers
What makes this moment notable is not just the total count, but the diversity of paths. Minnesota high school players are succeeding as stars, role players, defenders, scorers, and glue guys. They are contributing in the NBA, developing within its system, and thriving overseas, all while carrying the imprint of Minnesota basketball culture.
From city schools to suburban powerhouses, Minnesota continues to prove that its gyms produce more than local legends. They produce professionals, leaders, and competitors whose impact reaches far beyond the state.
Minnesota High School Alumni Currently Playing Professional Basketball (2025-26)
NBA players
- Chet Holmgren
High school: Minnehaha Academy (Minneapolis)
Team: Oklahoma City Thunder (NBA) - Jalen Suggs
High school: Minnehaha Academy (Minneapolis)
Team: Orlando Magic (NBA) - Tyus Jones
High school: Apple Valley High School
Team: Orlando Magic (NBA) - Tre Jones
High school: Apple Valley High School
Team: Chicago Bulls (NBA) - Gary Trent Jr.
High school: Apple Valley High School (played in MN before transferring to Prolific Prep, CA)
Team: Milwaukee Bucks (NBA) - Amir Coffey
High school: Hopkins High School (Minnetonka)
Team: Milwaukee Bucks (NBA) - Zeke Nnaji
High school: Hopkins High School (Minnetonka)
Team: Denver Nuggets (NBA) - Jericho Sims
High school: Cristo Rey Jesuit High School (Minneapolis)
Team: Milwaukee Bucks (NBA)
NBA-affiliated (two-way / G League / call-up level)
- Jamison Battle
High school: DeLaSalle High School (Minneapolis)
Team: Toronto Raptors organization (NBA/G League affiliate) - Curtis Jones
High school: Minneapolis South High School / Cretin-Derham Hall (St. Paul)
Team: Denver Nuggets two-way / G League affiliate
Overseas and International Professionals
- Daniel Oturu
High school: Cretin-Derham Hall (St. Paul)
Team: Hapoel Tel Aviv (Israel / EuroLeague-level competition) - Ishmael El-Amin
High school: Hopkins High School (Minnetonka)
Team: Napoli Basket (Italy, Lega Basket Serie A) - Gabe Kalscheur
High school: DeLaSalle High School (Minneapolis)
Team: Nürnberg Falcons BC (Germany, ProA) - Raymond Cowels III
High school: Hopkins High School (Minnetonka)
Team: Trefl Sopot (Poland) - Siyani Chambers
High school: Hopkins High School (Minnetonka)
Team: Caen Basket Calvados (France, Pro B) - Vinnie Shahid
High school: (Minnesota high school alum; verification indicates strong MN connection)
Team: European professional leagues (France/Germany level) - Tyler Cain
High school: John Marshall High School (Rochester)
Team: European professional leagues (Italy and other clubs over multiple seasons)
Quick Summary
- NBA players: 8
- NBA-affiliated: 2
- Overseas professionals: 7
- Total MN high school alumni currently playing pro basketball: 17