Shane Battier has accomplished plenty during his basketball
career. The former Oakland County and Birmingham Detroit Country Day star led
the Yellowjackets to a 3-peat between 1995-1997. In 1997, Battier was named Mr.
Basketball in the state of Michigan, an award given to the top high school
basketball player in the state. Beyond high school, Battier’s high school
career, he’s played in two NCAA National title games with national powerhouse
Duke and has won one – coming in 2001 over Arizona. Battier also won the NCAA
Player of the Year award and went on to be the sixth overall pick in the 2001
NBA Draft.
After signing with the Miami Heat in the offseason, Battier
will now be the fourth former Oakland County prep basketball player to play for
an NBA title. If the Heat and Battier are able to win a title, Battier will
join B.J. Armstrong (Birmingham Brother Rice) as the only players from the
county to win an NBA championship. Armstrong was the point guard for the
Chicago Bulls in the early 90’s as the Bulls won three straight titles from
91-93.
Other recent former Oakland County prep stars to play for
NBA championships are Walker Russell (Pontiac Central), who was a part of the 1988
Detroit Pistons squad that lost to the Los Angeles Lakers in seven games.
Southfield’s Ira Newble is the other Former county star to play for an NBA title
as he played alongside LeBron James in 2007 for the Cleveland Cavaliers who
were swept in four games by the San Antonio Spurs.
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