Elite High School Stars Thank Kobe Bryant on Anniversary of his Death

Posted Jan 27, 2021
A year after the deaths of NBA icon Kobe Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter Gianna, the sting continues to linger around the world. The focus on social media was all about honoring the late Lakers star. Sports Illustrated caught up with a handful of elite high school players in the video above who simply wanted to thank the Black Mamba for his impact. (Sports Illustrated)

Related: College Basketball Recruiting

5-star PF Marcus Spears, Jr. talks SMU, top schools
Dynamic Prep (Tex.) 5-star power forward Marcus Spears, Jr. still has the SMU Mustangs among his top schools as summer picks up, but competition is...
Thu Jun 4, 2026

Nasir Anderson, a point guard recruit with 'the best personality,' is one of Kentucky's top targets
Eight of the 19 rising high school seniors who hold a Kentucky offer are guards, and few have received as much playmaking hype as 6-foot-4...
Wed Jun 3, 2026

Utah transfer guard Jacob Patrick commits to SMU basketball
SMU Basketball has landed a commitment from Utah transfer guard Jacob Patrick, a talented 3-point shooter who battled injuries last season. Patrick played in just...
Tue Jun 2, 2026

Updated and expanded 2028 Rivals basketball recruiting ranking released
AJ Williams moves to No. 1 overall in the updated 2028 Rivals150. The No. 1 spot in the ranking was previous held by Adan Diggs...
Tue Jun 2, 2026