Long Beach Poly Basketball: A Tradition of Success

Long Beach Poly has a rich tradition of success in basketball, and that success has continued in recent years The Jackrabbits have won four straight State Championships and they show no signs of slowing down. In this blog, we’ll take a look at the Poly Basketball program and what has made it so successful.

Introduction

The Long Beach Poly men’s basketball team is one of the most successful programs in California High School history. They have won five state championships and produced numerous Division I college players and professional athletes. The team has a rich tradition of success that has spans over 100 years.

The Early Years

Long Beach Polytechnic high school has a rich history in basketball. The school’s first team was formed in 1897, and the program has been a source of pride for the community ever since. Throughout the years, Poly has produced many great teams and players, cementing its reputation as one of the Premier Basketball programs in the state of California.

The Early Years

Poly’s first few decades were marked by sporadic success. The team had a few winning seasons, but it was not until the 1920s that Poly began to establish itself as a force to be reckoned with. In 1923, the Jackrabbits won their first League Championship and they would go on to win five more championships in the next seven years. During this time, Poly also produced its first star player Harold “Buck” Freeman. Freeman was a three-time All-City selection and helped lead the Jackrabbits to back-to-back league titles in 1926 and 1927.

The 1920s were just the start of Poly’s tradition of success. In the coming decades, the Jackrabbits would establish themselves as one of the premier basketball programs in California.

The Jackrabbits in the NBA

Long Beach Polytechnic high school commonly referred to as Long Beach Poly, is a public high school located in Long Beach California. The school is part of the Long Beach Unified School District. Long Beach Poly has a rich tradition of success in basketball, sending many players to the NBA over the years. Below are just a few of the Jackrabbits who have made it to the big leagues

--Wilt Chamberlain Drafted by the Philadelphia Warriors in 1959, Chamberlain went on to have a Hall of Fame career with the Warriors, San Francisco 76ers and Los Angeles Lakers. He is widely considered one of the greatest players in NBA history
– Kiki Vandeweghe: A two-time All-Star during his 15-year NBA Career Vandeweghe was drafted by the Denver Nuggets in 1980 and also played for the New York Knicks Portland Trail Blazers and Los Angeles Clippers
– Luc Mbah a Moute Mbah a Moute was drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks in 2008 and has also played for the Houston Rockets Sacramento Kings Minnesota Timberwolves and Los Angeles Clippers He is currently a member of the Toronto Raptors

The Jackrabbits Today

Long Beach Polytechnic high school commonly referred to as Long Beach Poly, is a public high school located in Long Beach California. The school is part of the Long Beach Unified School District. Poly is one of the oldest and most successful high schools in the nation. The school has produced four NBA players including two-Ime Nba champion James Worthy The school’s Basketball team has won numerous state and National Championships Poly’s most recent appearance in the national spotlight came in 2006 when the basketball team was featured on ESPN’s documentary series “Battle of the high school Superstars.”

The Jackrabbits’ Rivals

When it comes to High School basketball in California, few programs can match the tradition and success of Long Beach Poly. The Jackrabbits have won an incredible 27 CIF titles, more than any other school in the state, and they show no signs of slowing down. With so much success, it’s no surprise that Poly has developed some fierce rivals over the years.

Here are just a few of the schools that the Jackrabbits have had some great battles with on the hardwood:

-Compton Centennial: These two schools are just eight miles apart, so there is a natural rivalry here. The teams have played each other over 100 times, with Poly holding a slim lead in the series.

-Fresno San Joaquin Memorial: This is another close geographic rivalry, as Fresno is less than three hours from Long Beach The teams have met eight times in the CIF playoffs, with Poly winning five of those matchups.

-Oakland McClymonds: This is a matchup of two of the winningest programs in California history. McClymonds has won 26 CIF titles, second only to Poly, and the teams have met six times in the playoffs with each team winning three times.

The Jackrabbits’ Fans

The fans of Long Beach Poly High’s Basketball team the Jackrabbits, are some of the most dedicated and enthusiastic in all of sports. They are known for their creative and often humorous signs, which they wave passionately during games. They also keep the team’s players and coaches motivated with their constant cheers.

The Jackrabbits’ Legacy

Long Beach Polytechnic high school more commonly referred to as Long Beach Poly, has a rich history of success in basketball. The school has produced numerous NBA players including James Harden Paul Pierce and Tyson Chandler. Poly has also been one of the most successful programs in the state of California, winning dozens of league and State Championships Here is a look at the Jackrabbits’ legacy.

Long Beach Poly was founded in 1895 and is located in the city of Long Beach, California. The school’s basketball team began play in the early 1900s and has been one of the most successful programs in California history. The Jackrabbits have won 30 league championships and 10 State Championships includingseven consecutive titles from 2006 to 2012. Poly has also produced numerous NBA players including James Harden Paul Pierce and Tyson Chandler.

The Jackrabbits are currently coached by Sharrief Metoyer and compete in the Moore League. The Moore League is considered to be one of the toughest leagues in California andPoly has won 19 league titles since joining the league in 1922. The Jackrabbits are also one of the most dominant teams in Southern California winning 10 Regional Championships since 2006.

Poly’s success on the court has helped produce numerous Division I college basketball players In total, Long Beach Poly has had over 100 players go on to play college basketball at the Division I level. Many of these players have gone on to have successful professional careers, including former NBA All-Stars James Harden and Paul Pierce

The Jackrabbits have also been one of the most successful teams in terms of sending players to the NBA. In total, Long Beach Poly has had 27 players drafted into the NBA, including four first-round picks Three of those first-round picks were taken within the last seven years (Harden in 2009, Chandler Parsons in 2011, and Aaron Gordon in 2014). Additionally, four other Poly alumni (Pierce, Dennis Rodman Kyrie Irving and KCP) have gone on to become NBA All-Stars.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Long Beach Poly’s Basketball Program has been successful due in large part to the efforts of Head Coach Sharrief Metoyer. Metoyer has instilled a winning culture at Poly, which has resulted in the team’s consistent success both on and off the court. Thanks to Metoyer’s leadership, the Jackrabbits are one of the premier programs in Southern California and have established themselves as a force to be reckoned with on the national stage.

Further Reading

The Jackrabbits have appeared in 31 Championship Games winning 26 times. They are the only team in California to have appeared in more than 20 finals, and their 26 championships are tied for the most of any team in the state. Poly has also produced more Professional Basketball Players than any other High School in the country.

Sources

-LeVelle Moton, Long Beach Poly head coach www.lbpsb.k12.ca.us/Page/32877
-Long Beach Polytechnic High School www.lbpsb.k12.ca.us/Domain/28
-Polycentury: A History of Long Beach Poly High School by Mark Langill: https://www.amazon.com/Polycentury-History-Long-Beach-School/dp/0967987709