Video: LeBron James high school highlights Lakers star in action during his days at St. Vincent-St. Mary.
Until now.
MaxPreps has retroactively selected a Male Athlete of the Year for every year prior to the MaxPreps era, starting with 2007 and dating back to 1910.
Some of the names include Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Jim Brown and Deion Sanders along with James, Moss and Smith.
Selections were based on high school performance as much as possible. Some performers were selected based on Olympic performances the summer after their senior year.
LeBron James, our retroactive 2003 Male High School Athlete of the Year, cheers on his son at a game in December.
Photo by Scott Reed
Kevin Love, Lake Oswego (Ore.)
Love led Lake Oswego to the boys basketball state final three years in a row, winning the title his junior year. He was the Gatorade Male Athlete of the Year and finished his career as the state's all-time leading scorer.
2006
Percy Harvin, Landstown (Virginia Beach, Va.)
Harvin was one of the nation's top recruits in football as a senior and was also a basketball and track standout. He led the basketball team to the state finals as a junior and he won five gold medals in the state track meet.
2005
Greg Paulus, Christian Brothers Academy (Syracuse, N.Y.)
A two-sport star, Paulus led Christian Brothers to a state championship in football and he was named Mr. Basketball. He went on to play basketball at Duke.
2004
Ted Ginn Jr., Glenville (Cleveland)
A star in football and track and field, Ginn was USA Today's Defensive Player of the Year in football and he recorded some of the fastest hurdle and sprint times in the nation in track.
2003
LeBron James, St. Vincent-St. Mary (Akron, Ohio)
James was a two-time national player of the year and was the No. 1 pick in the 2003 NBA draft after leading St. Vincent-St. Mary to a mythical national championship.
2002
Vince Young, Madison (San Antonio)
A four-sport athlete, Young was the Parade national player of the year in football and also earned all-state honors in track and field. He averaged 25 points per game in basketball and also briefly played baseball.
2001
Joe Mauer, Cretin-Derham Hall (St. Paul, Minn.)
The USA Today player of the year in football and baseball, Mauer threw for 5,528 yards in his career and also batted. 605 in baseball. He also averaged over 20 points per game in basketball.
2000
Charles Rogers, Saginaw (Mich.)
While he did not last long in the NFL, Rogers was a three-sport athlete in high school. He was a three-time all-state player in football and earned Parade All-American honors. He was also a standout for the basketball and track teams.
1999
Chris Lewis, Long Beach Poly (Calif.)
An All-American quarterback, Lewis was also one of the top boys volleyball players in the nation. He threw for 8,616 yards in his career and a then California record 107 touchdowns.
1998
Ron Curry, Hampton (Va.)
A Parade All-American in two sports, Curry quarterbacked the football team to a pair of mythical national titles and three state championships and he led the basketball team to a state title.
1997
LaVar Arrington, North Hills (Pittsburgh, Pa.)
The Parade National Player of the Year in football, Arrington was also a national recruit in basketball and was a standout sprinter and high jumper in track and field.
1996
Tim Couch, Leslie County (Hyden, Ky.)
A two-sport star, Couch finished his high school football career as a Parade All-American and the nation's all-time leading passer with 12,104 yards. He was also an all-state basketball player with over 3,000 career points.
1995
Randy Moss, DuPont (DuPont City, W.Va.) now closed
Moss was a four-sport start at now-closed DuPont. He was a Parade All-American in football while leading his team to a pair of state titles. He also averaged 30 points per game in basketball and was a state champion in track.
1994
Josh Booty, Evangel Christian Academy (Shreveport, La.)
Booty set the national record for passing yards in a career and became the first to go over 10,000 yards at 11,700. He was also one of the nation's top baseball prospects and was the No. 5 overall pick in the 1994 draft.
1993
Allen Iverson, Bethel (Hampton, Va.)
Iverson led his team to a pair of state championships in basketball and football and he was the Associated Press Athlete of the Year in both sports.
1992
Todd Helton, Knoxville Central (Knoxville, Tenn.)
The Gatorade state player of the year in both football and baseball, Helton played quarterback and threw for 2,772 yards and batted .655 in baseball. He was an All-American by Baseball America.
1991
Basil Shabazz, Pine Bluff (Ark.)
A Parade All-American in football, Shabazz was also all-state in basketball, a gold medalist at the state meet and track and a third-round pick in the MLB draft by the Cardinals.
1990
Chris Weinke, Cretin-Derham Hall (St. Paul, Minn.)
A Parade and USA Today All-American in football, Weinke was also the captain of the ice hockey team and he was a second-round pick by the Blue Jays in the MLB draft.
1989
Terry Kirby, Tabb (Yorktown, Va.)
A Parade and USA Today All-American, Kirby had 7,428 yards rushing in his career. He was also an all-state basketball player with 2,246 career points.
1988
Carl Pickens, Murphy (N.C.)
A three-sport star, Pickens was a Parade All-American in football, averaged 27 points per game in basketball and high jumped 7-feet-1 in track and field.
1987
Emmitt Smith, Escambia (Pensacola, Fla.)
Considered one of the great high school running backs of all-time, Smith was the USA Today Player of the Year after rushing for 8,804 career yards.
1986
Ed McCaffrey, Central Catholic (Pittsburgh, Pa.)
A Parade All-American on the football team, McCaffrey also helped lead the basketball team to state championships in 1984 and 1986.
1985
Deion Sanders, North Fort Myers (North Fort Myers, Fla.)
An all-Southwest Florida selection in football, basketball and baseball, Sanders played quarterback on the football team, averaged 24 points in basketball and was drafted in the sixth round by the Kansas City Royals in baseball.
1984
Tom Glavine, Billerica Memorial (Billerica, Mass.)
Glavine earned Rawlings All-American honors in baseball and he was also an all-conference ice hockey player with 47 goals. He was drafted in both sports.
1983
Rod Woodson, Fort Wayne Snider (Ind.)
A Parade All-American in football, Woodson also set state records in the 100- and 300-meter hurdles.
1982
Bo Jackson, McAdory (McCalla, Ala.)
Jackson was a three-sport start in high school. He rushed for 1,270 yards in football, was drafted in the second round of the MLB draft by the Yankees and set three state records in track and field.
1981
Mark Rypien, Shadle Park (Spokane, Wash.)
Besides leading Shadle Park to a state title in basketball, Rypien was also a Parade All-American in football. He was also a conference MVP in baseball.
1980
Herschel Walker, Johnson County (Wrightsville, Ga.)
Walker was an eight-time state champion in track and field and set a state record for career rushing in football with 6,137 yards.
1979
John Elway, Granada Hills Charter (Calif.)
Elway earned Parade All-American honors in football and was also a Rawlings All-American in baseball.
1978
Ryne Sandberg, North Central (Spokane, Wash.)
Sandberg was a Parade All-American in football as the team's quarterback and he was drafted out of high school by the Philadelphia Phillies.
1977
Danny Ainge, North Eugene (Eugene, Ore.)
One of the top recruits in the nation in basketball, he was a Parade All-American and led his team to two state titles. He was also All-American in football and was drafted in the MLB draft by the Blue Jays.
1976
Houston McTear, Baker (Fla.)
McTear set a national record in the 100-yard dash at 9.0 seconds in a record that still stands. He also ran a 10.16 in the 100 meters at the Olympic Trials as a high school senior.
1975
Tony Nathan, Woodlawn (Birmingham, Ala.)
Nathan earned All-American honors in basketball and football before settling on a football career with Alabama and the Miami Dolphins.
1974
Willie Wilson, Summit (N.J.)
A long-time MLB veteran, Wilson was also a Parade All-American in football and scored over 1,000 points in basketball. A Rawlings All-American in baseball, Wilson was a first round pick in the MLB draft.
1973
Scott Dierking, West Chicago (Ill.)
Dierking was a high school All-American in football and wrestling. He was undefeated at 185 pounds as a senior in wrestling and he went on to play in the NFL in football.
1972
Quinn Buckner, Thornridge (Dolton, Ill.)
A high school All-American as a quarterback in football, Buckner also led Thornridge to back-to-back state championships in basketball and was a Parade All-American.
1971
Jim Rice, T.L. Hanna (Anderson, S.C.)
Rice earned all-state honors in football as a wide receiver and was drafted by the Boston Red Sox en route to a Hall of Fame career.
1970
James McAlister, Blair (Pasadena, Calif.)
As a running back on one of the top football teams in the country, McAlister earned Parade All-American honors. He also set a national record in the long jump, but did not win at the state meet due to an injury.
1969
George McGinnis, Washington (Ind.)
Before embarking on an NBA career, McGinnis was an All-American in basketball and football at Washington. Named the state MVP in basketball after leading team to a 31-0 record.
1968
Mark Spitz, Santa Clara (Calif.)
Spitz was already a national sensation in swimming before he entered high school. As a senior, he won two gold medals in the relays at the Mexico City Olympics.
1967
Dusty Baker, Del Campo (Fair Oaks, Calif.)
A four-sport standout in Sacramento, Baker was All-Superior California in football and basketball, long jumped 23 feet, 6 inches at the state meet and was drafted into the Atlanta Braves organization in baseball.
1966
Terry Bradshaw, Woodlawn-Shreveport (La.)
An all-state quarterback in football, Bradshaw broke the national javelin record four times during his senior year. Went on to a Hall of Fame career in the NFL.
1965
Lew Alcindor, Power Memorial (New York), now closed
A three-time Parade All-American, Alcindor led Power Memorial to a 71-game winning streak and 2,067 career points.
1964
Ken Stabler, Foley (Ala.)
A three-sport star, Stabler was all-state in football and basketball and he was 7-1 as a pitcher in baseball. He played football at Alabama and he was drafted by Major League Baseball while in college.
1963
Steve Spurrier, Science Hill (Johnson City, Tenn.)
Spurrier was a high school All-American in football, was all-state in basketball and was undefeated on the mound as a pitcher for three seasons.
1962
Jerry Mosher, Woodland (Calif.)
Mosher was named the captain of the Wigwam Wiseman All-American football team and was considered the top receiver prospect in the country. He was also All-Superior California in basketball and was a star in track and field and swimming.
1961
Lance Rentzel, Casady (Oklahoma City)
A four-sport star, Rentzel played football, basketball, baseball and track and was an All-American in football. He played in the NFL for the Dallas Cowboys.
1960
Mel Renfro, Jefferson (Portland, Ore.)
A member of the high school, college and NFL Halls of Fame, Renfro was a Scholastic Coach All-American in football and he was the Track and Field News "High School Athlete of the Year".
1959
Terry Baker, Jefferson (Portland, Ore.)
The future Heisman Trophy winner led the football and baseball teams to state titles with the football team going 23-0 during his time at quarterback. An All-American in football, Baker also went on to play basketball while in college at Oregon State.
1958
Dave DeBusschere, Austin Catholic (Chesterfield, Mich.)
DeBusschere played both professional basketball and baseball, earning Parade All-American honors in basketball and joining the White Sox organization right out of high school.
1957
Billy Kilmer, Azusa (Calif.)
Known more as a basketball and baseball player in high school, Kilmer scored over 1,500 career points on the hardcourt while earning All-American honors. He was also all-conference in baseball. He went on to become a star quarterback at UCLA and in the NFL.
1956
Oscar Robertson, Crispus Attucks (Indianapolis)
Robertson was a Scholastic Coach All-American and led his team to a pair of state championships and a 62-1 overall record with 45 straight wins.
1955
Wilt Chamberlain, Overbrook (Philadelphia)
Besides being the top basketball recruit in the country, Chamberlain also ran track and field and could cover the 440-yard dash in 49 seconds. He also averaged 44 points a game on the hardcourt.
1954
Rafer Johnson, Kingsburg (Calif.)
A four-sport standout, won the California high school decathlon as a senior - six years before winning gold in the event at the Olympics. He was also an all-star in football and basketball, eventually playing the latter sport at UCLA.
1953
Jim Brown, Manhasset (N.Y.)
Brown reportedly earned 13 letters while at Manhasset. He led the nation in scoring in basketball at 38 points per game. He also was one of the nation's top lacrosse players. The NFL Hall of Famer was also a football standout, averaging 14.9 yards per carry.
1952
Milt Campbell, Plainfield (N.J.)
Finished second in the decathlon as a high school senior (behind Robert Matthias), and then won the decathlon in 1956. Also a star football player who scored 140 points during the season and was also a state champion in swimming.
1951
Dick Garibaldi, Stockton (Calif.), closed in 1966
A high school All-American in football at Stockton, Garibaldi was also a pro prospect in baseball. However he ended up going to Santa Clara on a basketball scholarship.
1950
Johnny Lattner, Fenwick (Oak Park, Ill.)
The future Heisman Trophy winner was an All-American quarterback and defensive back in high school. He also starred for the basketball team.
1949
John Henry Johnson, Pittsburg (Calif.)
A Wigwam Wiseman football All-American, Johnson also set a state record in the discus at the state meet and he was All-Northern California in basketball.
1948
Bob Mathias, Tulare Union (Calif.)
A football player for Tulare, Mathias took up the decathlon as a senior and won the gold in the Olympics in London. Four years later he won the gold medal again in Helsinki.
1947
Harry Agganis, Lynn Classical (Lynn, Mass.)
As a junior, Agganis led Lynn Classical to a mythical national championship as quarterback on the football team. Agganis was also the captain on the first Wigwam Wiseman All-American football team in 1947. A basketball standout, Agganis also had a professional baseball career with the Boston Red Sox.
1946
Dan Towler, Donora (Pa.), now Ringgold (Monongahela, Pa.)
The leading scorer on a Donora team that was considered the top football team in the country, Towler also played on the team's state runner-up basketball team, was a power hitter on the baseball team and a sprinter on the track team.
1945
Wallace Jones, Harlan (Ky.)
Jones actually played four sports in college at Kentucky, starring on the basketball and football teams. In high school, he was the state player of the year in basketball and scored over 2,400 career points. He was also an all-state end in football.
1944
Bill Sharman, Porterville (Calif.)
Sharman earned 15 letters in basketball, baseball, football, track, tennis and boxing prior to a Hall of Fame career in the NBA.
1943
Glenn Davis, Bonita (La Verne, Calif.)
A future Heisman Trophy winner, Davis led Bonita to an 11-0 record and the Southern Section championship. He was the Southern Section player of the year.
1942
Dwight Eddleman, Centralia (Ill.)
A four-sport star, Eddleman finished his career as the nation's all-time leading basketball scorer with 2,702 points. He was also a three-time state champion in the high jump, was an all-state quarterback and he also pitched in baseball.
1941
Elroy Hirsch, Wausau (Wis.)
The leading scorer in the state on Wausau's championship football team, Hirsch was also a standout in basketball and baseball.
1940
Angelo Bertelli, Cathedral (Springfield, Mass.)
Bertelli, a future Heisman Trophy winner, earned all-state honors in football, baseball and hockey while in high school.
1939
Otto Graham, Waukegan (Ill.)
A football and basketball star, Graham was first team all-state in basketball two seasons and was a third-team all-state selection in football.
1938
Bill DeCorrevont, Austin (Chicago)
In leading Austin to a mythical national championship during the 1937 football season, DeCorrevont scored 35 touchdowns in 10 games, including nine in one game.
1937
Tom Harmon, Horace Mann (Gary, Ind.)
Harmon reportedly earned 14 varsity letters in 10 sports in high school. He scored 150 points in football, was a standout basketball player, threw two no-hitters in baseball and won state championships in the sprints in track.
1936
Jackie Robinson, Muir (Pasadena, Calif.)
Although Robinson graduated in 1937, his best year was the 1935-36 school year. He played football, basketball, baseball, track and field and tennis. He helped Muir win the Southern Section track and field title as a junior. He was also honorable mention All-Southland in basketball and football.
1935
Sid Luckman, Erasmus Hall (Brooklyn, N.Y.)
The NFL Hall of Fame quarterback led Eramus Hall to a pair of city championships as quarterback and was also a star player in baseball.
1934
Hank Luisetti, Galileo (San Francisco)
A basketball pioneer with his one-handed set shot, Luisetti was an all-city player in San Francisco prior to a Hall of Fame career at Stanford.
1933
Jesse Owens, East Tech (Cleveland)
Prior to his gold medal performances at the 1936 Berlin Olympics, Owens starred at East Tech where he set a world record in the 100-yard dash (9.4 seconds) and jumped 24 feet, 9 ½ inches at the national invitational track and field meet.
1932
Vern Huffman, New Castle (Ind.)
A two-sport star, Huffman led New Castle to a state championship in basketball and he was an All-American in college at Indiana.
1931
Don Hutson, Pine Bluff (Ark.)
A Hall of Fame receiver, Hutson was a star receiver for a powerhouse Pine Bluff squad. He also earned all-state honors in basketball.
1930
Ralph Metcalfe, Tilden (Chicago, Ill.)
Metcalfe was a sprint champion in high school at the national high school track championships in Chicago. He eventually won the silver medal in the 100 meters in the 1932 and 1936 Olympics.
1929
Orv Mohler, Alhambra (Calif.)
Mohler was a star quarterback at Alhambra, leading the Moors to a championship. He was also good enough in baseball to play professionally after his college football career was complete.
1928
John Wooden, Martinsville (Ind.)
Wooden was a three-time all-state selection in basketball, leading his team to a state championship as a junior.
1927
Eddie Tolan, Cass Tech (Detroit)
The gold medal winner in the 100 meters at the 1932 Olympics, Tolan was a sprint champion in high school, winning the 100 and 220-yard dashes at the national championship track meet in Chicago. He was also a standout running back on the football team.
1926
Earl "Dutch" Clark, Pueblo Central (Pueblo, Colo.)
Clark set state records in scoring in football, set state records in track and led the basketball team to a state championship.
1925
Wes Foster, Wenatchee (Wash.)
Foster set two national high school records in track and field and four state records in the sprint events and was a sprint champion at the national championship track meet in Chicago.
1924
Benny Oosterbaan, Muskegon (Mich.)
A three-time All-American in college at Michigan, Oosterbaan was all-state in football, led the basketball team to a state championship, was all-state in baseball and was a state champion in the discus.
1923
Mort Kaer, Red Bluff (Calif.)
A track and football star, Kaer took a second and two thirds at the national track and field championships in Chicago. The following year, Kaer participated in the 1924 Olympics in the pentathlon and was the first unanimous All-American at USC.
1922
Red Grange, Wheaton, now Wheaton-Warrenville South (Wheaton, Ill.)
Known best for his football prowess, Grange scored 532 points in his career at Wheaton. He was also a state champion in the 100 meters and the long jump at the state track meet.
1921
Ernie Nevers, Santa Rosa (Calif.)
A four-sport star, the future NFL Hall of Fame player led the football team to a championship season and also played basketball and baseball and ran track.
1920
Carl Beck, Harrisburg Tech (Harrisburg, Pa.)
A future NFL running back, Beck led Harrisbug to a mythical national championship by scoring 204 points on the season and 445 points in his career.
1919
Paul Endacott, Lawrence (Kan.)
Regarded as one of the greatest players in Kansas basketball history, Endacott was an all-state guard in 1919.
1918
Charlie Paddock, Pasadena (Calif.)
A future 100-yard champion at the 1920 Olympics, Paddock was a state champion in the 220-yard run as a senior.
1917
Brick Muller, San Diego (Calif.)
As a sophomore, the future college All-American led San Diego to a Southern California championship. He was also a standout in track and field and eventually won a silver medal in the high jump in the Olympics.
1916
Sherman Landers, Oregon (Ill.)
Held the national record in the triple jump and won three events at the University of Chicago Interscholastic track meet, the 220, the 100 and the pole vault.
1915
Chic Harley, East (Columbus, Ohio)
One of the great football players in the history of the state of Ohio, Harley lost only one football game in his time at Columbus East.
1914
Sol Butler, Hutchinson (Kan.)
A future Olympian and NFL player, Butler was one of the top sprinters and long jumpers in the country, winning three events at the Midwest of Chicago national track meet.
1913
Bart Macomber, Oak Park-River Forest (Oak Park, Ill.)
A member of three Oak Park national championship teams, Macomber was a standout running back, but also a great kicker. His 114 extra points stood as a state record for close to 70 years.
1912
Eddie Mahan, Andover (Mass.)
A three-time All-American in college, Mahan was a multi-sport athlete in high school excelling in football. He is still considered one of the school's greatest football players over 100 years later.
1911
Guy Chamberlain, Blue Springs (Neb.)
A three-time all-state football player at Blue Springs, Chamberlain went on to a Hall of Fame career in the early years of the NFL.
1910
Elmer Oliphant, Linton-Stockton (Linton, Ind.)
A member of the college football Hall of Fame, Oliphant was a high-scoring running back in football and also excelled as a power hitter in baseball and a sprinter in track and field.
