🚨ESPN SHOCKER: No. 1 High School Phenom Rejects Tennessee and Georgia, Joins Boston Celtics Straight from High School in Historic NBA Move
Boston, MA – July 22, 2025
In a decision that has sent shockwaves through both the NCAA and the NBA, 17-year-old basketball prodigy Malik “Air” Benton, the No. 1 ranked high school player in the nation, has bypassed college altogether and signed a four-year, $42 million rookie contract with the Boston Celtics — becoming the first high school player to make the leap to the NBA since the league reinstated direct-from-high-school eligibility in 2025.
Benton, a 6’8” guard-forward out of Atlanta, Georgia, stunned fans and analysts alike when he turned down multi-million dollar NIL offers from Tennessee and Georgia, two programs that had made him their recruiting centerpiece. Instead, he announced his decision live on ESPN’s The Jump, unzipping a green tracksuit to reveal a Celtics jersey with the number 01.
> “Boston isn’t just a team — it’s a dynasty,” Benton said. “I don’t want to build a brand in college. I want to build a legacy in the league.”
The Talent: “Air” Benton’s Rise
Benton is no ordinary high school athlete. A consensus five-star recruit, he averaged 34.6 points, 9.3 rebounds, 6.1 assists, and 3.0 steals per game during his senior season at Oakwood Academy, leading them to a national championship and becoming the youngest player to win Naismith National High School Player of the Year.
His athleticism — a jaw-dropping 46-inch vertical leap — earned him the nickname “Air,” a nod to Michael Jordan. But scouts say Benton’s game is more than highlight-reel dunks.
> “He’s part Kobe, part KD, with a bit of Luka’s vision,” said Celtics GM Brad Stevens. “You don’t pass on someone like this. You make room for him.”
A Historic Draft Loophole
Benton’s jump to the NBA became possible after the league repealed its one-and-done rule earlier this year, allowing high school players to declare for the draft again for the first time since 2006.
The Celtics, who owned the 15th pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, used a strategic pre-draft trade to acquire the #3 overall pick from Portland, moving up specifically to land Benton. The move came after private workouts where Benton reportedly “embarrassed” pro-level defenders and left Celtics coaches “speechless.”
NCAA Fallout
The announcement sent tremors through college basketball. Both Tennessee and Georgia had invested major NIL resources, branding deals, and media campaigns around Benton’s potential commitment. Georgia head coach Jalen Rose expressed frustration:
> “The game’s changed. This kid deserved every option — but the NCAA just lost its biggest star since Zion.”
ESPN’s Jay Bilas called it the “end of an era” for traditional recruiting, saying Benton’s move “opens the floodgates” for elite high school talent skipping college altogether.
Boston’s Next Era Begins
Benton joins a stacked Celtics roster led by Jayson Tatum, Derrick White, and Kristaps Porziņģis, but insiders say he’ll be groomed as a franchise cornerstone for the next generation.
Head coach Joe Mazzulla said:
> “We’re not throwing him into the fire. We’re giving him the keys slowly — but the engine is built for him.”
Benton is expected to come off the bench early in the 2025–26 season but will play heavy minutes in summer league, with his debut game already sold out at the TD Garden.
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The Verdict: A Star Is Born
Celtics fans flooded social media with joy and disbelief:
> “This is Tatum 2.0 — we just stole the future.”
> “He’s 17 and already in green. Unreal.”
With Malik Benton now part of the Celtics’ long-term blueprint, one thing is clear: Boston isn’t just building a contender — they’re building a new era.
Fictional Note: This article is a work of fictional sports journalism. Malik Benton is a fictional character, and no such real-life transaction or policy change has occurred as of this writing.
