Where did Eastern Conference Finals stars play high school basketball?

The Eastern Conference Finals are beginning to heat up, just like the Western Conference, despite the lack of star power in the opposing conference.

The New York Knicks overcame a 22-point deficit to knock off the Cleveland Cavaliers 115-104 in overtime in Game 1 on Tuesday, May 19. Now the Cavaliers are looking to even the series before the series heads back to Cleveland.

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While the star power of Jalen Brunson vs. Donovan Mitchell is not quite the same as the Western Conference's matchup between Victor Wembanyama and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the first game proved that the series can be just as compelling.

Well before any of the participants in the ECF reached the NBA, they played basketball at lower levels before moving up the ladder.

Here's what you need to know about where the starters for both the Cavaliers and Knicks in the Eastern Conference played high school basketball:

Cleveland Cavaliers

Donovan Mitchell

Mitchell began his prep career as a two-sport athlete at Canterbury School in New Milford, Connecticut. However, a broken wrist suffered in a baseball collision led him to focus on basketball during his junior and senior seasons at Brewster Academy in Wolfeboro, New Hampshire. Mitchell led Brewster to two prep school national championships. He went on to star at Louisville.

James Harden

At Artesia High School (Lakewood, California), Harden led his program to a 66-3 record as a junior and senior, winning back-to-back California state titles. As a senior, he averaged 18.8 points, 7.9 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game. He earned McDonald's All-American honors before playing collegiately at Arizona State.

Evan Mobley

Mobley attended Rancho Christian School in Temecula, California, where he ended his prep career as the No. 1 overall recruit in the 2020 class. The two-time California Gatorade Player of the Year averaged 20.5 points, 12.2 rebounds, 5.2 blocks, and 4.6 assists per game as a senior. Mobley picked USC over offers from UCLA, Washington and others for college basketball.

Dean Wade

Wade was selected as Mr. Kansas Basketball by the Kansas Basketball Coaches Association after leading St. John's High School (St. John's, Kansas) to three state titles during his four-year prep career. Wade signed with Kansas State to play college basketball.

Jarrett Allen

Allen played his freshman season at Round Rock High School in Round Rock, Texas. However, he transferred to St. Stephen's Episcopal School in Austin, Texas, for the last three years. He led his program to two Southwest Preparatory Championships. He played in the 2016 McDonald's All-American Game before committing to Texas for college basketball.

New York Knicks

Jalen Brunson

Brunson is the 19th all-time highest scorer in IHSA history with 2,682 points for Stevenson High School (Lincolnshire, Illinois). He won Illinois Gatorade Player of the Year honors as a junior and senior, leading his school to a state championship as a senior. He finished his final prep season averaging 23.3 points, 5.2 assists and 4.7 rebounds per game.

Mikal Bridges

Bridges attended Great Valley High School in Malvern, Pennsylvania, after spending his freshman season at Archbishop Carroll High School. As a senior, he averaged 18.5 points, 7.2 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 2.4 blocks and 1.6 steals per game, earning First Team All-Class AAAA honors. He committed to Villanova for college and went on to win two national titles.

OG Anunoby

Born in London, England, Anunoby moved to Jefferson City, Missouri, when he was four years old. He played prep basketball at Jefferson City High School, averaging 19.1 points and 8.6 rebounds per game. He was named a finalist for Mr. Basketball in Missouri as a senior. The consensus three-star recruit committed to Indiana.

Josh Hart

Hart attended Wheaton High School (Silver Spring, Maryland) and Sidwell Friends School (Washington, D.C.) during his prep career. In his senior season, Hart averaged 24.3 points, 13.4 rebounds and 2.8 steals per game, leading Sidwell to a 22–9 record. Hart, like Brunson, attended Villanova, and the two won a national title together in 2016.

Karl-Anthony Towns

As a freshman, Towns helped lead St. Joseph High School (Metuchen, New Jersey) to a national championship in 2012. He helped lead the team to back-to-back state titles in 2013 and 2014, and was selected to play on the Dominican Republic national team when he was 16. Towns reclassified as a senior before committing to play at Kentucky.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: High school journeys of the Eastern Conference Finals starters