<P> Bryant received several awards for his performance his senior year including being named Naismith High School Player of the Year, Gatorade Men's National Basketball Player of the Year, a McDonald's All - American, and a USA Today All - USA First Team player . Bryant's varsity coach, Greg Downer, commented that he was "a complete player who dominates" and praised his work ethic, even as the team's top player . In 1996, Bryant took R&B singer Brandy to his senior prom, though the two were, and remain, just friends . Ultimately, however, the 17 - year - old Bryant made the decision to go directly into the NBA, only the sixth player in NBA history to do so . Bryant's news was met with a lot of publicity at a time when prep - to - pro NBA players were not very common (Garnett being the only exception in 20 years). His basketball skills and SAT score of 1080 would have ensured admission to any college he chose, but he did not officially visit any campuses . In 2012, Bryant was honored as one of the 35 Greatest McDonald's All - Americans . </P> <P> The first guard to ever be taken out of high school, Bryant was chosen as the 13th overall draft pick by the Charlotte Hornets in 1996 . According to Arn Tellem, Bryant's agent at the time, Bryant playing for the Charlotte Hornets was "an impossibility". However, Bill Branch, the Hornets' head scout at the time, said that the Hornets agreed to trade their draft selection to the Los Angeles Lakers before picking Bryant . The teams agreed to the trade the day before the draft and the Lakers told the Hornets whom to select five minutes before the pick was made . Branch said that prior to the trade agreement, the Hornets never even considered drafting Bryant . Prior to the draft, Bryant had worked out in Los Angeles, where he scrimmaged against former Lakers players Larry Drew and Michael Cooper and, according to then - Laker manager Jerry West, "marched over these people". On July 1, 1996, West traded his starting center, Vlade Divac, to the Hornets in exchange for Bryant's draft rights . Since he was still 17 at the time of the draft, his parents had to cosign his contract with the Lakers until he was able to sign his own when he turned 18 before the season began . </P> <P> Bryant debuted in the Summer Pro League in Long Beach, California, scoring 25 points in front of a standing - room - only crowd . Defenders struggled to get in front of him, and his performance excited West and Lakers coach Del Harris . He scored 36 points in the finale, and finished with averages of 24.5 points and 5.3 rebounds in four game . As a rookie in 1996--97, Bryant mostly came off the bench behind guards Eddie Jones and Nick Van Exel . At the time he became the youngest player ever to play in an NBA game (18 years, 72 days; a record since broken by Jermaine O'Neal and former teammate Andrew Bynum), and also became the youngest NBA starter ever (18 years, 158 days). Initially, Bryant played limited minutes, but as the season continued, he began to see some more playing time . By the end of the season, he averaged 15.5 minutes a game . During the All - Star weekend, Bryant participated in the Rookie Challenge and won the 1997 Slam Dunk Contest, becoming the youngest dunk champion ever at the age of 18 . Bryant's performance throughout the year earned him a spot on the NBA All - Rookie Second Team with fellow bench teammate Travis Knight . The Lakers advanced to the Western Conference semifinals in the playoffs against the Utah Jazz, when Bryant was pressed into a lead role at the end of Game 5 . Byron Scott missed the game with a sprained wrist, Robert Horry was ejected for fighting with the Utah's Jeff Hornacek, and Shaquille O'Neal fouled out with 1: 46 remaining in the fourth quarter . Bryant shot four air balls at the end of the game; the Jazz won 98--93 in overtime to eliminate the Lakers 4--1 . He first whiffed a game - winning 2 - point jump shot in the fourth quarter, and then misfired three three - point field goals in overtime, including two tying shots in the final minute . O'Neal commented that "(Bryant) was the only guy who had the guts at the time to take shots like that ." </P> <P> In Bryant's second season, he received more playing time and began to show more of his abilities as a talented young guard . As a result, Bryant's point averages more than doubled from 7.6 to 15.4 points per game . Bryant would see an increase in minutes when the Lakers "played small", which would feature Bryant playing small forward alongside the guards he would usually back up . Bryant was the runner - up for the NBA's Sixth Man of the Year Award, and through fan voting, he also became the youngest NBA All - Star starter in NBA history . He was joined by teammates O'Neal, Van Exel, and Jones, making it the first time since 1983 that four players on the same team were selected to play in the same All - Star Game . Bryant's 15.4 points per game was the highest of any non-starter in the season . </P>

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