Editor's note: Introducing the first of an occasional series that will look an Arizona high school's five all-time greatest athletes as chosen by the Republic. It's not just about what they did in high school, but will also consider their entire body of work in athletics. We call it "Forever Five."
Phoenix Shadow Mountain
The Matadors produced some of the state's most decorated athletes in five different sports: an Olympic gold medalist, a World Series champion, an NCAA champion, an Indy 500 champion, a World Cup soccer player.
No. 1 Mike Bibby, basketball, 1996
During his four-year run, making All-Arizona each of his four seasons and was Player of the Year the last three, Bibby carved his spot not only in history as being the greatest high school player all-time in Arizona. Just being No. 1 all-time in his own school was a tough task, considering Shadow Mountain produced future Olympic champion swimmer Misty Hyman was a class behind Bibby at Shadow Mountain. A decade before that, Shadow Mountain had Curt Schilling on the mound in baseball and he went on to big things, including being a huge part of the Arizona Diamondbacks' only World Series title. Bibby set state single-season and all-time scoring records during his time at Shadow Mountain, before helping lead the University of Arizona to its only NCAA basketball championship his freshman year. He went on to a 14-year NBA career, most notably with the Sacramento Kings.
No. 2 Misty Hyman, swimming, 1997
She got into swimming at her doctor's recommendation to fight asthma. As it turns out, she was a natural in the pool, revolutionizing the dolphin kick under the tutelage of AFOX club coach Bob Gillett that led her to a gold medal in the 200-meter butterfly at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. Hyman had no peers during her prep career, setting national public-school records in both the 100-yard butterfly (52.41 seconds) and the 100 backstroke (53.68). She went on to become one of the greatest female swimmers in Stanford history, capturing nine NCAA championships in her first three years.
No. 3 Curt Schilling, baseball, 1985
Probably the only thing that keeps him from being atop this list is that his high school career wasn't as great as those of Bibby and Hyman. Schilling helped lead Shadow Mountain to the big-schools state semifinals his senior season as a big right-hander, but much of the attention at the time on that Shadow Mountain team was on another pitcher, David Cassidy, the team's closer. Schilling never lacked confidence in high school and it only grew once he got to Yavapai College in Prescott then with the Philadelphia Phillies, Arizona Diamondbacks and Boston Red Sox. He participated in the World Series with all three clubs, winning three World Series championship: with the Diamondbacks in 2001 and with the Red Sox in 2004 and '07.
No. 4 Robbie Findley, soccer, 2003
A wizard on the soccer field, he was a fleet-footed scoring machine who never met a high school opponent he didn't feel he could beat to the net, scoring from all angles. Findley's pro soccer career only ended two years ago. Now he teaches the game in the Valley. After starring at Oregon State, he turned pro in 2007 with Major League Soccer's Los Angeles Galaxy. In 2011, Findley joined English club team Nottingham Forest FC. Maybe his greatest success came with Real Salt Lake, where he was part of the MLS Cup championship in 2009. He made the United States men's national team in 2007 and was chosen to play in the 2010 World Cup for the USA.
No. 5 Buddy Rice, auto racing, 1994
Before he won the Indianapolis 500 in 2004, Rice was a pretty good high school baseball player, who had major-league scouts following him as a sophomore. But after he turned 16, his passion for auto racing became his focus, and took him out of high school. He started his pro racing career in 1996, finishing eighth in his first race. He won his first race in 1997 in Las Vegas. His last Indy 500 race came in 2011.
To suggest human-interest story ideas and other news, reach Obert at richard.obert@arizonarepublic.com or 602-316-8827. Follow him on Twitter @azc_obert.
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