2003 Atlanta Celtics
Coach: "Chief" Wallace Prather
Players: Dwight Howard (NBA), Josh Smith (NBA), Randolph Morris (NBA), Jarvis Crittenton (NBA), Brandon Rush (NBA), Mike Mercer (Georgia), Montavious Waters (South Floria), Dwayne Day (South Carolina), Ousmane Konate (South Carolina), Clifford Clinkscales (DePaul)
Sponsor: Adidas
The Atlanta Celtics have always been a core part of the city. Alongside Outkast, Ludacris, Jermaine Dupri and Dominique Wilkins, the Celtics represent Atlanta's cultural and athletic pride. The 2003 squad became one of the most dominant summer teams of all time, finishing the season with a 69 and 1 record. Dwight Howard and Josh Smith both entered the NBA straight from high school the following year.
Howard was widely regarded as the top player in the class of 2004. Smith was ranked in the top five and Randolph Morris was a consensus top fifteen prospect. Together, they led one of the most talented teams to ever compete on the summer circuit. Smith and Howard anchored the most physically imposing frontcourt in grassroots basketball. The team was built around size, skill and unmatched depth. With five future NBA players, no other team in the country had their level of talent in 2003.
Howard, Smith and Morris once referred to themselves as the "Three Musketeers." Most teams would have been satisfied with a strong front line, but the Celtics also had a loaded backcourt. Jarvis Crittenton, Mike Mercer and Brandon Rush all played major roles on the perimeter.
Smith and Howard were born just three days apart in 1985. They went to preschool together and played at the same neighborhood recreation center growing up. Although they attended different high schools, they reunited on the Atlanta Celtics and helped elevate the program to new heights. Both would go on to long NBA careers.
Not since Chris Webber’s Super Friends out of Detroit had one summer team featured so much elite local talent. The 2003 Atlanta Celtics left a legacy that still stands as one of the best ever in amateur basketball.
2003 Summer AAU Tournaments (69-1)
"We traveled like rock stars. When we arrived at airports, people wanted our autographs. They wanted pictures. It was amazing". - Montavious Waters
The Atlanta Celtics took the country by storm in 2003. They played against elite programs like Speice Indiana (featuring Greg Oden and Mike Conley), the Southern California All Stars (Taylor King and Chase Budinger), and D-One Greyhounds (OJ Mayo and Bill Walker). The Celtics were part of a loaded era in AAU basketball. Earlier in their careers the group had played against the likes of LeBron James and Kendrick Perkins suited up for the Oakland Soldiers, and Chris Paul played for the Kappa Magic in North Carolina.
In the final two weeks of July, the Celtics won 17 of 18 games. They went 10 and 0 at the Adidas Big Time Tournament in Las Vegas, rolling through a 128-team field to win the title. Dwight Howard and Josh Smith shared MVP honors. The team followed that up by winning seven straight at the Best of the Summer event in Los Angeles before falling in the semifinals.
University of Connecticut assistant coach George Blaney, then 63, said what many were thinking: “The best summer team I’ve ever seen.”
At the Big Time Tournament in Las Vegas, the Celtics won every game but one by at least 20 points. They set the team scoring record for the event. Howard and Smith shared MVP honors, and Randolph Morris and Mike Mercer were named to the all-tournament team.
The Best of the Summer in Los Angeles marked the final event the Celtics core would play together. By that point, the team had spent 18 of 24 days on the road. On the night before their semifinal loss, Dwight Howard called his mom in Atlanta and told her, “I just want to get back to my own bed.” The next morning, the Celtics lost to Pump N Run, a Southern California team led by guards Jordan Farmar and Bryce Taylor. Farmar and Taylor controlled the pace and kept the game away from the frontcourt.
Atlanta Celtics Dominated The 2004 Georgia Tech Team
Paul Hewitt still laughs when he remembers what happened.
It was the summer of 2003. Hewitt was the head coach at Georgia Tech, preparing a team that would go on to reach the national championship game in 2004. That summer, several players from that future Final Four roster were in the gym during a local camp, which also featured a group of 17-year-olds from the Atlanta Celtics.
At the end of the camp, the Celtics squared off in a pickup game against the Georgia Tech players. The college group included key pieces like Luke Schenscher and Jarrett Jack.
“Long story short, they did a number on our guys,” Hewitt said. “They had their way with our guys, especially Dwight. He had his way with our big guys. It was really something.”
Coach Wallace Prather
One of the main reasons the Atlanta Celtics were so prepared and successful was their coach, Wallace Prather. He passed away from a heart attack in July 2005.
Years later, when Josh Smith joined the Detroit Pistons, someone from the front office showed him something unexpected. It was a binder of scouting notes written by Prather during the high school years of Smith, Dwight Howard, and Randolph Morris. The notes were used by college coaches who were recruiting the players.
“It was like he was predicting the future,” Smith said. “He let me open the binder and really read up on what he felt about me, what he felt about Dwight, and what he felt about Randolph Morris. It was just special to read, to be able to see how much he knew me — more than I thought.”
“It’s hard to go into detail. It was fun, but it almost brought tears to my eyes. He was such a special person in my life.” - Josh Smith
Atlanta Celtics Stars
C - Dwight Howard (NBA)
Recruiting Ranking: #1 Class of 2004
High School: Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy, Atlanta, GA
NBA Draft: 2004, First Round, First Overall
NBA Honors: 3-time Defensive Player of the Year, 5-time All-NBA First Team, 8-time All-Star, NBA Champion
Dwight Howard was the foundation of the 2003 Atlanta Celtics. He was the most physically dominant big man in high school basketball and a clear number one prospect in the 2004 class.
Howard was known for his athleticism, strength, and defensive ability, but he also had a complete offensive game. He could score in the post, hit short jumpers, pass out of double teams, and was nearly impossible to keep off the offensive glass. His jump hook, which he could shoot with either hand, was one of his signature moves. He was also one of the most effective alley-oop finishers in high school history.
Howard’s ambidexterity stood out. He would pass with his left hand, shoot with his right, and block shots with either. He developed this skill after breaking his left wrist in eighth grade and being forced to train with his off hand.
During his senior season at Southwest Atlanta Christian, he averaged 25 points, 18 rebounds, 8 blocks, and 3.5 assists per game, leading his team to a 31 and 2 record and a state championship. He swept every major national player of the year award, including the Morgan Wootten, Naismith, and Gatorade honors.
Despite early speculation about other prospects like Emeka Okafor, Howard was ultimately selected first overall in the 2004 NBA Draft by the Orlando Magic. He went on to have one of the most accomplished careers of any big man drafted between 2000 and 2010.
Howard played 18 seasons in the NBA, made eight All-Star appearances, won three Defensive Player of the Year awards, earned five All-NBA First Team selections, and captured an NBA championship with the Los Angeles Lakers.
As Sonny Vaccaro, founder of the Adidas ABCD Camp and Big Time tournament director, put it at the time: “You’d have to be blind not to see this kid is as good as anyone. Dwight is the most versatile big man I’ve seen since I started doing this. That includes Alonzo Mourning, Shawn Kemp, and Shaq. Dwight will be the number one pick. I’ve never been more sure of anything besides LeBron.”
PF - Randolph Morris (NBA)
Recruiting Ranking: # 10 Class of 2004
High School: Landmark Christian School, Fairburn, GA
College: Kentucky (2004–2007)
NBA Draft: 2005 undrafted; signed with New York Knicks in March 2007
Despite being less physically imposing and less athletic than Josh Smith or Dwight Howard, Morris brought elite size and polished footwork to the Atlanta Celtics. At 6-11 and 270 pounds, he averaged around 25 points, 16 rebounds, and 4.5 blocks per game during his senior season at Landmark Christian, establishing himself as a dominant inside presence. He weighed both options: entering the NBA draft directly or playing college basketball. He ultimately chose Kentucky over Georgia Tech and other top programs, joining a recruiting class that included Joe Crawford and Rajon Rondo.
In college, Morris made steady progress. He averaged 8.8 points and 4.2 rebounds per game as a freshman, then improved to 13.3 points and 6 rebounds in his sophomore season. As a junior, he posted 16.1 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks per game and was named first-team All-SEC. He declared for the 2005 NBA draft without hiring an agent, went undrafted, and returned to school. In March 2007, he signed with the Knicks and became the first player to go from NCAA to NBA in the same week.
After a brief stint with the Hawks, Morris went on to have a successful professional career overseas. He played for the Beijing Ducks in the Chinese Basketball Association, winning three league titles and earning Finals MVP honors.
SF - Josh Smith (NBA)
Recruiting Ranking: #4 Class of 2004
High School: Oak Hill Academy, Mouth of Wilson, VA (Originally from College Park, GA)
NBA Draft: 2004, First Round, 17th Overall
NBA Honors: 2010 NBA All-Defensive Second Team, 2005 NBA All-Rookie Second Team, 2005 NBA Slam Dunk Contest Champion
Josh Smith was one of the most athletic players in the country and a constant matchup problem. He played well above the rim but also had the skill to step out and hit three-point shots. Smith could score at all three levels and was especially active during the summer of 2003, when he played for the Atlanta Celtics alongside Dwight Howard.
Smith began his high school career at John McEachern High School in Powder Springs, Georgia, where he played with future NBA guard Morris Almond. At McEachern, Smith showed versatility on both ends of the floor. He could block shots, initiate offense in transition, and score in the post or from the outside. For his senior year, he transferred to Oak Hill Academy in Virginia, one of the top prep programs in the country. The move allowed him to further develop his perimeter game and play on a national stage.
Smith originally committed to Indiana, but after a strong AAU season and growing speculation about his NBA potential, he chose to go pro. He was selected by the Atlanta Hawks with the 17th overall pick in the 2004 NBA Draft. Smith went on to play 13 seasons in the NBA and was known for his athleticism, defensive versatility, and highlight-reel dunks.
Off the court, Smith later shared that he transferred in part due to a strained relationship with his previous high school coach, who he said withheld recruiting letters and limited his exposure.
SG - Mike Mercer (Georgia)
Recruiting Ranking: # 22 Class of 2005
High School: South Gwinnett High School, Snellville, GA
College Career: Georgia (2005–2007), South Florida (2008–2010)
Mike Mercer starred in the backcourt at South Gwinnett High School alongside future NBA player Louis Williams. During his senior year, he averaged nearly 20 points, eight assists, and six rebounds per game, leading his team to a deep run in the Georgia state tournament. Mercer was regarded as one of the top point guards nationally. For the Celtics Mercer was a long range threat that helped to keep opposing defenses honest.
After high school, Mercer committed to the University of Georgia where he played two seasons. He improved his scoring each year before suffering a season-ending injury his sophomore year. He then transferred to the University of South Florida for his final two college seasons, starting nearly every game and helping the team compete in the Big East Conference.
Following college, Mercer pursued a professional career overseas, competing in leagues in Canada, Germany, and Australia. He earned All-SEABL honors in 2013, marking a successful international career.
PG - Jarvis Crittenton (NBA)
Recruiting Ranking: #13 Class of 2006
High School: Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy, Atlanta, GA
College: Georgia Tech (2006–2007)
College Stats: 14.4 points, 5.8 assists, 4.4 rebounds per game
NBA Draft: 2007, First Round, 19th Overall
Jarvis Crittenton’s story is well documented. As a sophomore in 2003, he played major minutes off the bench for the Atlanta Celtics. During his high school career, he teamed with Dwight Howard at Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy, forming one of the best inside-outside duos in the country. Together, they led Southwest Atlanta Christian to a state championship. Crittenton was a crucial addition to the Celtics roster, providing much-needed depth at guard. He contributed as a ball handler and outside shooter.
By his junior year in 2005, Crittenton averaged 28.4 points, 7.5 assists, and 8.2 rebounds per game. He went on to have a strong high school career before committing to Georgia Tech. In his only college season, he averaged 14.4 points, 5.8 assists, and 4.4 rebounds.
His NBA career did not unfold as many expected. Off-court incidents, including involvement in a gun-related issue and a murder charge, interrupted his career trajectory. Despite these setbacks, Crittenton remains determined not to let those mistakes define him.
6th - Brandon Rush (NBA)
Recruiting Ranking: #13 Class of 2005
High School: Mt. Zion Academy, Kansas City, MO
College: University of Kansas (2005–2008)
NBA Draft: 2008, First Round, 13th Overall
NBA Career Stats: Averaged 4.6 points per game
Rush comes from a strong basketball family in Kansas City. His older brother Jaron was a top-five prospect who committed to UCLA before encountering off-court issues. Another brother, Kareem Rush, had a record-breaking career at the University of Missouri and was a first-round pick by the Los Angeles Lakers.
At the time, Kansas City’s AAU scene was in turmoil. The city’s top team faced serious legal troubles and allegations, leaving the local basketball community in a difficult position. Rush provided much needed swingman depth for the Celtics.
Rush went on to play college basketball at the University of Kansas, where he contributed to the 2008 National Championship team.
He played nine seasons in the NBA, averaging 4.6 points per game, and won an NBA title with the Golden State Warriors in 2016.
Atlanta Celtics Still Going Strong
Louis Williams, then a junior, could easily have been part of the Atlanta Celtics. Instead, he chose to play for the Georgia Stars, a Nike-sponsored team. The amount of talent coming out of Georgia at that time was remarkable. Williams was the top-ranked guard in the class of 2004.
The glory days of the 2003 Atlanta Celtics are still remembered fondly by both the NBA megastars and the players who never played at the next level.
"With my shortcomings and being one of the ones who didn't make it into the NBA, that's been the highlight of my basketball career - just playing with those guys. Just because of the memories and the brotherhood that we all had with each other."
Smith, Howard and Morris regularly stayed in touch throughout there playing career, despite Morris playing in Beijing. They were in touch with Crittenton, even during his prison term.
The Celtics AAU organization is going strong. Josh Smith is involved with the group, spending time with them every summer. Every year, they turn out players who end up shining in college or the pros. The 2003 collection of talent is easily the greatest assemblance of High School Basketball talent the south has ever seen.
