Allen Iverson

"Being an all-star is everything." Allen Iverson was born in Hampton, Virginia. He grew up poor; his dad left and his mom had him when she was just 15 years old. Allen Iverson is and always will be, known as one of the greatest point guards of all time. From Philly to Denver to Detroit to Memphis, he will always be remembered no matter where he plays.

Allen Iverson attended Bethel High School; where he started as quarterback for the school football team, while also playing running back, kick returner and defensive back. He also started as point guard for the school basketball team. During his junior year, Allen lead both teams to Virginia state championships, as well as earning The Associated Press High School Player of the Year award in both sports. On February 14, 1993, Iverson and several of his friends became involved in an altercation with a group of white teenagers at the Circle Lanes bowling alley in Hampton, Virginia. Allegedly, Iverson's crowd was loud and had to be asked to quiet down several times, and eventually a shouting duel began with another group of youths. Shortly after, a huge fight erupted, pitting the white crowd against the African Americans. During the fight, Iverson allegedly struck a woman in the head with a chair. He, along with three of his friends who are also black, was the only people arrested. Iverson, who was 17 at the time, was convicted as an adult of the felony charge of maiming by mob, Iverson and his supporters maintained his innocence, claiming that he left the alley as soon as the trouble began. He was sentenced to 15 years in prison, but it was eventually overturned and they got out in 4 months.

Iverson averaged three steals per game and winning the Big East Defensive Player of the Year award in both of his two years at Georgetown University. In his first season at Georgetown, Iverson won the Big East Rookie of the Year award and was named to the All Rookie Tournament First Team. That season, Iverson led the Hoyas to the Sweet 16 round of the NCAA tournament, where they would lose to North Carolina. In his second season at Georgetown, Iverson would lead the team to a Big East championship and all the way to the Elite 8 round of the NCAA tournament, where they would lose to the University of Massachusetts. He ended his college career as the Hoyas' all-time leader in career scoring average, at 22.9 points per game. Iverson would be named as a First Team All American.

At the end of his sophomore year, Iverson declared for the NBA Draft. He would be the first player to leave Georgetown early for the NBA under Coach Thompson. After two seasons at Georgetown, Iverson was selected first overall by the Philadelphia 76ers in the 1996 NBA Draft. Listed at 6 ft 0 in tall, Iverson became the shortest first overall pick ever. He was named rookie of the year and selected on the NBA all rookie first team, and later was selected to the Eastern Conference All-Star team for the first time, but he would turn out to be on the all-star team 11 other times. In 2001 he won the MVP (most valuable player) only given to the best player of that year. In 2006 he was traded to the Denver Nuggets, and played 2 year there. After Denver he went to the Detroit Pistons, and changed his number to number 1, he had been number 3 his whole professional basketball days. He then went to Memphis Grizzlies for a year, and his final year went back to Philadelphia but his 5 year old daughter had some health issues so he retired early. He is now playing basketball overseas in Turkey.

Allen Iverson will always be remembered, and will never be forgotten. He is an inspiration to all inner city kids who want to go pro. After 14 long years in the NBA he has done more than almost any other player to play the game.