Phenom Dubbed ‘Next Michael Jordan’ Never Made NBA Despite Beating Kobe Bryant

A youngster once tipped to be one of the NBA's brightest stars ultimately failed to make the grade, despite defeating Kobe Bryant in high school and drawing comparisons to Michael Jordan.

For many basketball fans, Jordan is the greatest player of all time, so whenever a player is compared to the Chicago Bulls legend, it naturally receives attention.

During the mid-1990s, Schea Cotton was widely regarded as one of the most promising high school basketball players in the United States.

And in 1995, he reportedly got the better of Bryant in a one-on-one.

Bryant would go on to win five NBA championships and became a two-time MVP during his 20 year career with the LA Lakers.

Cotton said: “We developed a bond from that point, because I don’t know if he ever played against a guy who went at him like I did.

"I felt the same way about his encounter with me. I said, wow, this guy just kept coming at me, even after he knew that I’d got the better end, he just kept coming.

"And I loved that, because that’s how I was as a player. I didn’t back down from anybody.”

Schea Cotton (Image: Getty)

Cotton also dunked on future MVP Kevin Garnett three times during an AAU game, further cementing his reputation as an emerging talent.

Given the potential he had shown as a youngster, expectations were high for what he could achieve in the game.

But a combination of a shoulder injury in high school, and the NCAA's decision to bar him from collegiate competition proved to be major setbacks.

Cotton suffered with learning difficulties and was therefore allowed extra visual aides to assist with his SATs.

Although they were approved by the examination board, the NCAA - the board that govern American college sport - ruled his results to be fraudulent and barred him from playing collegiate basketball.

Schea Cotton at high school (Image: Getty)

He eventually won a legal case against the NCAA and earned a scholarship to the University of Alabama, where he played for one year.

Cotton entered the NBA Draft in 2000, but was not selected.

He went on to spend 10 years playing professionally in Europe, China and the minor American leagues, including a stint with the Harlem Globetrotters.

Now 47, Cotton has set up a foundation aimed at passing on the lessons of his career to young players starting out in the sport.

He also works as a basketball trainer and coach in Los Angeles.

In 2016, he also premiered his own documentary, Manchild: The Schea Cotton Story.

It tells the story of his rise as a high school star and the disappointment at not making the NBA.