But the now 6'10” phenom had already committed to play for a local AAU team, the Jackson Tigers, so he turned down the offer thousands of kids across the country dream of.

"He's done some things a lot of kids wouldn't do," said University of Arkansas' head coach Stan Heath. "It took a lot of loyalty to play with the AAU team he'd been playing with. That showed me something."

Heath was hoping to bag the man-child from Prentiss for his rebuilding program, and Al had narrowed down his top three college choices to LSU, Mississippi State and Arkansas after his junior year ended.

Al's AAU uni: the Jackson Tigers.

 He scheduled visits with all three schools, with Arkansas the first on the docket.

"Arkansas was the first campus we visited, and it was very impressive," Ceroy Jefferson said. "He wanted to go to a university (program) that was rebuilding, and that was a strong drawing card. The facilities there were unbelievable, the campus was unbelievable, and they have an academic counselor who travels with the team, and he makes sure that even when they're on the road that their work gets done. They knew exactly what to tell me."

"On the way back, he told me, 'my mind's made up. That's where I want to go.' And he canceled his other two visits.”

His mind made up to join the Razorbacks after graduation, Al received an invitation at the end of the summer to attend the great Michael Jordan's basketball camp in California. At the end of the camp, Jordan divided the campers up into two squads for a pickup game, and Al had the good fortune on being on No. 23's side. The high schooler with a moment he'd never forget.

"Michael told me the play before, 'Big man, run the floor and I'll feed you.' About the time I got down the court, the ball was coming for me.”

The result was a ferocious alley-oop dunk, off a feed from His Airness.

“Twenty years from now, I can tell my kids about it," Al said at the time.

But the experience raised more questions than excitement.

Did it prove he was ready to play with the big boys in the NBA? Was college the right decision?

"Michael Jordan told me the play before, 'Big man, run the floor and I'll feed you.' About the time I got down the court, the ball
was coming for me.”Pro scouts from virtually every NBA organization made the pilgrimage to Prentiss to see Big Al torch opponents as a high school senior. He didn't disappoint, dominating his competition and earning a spot in the McDonald's All-American game, as well as All-American nods from Parade and USA Today. He was also named a finalist for the Naismith Award, awarded to the nation's top prep school player, and was named Mr. Basketball in the state of Mississippi.

Averaging 44 points over the course of his decorated high school career proved Al was ready to take on the college game. But after consulting with his friends and family, he decided to forego his scholarship to Arkansas, and pursue his dreams by entering the NBA Draft.

Big Al was going pro.

WELCOME TO BEANTOWN

The Jefferson clan turned out to the Big Apple in full force for draft day in June of 2004, and with good reason. Al had received a commitment from the Miami Heat they would select him if he fell as far as the 19'th pick, so he had the comfort of knowing he'd be a first-round selection.

But as the first round wore on, nervousness began to creep in. After over an hour of waiting, Chris Wallace, the Celtics' general manager, phoned Al's agent to tell him Boston would select him with the next pick.

Al at the Boston Celtics 2004 post-draft press conference (Getty Images).

When commissioner David Stern called his name as the 15th pick, the Jefferson family rejoiced. Al would be playing alongside players he'd grown up idolizing; Paul Pierce, Gary Payton, and Ricky Davis among others. His dream had come true, and he was officially an NBA ballplayer.

Now, it was time to get down to business.

“So they called my name," he thought to himself. "Now it's time to prove myself—that I'm a man in this league."

HIGHS AND LOWS

Being the first high school player ever be drafted by the storied Boston Celtics carries a boatload of expectations, but Al proved from the moment he arrived in training camp he was up to the task.