When he was thirteen, Lew Alcindor was 6-foot-8, and college scouts were already eyeing him. At Power Memorial Academy, he scored 2,067 points and had 2,002 rebounds as he led the team to 53 consecutive victories.After earning three All-America selections at Power Memorial High School, where he guided the team to a 95-6 record, Abdul-Jabbar became part of one of the greatest teams in the history of college basketball. Under Hall of Fame coach John Wooden, Abdul-Jabbar guided the UCLA Bruins to a three-year mark of 88-2, three consecutive NCAA titles (1967-69) and was the first and only player to be named the NCAA Tournament's Most Outstanding Player three times.The three-time college All-America simply ruled the game at the college level, earning the title of College Player of the Year from 1967 to 1969 from The Sporting News, United Press International

The Associated Press and the U.S. Basketball Writers Association. Upon the time of his graduation, Abdul-Jabbar was the Bruins' all-time leading scorer with 2,325 points.In only his first of a stellar 20-year career, one that saw Abdul-Jabbar play no less than 65 games a season, the smooth and competitive seven-footer was named NBA Rookie of the Year after averaging 28.8 ppg and 14.5 rebounds for the Milwaukee Bucks. Abdul-Jabbar became an instant force in the league, bringing finesse and agility to the center position, which had previously seen brute force and strength as the rule. With superior physical fitness and skill, Abdul-Jabbar joined with the "Big O," Oscar Robertson, to capture Milwaukee's only NBA title in 1971. Abdul-Jabbar averaged 30 or more points in four of his six years with the Bucks and was named the NBA's Most Valuable Player in 1971, 1972 and 1974.
Alcindor was recruited by more than two hundred colleges. He chose UCLA, where he played for the legendary John Wooden. With Alcindor starting at center, UCLA won three consecutive NCAA championships, 1967 through 1969, and Alcindor was named the tournament's most valuable player, as well as an All-American, all three years. He scored a total of 2,325 points, averaging 26.4 a game, at UCLA.