You see him now, draped in Celtics green or Olympic gold, hitting step-back jumpers that look like they belong in a video game. But before the Garden was chanting his name, Jayson Tatum was a skinny kid in St. Louis just trying to figure out how to balance high-level hoops with a rigorous prep school workload.
So, what highschool did jayson tatum go to?
He spent all four years at Chaminade College Preparatory School in Creve Coeur, Missouri. It wasn't just a place where he played ball; it was the foundation of everything he is today. Honestly, the story of how he ended up there—and why he stayed despite a massive push to leave—is a lot more interesting than most fans realize.
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The Chaminade Choice: Why Not CBC?
Most people assume a kid with Tatum’s talent would just go wherever his dad was. His father, Justin Tatum, was the head coach at Christian Brothers College High School (CBC), a rival powerhouse in the same area. You’d think it was a no-brainer. Son plays for dad, they win a title together, storybook stuff, right?
Not exactly.
Jayson's mom, Brandy Cole, was the driving force behind the decision to stick with Chaminade. She wanted him in a specific academic environment. Chaminade is known for being tough. We’re talking a "college prep" curriculum that actually means something. Tatum has been open about the fact that he struggled at first. While his classmates were often coming from significantly more privileged backgrounds, he was grinding to keep up with the books while his recruitment started blowing up.
Basically, his mom knew that if he could handle the pressure of Chaminade’s classrooms, he could handle anything the NBA threw at him. It worked. Even as he became the number one recruit in the state, he maintained a B average.
A Resume That Looks Like a Typo
If you look at Jayson Tatum's high school stats, they almost don't look real. By the time he was a senior in 2016, he was basically a cheat code.
He didn't just play well; he dominated. As a senior, he averaged 29.6 points and 9.1 rebounds. He wasn't just stat-padding against weak teams, either. He was dropping 40-point games against the best competition in the country. He actually had six different games where he hit the 40-point mark in his final year.
The crowning achievement? Leading the Red Devils to the Missouri Class 5A state championship in 2016. In that title game, he didn't shrink. He dropped 40 points to seal the win.
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The Hardware Collection
- Gatorade National Player of the Year (2016)
- McDonald’s All-American
- Jordan Brand Classic Selection
- 2,676 career points (Chaminade’s all-time leading scorer)
- 1,028 career rebounds
It's wild to think about. He left that school as the most decorated player in Missouri history, but he wasn't the only star to walk those halls.
The Bradley Beal Connection and Famous Classmates
One of the reasons Tatum ended up at Chaminade was a guy named Bradley Beal.
When Jayson was just a 7th grader, Beal was the superstar senior at Chaminade. They shared a mentor in Drew Hanlen, and Tatum basically used Beal as a blueprint for how to navigate the hype. They’re still close today, often referred to as the "St. Louis brothers" in NBA circles.
But the sports talent in those hallways wasn't limited to the basketball court. Get this: Tatum was actually in the same gym class as Matthew Tkachuk, the NHL superstar. Imagine being the teacher in that class. You’ve got a future NBA champion and a future Stanley Cup winner probably arguing over a game of dodgeball.
He also played alongside Tyler Cook, who went on to play at Iowa and had stints in the NBA. The talent density at that school during the mid-2010s was just absurd.
The Recruitment Drama You Forgot
By 2015, every major program was knocking on the door. It eventually came down to a few heavy hitters: Duke, North Carolina, Kentucky, and the local favorite, Saint Louis University (SLU).
Both of his parents actually went to SLU, and there was a huge local push for him to stay home and be the savior of the Billikens program. You can imagine the pressure. A hometown hero staying to play for his parents' alma mater? The narrative was perfect.
But Jayson had other plans. He wanted to pair up with fellow top recruit Harry Giles. On July 12, 2015, he made the call to go to Duke. It was a move that solidified his path to the top of the 2017 NBA Draft.
Why This Matters for Your Game
If you're a young player looking at Tatum’s journey, the "where" matters less than the "how." He stayed local. He stayed at a school that challenged him academically. He didn't jump to a "basketball factory" academy in another state just to get more views on YouTube.
He stayed in St. Louis, played for Chaminade, and became a legend in his own backyard.
Next Steps to Follow the Tatum Blueprint:
- Prioritize Academics Early: Tatum nearly struggled out of the gate at Chaminade. If you want to play at a high-major school like Duke, your transcript needs to be as clean as your jumper.
- Find a Mentor: Find a local player who has "made it" (like Tatum did with Beal) and study their work ethic, not just their highlights.
- Stay the Course: Tatum was pressured to transfer to his dad's school or go to a national prep academy. He stayed loyal to his path at Chaminade and it paid off with a state title and a #3 overall pick.