KobeBryantfirststartedturningheadsonthebasketballcourtwhenhewasinmiddleschool.HistalentsdominatedthegamesomuchthathighschoolsfromalloverthePhiladelphiaareawatchedhimgrowup.Thealmostsix-foottallseventhgraderdefinitelyhadthemake-upandgenesforthegame,ashisdadwasformerNBAforward,JoeBryant.Kobedevelopedhisbasketballskillsunderthewatchfuleyeofhisfather,helpinghismissiontobecomeaprofessionalbasketballplayer.Heworkeddailyonhisgame,watchingvideo,playingintheplaygroundsandlisteningtohisfather.

　　WhenheenteredhighschoolatLowerMarioninPhiladelphia,Kobewasahighlytoutedrecruit.Heprovedthathehadtheskillsandworkethictobeastaratthenextlevelandthescoutsnoticedthis.Kobedidn'tletanybodydowneither,asheplayedonthevarsitybasketballteamhisfreshmanyear.Hewouldn'timmediatelybeasuperstar,though.RatheritwasthecountlesshoursofearlymorningworkoutsbyhimselfinthegymnasiumthatescalatedKobe'stalents.

　　KobebecameabetterplayereveryyearheplayedatLowerMarionandsoonenough,hehaddevelopedintooneofthepremiertalentsatthehighschoollevel.Hesoldoutthegameseverywhereheplayedduringhisjuniorandsenioryearsandhedidn'tdisappointanyone.Heoncepackedtheschoolgymsomuchthatitcausedatrafficjamonthemainhighwayjustoutsidetheschool.

　　Hewentontofinishhishighschoolcareerastheall-timeleadingpointscorerinPennsylvaniahistorywithatotalof2,883points.Kobe'shighlydecoratedhighschoolcareermadehimthe13thoverallchoicebytheCharlotteHornetsinthe1996NBAdraft.