Stadumier was the 9th pick in the 2002 draft and the first high school player in NBA history to be named Rookie of the Year. However, his award was controversial. His stats and efficiency weren't better than Caron Butler's or Yao Ming's… but he ultimately won because his team made the playoffs.
Despite being drafted out of high school, he didn't really have an age advantage, as he was already 20 when he entered the league. Su Xi, who played two years of college, was a year younger when he joined. After all, Stadumier had spent six years in high school, attending five different schools.
Stadumier was physically gifted. His explosiveness and leaping ability were in the super-talent tier, and his agility, coordination, strength, and speed were all excellent. He was a high-flying, explosive power forward, and many commentators believed he had the potential to surpass the heights of Kemp.
