Everyone remembers the stars who make the NBA.

But Western Pennsylvania basketball has produced countless elite players whose impact on the game deserves to be remembered.

Malik Hightower was one of them.

A 6-foot-3 high-flying guard, Hightower possessed explosive athleticism that made him one of the most exciting players in the country during the early 1990s. A Pittsburgh North Side native, he attended Vincentian as a freshman and sophomore before transferring to Solebury School near Philadelphia. For his senior season, however, he returned home to suit up for Perry Traditional Academy—a decision that helped create one of the most talented teams Western Pennsylvania has ever seen.

Perry wasn’t simply good. It was must-see basketball.

Alongside future DePaul standout Will Macon and Vermont star Eddie Benton, Hightower helped lead the Commodores to the 1991 PIAA state championship, including a memorable victory over a loaded Blackhawk team led by future North Carolina and professional standout Dante Calabria.

Hightower’s athletic ability was already nationally respected.

At the prestigious Roundball Classic, he famously outdueled future Michigan Fab Five stars Chris Webber and Jimmy King in a dunk contest, further cementing his reputation as one of the nation’s premier high school athletes.

His career continued at Marshall University, where he immediately made an impact as a freshman, averaging nearly 12 points per game while starting 20 contests for the Thundering Herd.

More than three decades later, Malik Hightower remains one of the greatest athletes to wear a Perry uniform and an important part of one of the finest eras in Pittsburgh high school basketball history.

 

Q: Growing up on Pittsburgh’s North Side, when did you first realize basketball could take you beyond the local level?

A: I didn’t realize that basketball could take me beyond the local level until I started traveling and playing in different areas around Pittsburgh — North Park, South Park, Boyce, OZ, PV, Chester County and Kennard. I had success against different types of talent.

 

Q: What led to your decision to transfer back to Perry for your senior season?

A: The prep school I was at, Solebury, had a coaching change. The style of play the new coach wanted to play would have held me back, so I came home. I actually tried to attend Allderdice. Somehow that was blocked. I attended Oliver for two weeks, then transferred to Perry.

 

Q: Looking back, just how talented was that 1990-91 Perry team with yourself, Will Macon and Eddie Benton?

A: We actually were just scratching the surface of what we were capable of. You know, it takes time to develop chemistry, and we did it in a season. But we were deeper than most people knew. Every day was a battle in practice. Intense.

 

Q: What made that Perry team so difficult for opponents to defend?

A: Our depth, mostly. And we had a starting five that were all seniors. Experienced. Talented. Will and Randy controlled the paint against every team. Made it easy to navigate from the wing.

 

Q: The state championship win over Dante Calabria and Blackhawk is still talked about today. What do you remember most about that game?

A: Truthfully … all the fouls that were called. Eddie hitting big shots in the second half. And the Hershey Kiss technicals.

 

Q: People still talk about you outdueling Chris Webber and Jimmy King in the Roundball Classic dunk contest. What do you remember from that experience?

A: Webber talked a lot of trash, speaking on how he was gonna beat everybody. I knew Jimmy could fly from playing against him in the summers. Great atmosphere that night. The city came out and repped pretty hard.

 

Q: As a blue-chip recruit, what schools recruited you the hardest before choosing Marshall?

A: Eastern Michigan, Maryland, Miami, Marshall and Boston College.

 

Q: Why did Marshall feel like the right fit for you?

A: I wanted to play right away. I was told that it would be an open competition for starting roles and playing time. After visiting, I was OK with what I heard from that coaching staff.

 

Q: How different was college basketball from what you expected coming out of high school?

A: Wasn’t that different. More structure. I had to learn how to play at a controlled pace rather than playing “streetball,” as the coaches called it.

 

Q: Looking back, what was your favorite moment during your basketball career?

A: Too many to count. Playing at Vincentian, scoring a lot of points. The state championship at Perry and the dunk contest at the Roundball Classic. Southern Conference tournament wins. And now training kids.

 

Q: Who were the coaches and mentors who had the biggest impact on your life?

A: My father, Ron Hightower. The main reason I picked up a ball when I was a kid. And him also explaining why I should put it down and pass on what I learned to others.

 

Q: Pittsburgh basketball has produced so many great players. Where do you think the early ’90s Perry teams rank among the best in Western Pennsylvania history?

A: Honestly, I think that Perry squad doesn’t get enough credit for what was accomplished. We are definitely at or near the top of the list. Comparing generations from back then is the equivalent of the GOAT conversations that occur now. I would have loved to compete against some of the teams before and after me when we were all in our primes. But we will never know. I learned to give people their flowers now, while we still have them, because you never know when you will see that type of talent again.

 

Q: Do you think today’s generation fully understands how good Pittsburgh basketball was during that era?

A: Absolutely not. It was a different type of basketball being played back then. A more physical brand of basketball, where points and respect were earned. I think that players today are more skilled than when I played, but I would have loved to see how I measured up against today’s talent.

 

Q: What advice would you give today’s young athletes chasing Division I basketball?

A: Be relentless while pursuing your dream! Do not allow one minute to pass by without you getting better at one aspect of your game.

 

Q: Finally, how would you like people to remember Malik Hightower — not just as a basketball player, but as a person?

A: I want to be known as one of the best that did it in Pittsburgh. I played against the best to see how I measured up. But at the end of the day, I was OK looking in the mirror knowing what I gave to the game. But as a person, just a man who loves his family and tried his best at life.