Florida’s former Pine Crest student-athletes, Amen and Ausar Thompson, whose father’s family is Jamaican, made history on last Thursday night after both were selected in the top 5 in the 2023 NBA draft.

It was a proud moment for their parents and extended family when Amen went No. 4 to Houston Rockets while Ausar went No. 5 to Detroit Pistons.

In an interview with ESPN, the brothers expressed their excitement to embark on their new journey.

“I think it’s kind of cool going first. It means a lot to my family,” Amen said. “Me and Ausar, we were going to be happy whoever went first. But it means a lot to my family seeing all the hard work pay off. Us go back to back, be the first twins in the same draft to go top five, it means a lot.”

“Super excited. I’m super excited to meet my coaches, meet my teammates and just grow with them,” Ausar said. “I’m trying to contend.”

Their mother, Maya Wilson also shared in the excitement stating that “there are no words to express how I’m feeling.”

“To see them back-to-back, that blows my mind. The world is just opening up to them. There’s not limit. So, I’m just very excited about what’s in store so just very, very happy,” she added.

The players from San Leandro, California who were considered two of the most highly-regarded prospects in the 2023 NBA draft, began their careers at Pine Crest School in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, as superstars.

The 20-year-old twins played four years of varsity in Fort Lauderdale and they led the Panthers to the Class 3A championship in 2021. They were even dubbed Miami Herald’s Broward County Boys’ Basketball Co-Players of the Year for Classes 4A-2A in 2021 as juniors.

The two skipped their senior year of high school to go play in Overtime Elite (OTE) for its inaugural season and spent two years in Atlanta as part of the league.

They both were named to first-team All-OTE this year with Ausar Thompson being the MVP of the league.