Rex Chapman says he received $500,000 offer out of high school

What was the going rate for a can’t-miss high school prospect out of Kentucky in the early 80s? According to Rex Chapman, $500,000.

In a guest appearance on The Dan Patrick Show this week, the former Kentucky star said he received an offer worth half a million dollars out of high school, a sum of money to be collected after leaving school.

Had he accepted the offer, of course.

“I would say just a flat $500,000 in escrow that I’d get when I get out,” Chapman told Patrick on Tuesday. “Think about that. That’s insane.”

While an official offer was made in exchange for his basketball services, Chapman added that he never directly received an offer from a school and wouldn’t confirm who it came from. Instead, it was presented through his parents of his coaches at the time.

In his opinion, high school is far too early for a student-athlete to be approached directly with a money offer.

“I wasn’t (presented an offer). It wasn’t to me,” he added. “It was for sure through my parents or my coaches. Kids are too young – I hope – to have adults coming to them and offering them (money).”

Check out the exchange below:

Without naming names, our buddy @RexChapman told us that the biggest offer he received during the College Recruitment process was "$500,000 in escrow for when he got out".

For Rex's full appearance: https://t.co/J2yW6U6hNw pic.twitter.com/c9iTg0PeZG

— Dan Patrick Show (@dpshow) June 22, 2021

Chapman would ultimately sign with Kentucky, where he went on to average 16.0 points and 3.6 assists per game as a freshman and 19.0 points and 3.7 assists per game as a sophomore, earning All-SEC honors both years.

After putting his name in the 1988 NBA Draft, Chapman was selected eighth overall by the Charlotte Hornets, where he went on to earn Second Team All-Rookie honors in year one. The former Wildcat averaged 14.6 points and appeared in two slam dunk competitions over the course of his 12-year career.