Prince was quite the athlete in high school

Before Prince was international music superstar, he was tearing up the hardwood around Minneapolis as a prep basketball player.

Before Prince was an international music superstar, he was tearing up the hardwood around Minneapolis as a prep basketball player. 

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Star Tribune reporter Libor Jany was going through the paper's archives recently when he came across an article about the sporting exploits of Prince Rogers Nelson, which included an interview with his high school coach, as well as an amazing team photo.

From the Strib archives: Chappelle was right. pic.twitter.com/icXBFGWkij

— Libor Jany (@liborjany) March 3, 2015

Another Prince-related clip from the Strib archives, looking back at his hooping days at Bryant Junior High. pic.twitter.com/LrIQZ3LhSg

— Libor Jany (@liborjany) March 3, 2015

In the article, coach Richard Robinson praised Prince's ball control and shooting, and said that the Purple Rain singer often pestered him about not being a starter, despite being only 5'2."

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Prince's superior athleticism is not news to many thanks to the classic Chappelle Show skit, in which the musician dominates a pick up basketball game.

- Brendan Maloy