Amare Stoudemire of the Phoenix Suns is the NBA's latest prep-to-pro phenom to jump from High School to the NBA.  But while most of these youthful piles of potential have struggled in their rookie campaigns Stoudemire is standing tall, averaging 10.5 points and 8.6 rebounds while playing a huge part for the Suns.

If he maintains his scoring average throughout the remainder of the season Stoudemire would be the first prep star to average double digits since Kevin Garnett, a feat which escaped the likes of Kobe Bryant, Tracy McGrady and Jermaine O'Neal.

But as Stoudemire visits his home town of Orlando tonight when the Suns visit the Magic Jerry Brewer of the Orlando Sentinel writes an interesting piece on the 6 feet 10 who grew up with a troubled childhood.

'Amare, if you went back in time and someone told you that you would have to go through all the same struggles and still be guaranteed this new NBA life, would you take it?,' writes Brewer.

"Probably not."