By the end of his high school career at Pleasant Grove High School in Elk Grove, California, Marquese Chriss was ranked as the 60th best player in the class of 2015. He was a relatively unknown prospect and was completely off the radar of most NBA scouts.
During his freshman year at the University of Washington, Chriss showcased his ability as an all-around scorer and saw his NBA draft stock skyrocket. He finished the season with averages of 13.8 points, 5.4 rebounds, 1.6 blocks, while shooting 53% from the field and 35% from three in 24.9 minutes played per game.