Editing Wilt Chamberlain (section)

== West Philadelphia Childhood ==

Wilton Norman Chamberlain was born on August 21, 1936, in Philadelphia, growing up in the Haddington neighborhood of West Philadelphia. He was one of nine children in a working-class family, his height becoming extraordinary during adolescence—he reached seven feet while still in high school. This physical development, combined with natural athletic ability, made him dominant from his earliest competitive experiences, his abilities attracting attention that would shape his future.<ref name="goudsouzian">{{cite book |last=Goudsouzian |first=Aram |title=King of the Court: Bill Russell and the Basketball Revolution |year=2010 |publisher=University of California Press |location=Berkeley}}</ref>

At Overbrook High School, Chamberlain's dominance was unprecedented. He led the team to city championships while averaging over 30 points per game in an era when such scoring was unimaginable. College recruiters nationwide pursued him, his decision to attend the University of Kansas reflecting both the program's prestige and the limited options for African American athletes in the Jim Crow era. His Philadelphia origins, however, remained central to his identity and his eventual professional career.<ref name="cherry"/>

The combination of his height—eventually seven feet one inch—with speed, strength, and coordination that contradicted assumptions about tall players' limitations made Chamberlain a phenomenon before he reached professional basketball. His high school records, his college success, and the anticipation surrounding his professional debut all suggested that his NBA career would transform the sport.<ref name="goudsouzian"/>