The South Coast has been home to phenomenal high school athletes over the decades.We're talking specifically about the coverage areas of the Taunton Gazette, The Standard-Times and The Herald News. And we want to take a look at back at some of the best the area has ever seen. To do so, we need help from our readers.

As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, USA TODAY Sports will celebrate the 250 greatest American sports figures of all time. Alongside that national recognition, the USA TODAY Network will spotlight the roots of the country’s sports culture: the high school athletes and sports figures who shaped communities and defined their states. We're starting small as we'll focus on highlighting the best football and basketball (boys and girls) players ...

EVER ... to suit up for South Coast high schools. No easy task, right? That's why we're looking for help from our readers.

Our goal is to narrow down the list to the 10 best high school athletes in those four sports ... with your help!So if you want to help us out as we embark on this nearly impossible venture, fill out a form online if you want your voice heard. We're looking to highlight those who starred at the high school level. That doesn't mean we're excluding future professionals, but we're hoping to focus on those athletes that dominated local headlines.FILL OUT OUR FORM HEREThanks for your help as we embark on this gargantuan task!This article originally appeared on Standard-Times: South Coast's best high school athletes ever