Best college basketball player from every state in America

Every member of the United States has contributed a legend to college basketball, with these 50 players standing out as the best.

With the NCAA Tournament right around the corner, players around the country will soon etch their names into the college basketball history books.

The final undefeated team in Division I is the Gonzaga Bulldogs, who have a legitimate shot at getting over the hump to reach the first Final Four in program history. Elsewhere, the Villanova Wildcats are in contention to become the first repeat champion in a decade, with perennial powerhouses like Kansas and Louisville also in the mix.

Those teams and players have a chance to join a growing and extensive list of college basketball legends while becoming heroes in their local communities. From New York City to Hawaii, every region of the United States has been home to at least one memorable player in the history of the sport.

The following 51 players stand out as the best from each member of the United States, plus Washington D.C.

Alabama: Fennis Dembo

While Alabama basketball can’t quite match the success of its football counterparts, The Yellowhammer State has been home to a few standouts.

Several players from Alabama went on to find more success in the NBA, but Dembo earns the top spot in state history for his strong career at the collegiate level. A native of Mobile, Dembo was lightly recruited out of high school and went on to play for Wyoming, one of the only schools to give him an offer.

The decision paid off for head coach Jim Brandenburg, as Dembo would go on to become the best player in the history of the Cowboys program. Dembo averaged 17.9 points and 7.4 rebounds per contest over his four-year career en route to becoming Wyoming’s all-time leader in both categories, and earned WAC Player of the Year honors in 1986-87.

Wyoming advanced to the Sweet 16 that season, a feat it has not matched since, with Dembo averaging 27.8 points per game in the NCAA Tournament. The Detroit Pistons selected Dembo early in the second round of the 1988 NBA Draft, and he won a championship the next season.

Of course, Charles Barkley stands out as the Alabama native with the best overall basketball career, but wasn’t quite as dominant during his days at Auburn. Tuscaloosa native Keydren Clark is also in contention after setting a number of scoring records with Saint Peter’s from 2002-2006.

Alaska: Mario Chalmers

The Last Frontier predictably doesn’t offer much in terms of quantity, but produced a player responsible for one of the most memorable shots in championship game history.

Chalmers attended Bartlett High School in Anchorage, where he was named a McDonald’s All-American as a senior in 2005. Despite coming from a remote part of the country, Chalmers was recruited by just about everybody, and eventually chose Kansas over the likes of North Carolina and Arizona.

A three-year starter for the Jayhawks, Chalmers averaged 12.2 points and 3.8 assists per game while being regarded as one of the best defensive guards in college basketball. Chalmers will always have a place on NCAA Tournament highlight reels after hitting a game-tying three in the dying seconds to help Kansas beat Memphis in overtime in the 2008 National Championship Game.

That performance earned Chalmers Most Outstanding Player honors for the 2008 tournament, and Kansas recently retired his No. 15. Chalmers has since enjoyed a solid career in the NBA between the Miami Heat and Memphis Grizzlies, and has a pair of rings at the professional level.

The Last Frontier is more well-known around college basketball for being home to the Great Alaska Shootout rather than producing players. Carlos Boozer and Trajan Langdon are among the other Alaska basketball standouts.

Arizona: Sean Elliott 

With the Arizona Wildcats ranking among the nation’s best programs over the past three decades, The Grand Canyon State has been home to a number of NCAA champions over the years.

Elliott earns the top honors from the state for helping transform Arizona into a powerhouse in the early days of the Lute Olson era. After spending his high school days in Tuscon, Elliott stayed home to play for Arizona in 1985, Olson’s third year at the helm of the Wildcats.

The 6-8 forward went on to become Arizona’s all-time leading scorer, averaging 19.2 points and 6.1 rebounds over his four-year career. Elliott was a consensus All-American is his final two years with the Wildcats, and won the Wooden Award in 1988-89 by averaging 22.3 points per game.

Arizona made its first Final Four appearance in program history during Elliott’s junior season, and his career helped spark a run of 20 consecutive tournament appearances that included the 1997 national title. The San Antonio Spurs selected Elliott third overall, and he went on to be a two-time NBA All-Star and picked up a ring in 1999.

Mike Bibby and Richard Jefferson are among the other native Arizonians to star at the collegiate ranks.

Arkansas: Glen Rice

The Natural State has quietly been home to a fair amount of  talent in recent years, particularly after Nolan Richardson brought Arkansas basketball into the national spotlight in the early 1990s.

Still, the best player in state history was from a slightly earlier era, as Rice became one of the most productive scorers in NCAA Tournament history with Michigan from 1986-1989. Before moving to Flint for his high school basketball career and committing to Michigan, Rice grew up just outside of Little Rock in Benton, Arkansas.

Rice was a three-year starter for the Wolverines and averaged 18.2 points and 6.4 rebounds per contest, finishing his career as Michigan’s all-time leading scorer. The forward averaged 25.6 points per game on 57.7 percent shooting from the field as a senior in 1989, earning him Big Ten Player of the Year honors.

Michigan won the 1989 national title behind Rice, who scored 184 points in the tournament, a record that still stands today. Rice was selected fourth overall by the Miami Heat and went on to have a good NBA career with three All-Star appearances and a title in 2000 with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Hamburg native Scottie Pippen is a Hall of Famer at the professional level, but hadn’t blossomed yet in college while playing for Central Arkansas. Joe Johnson, Corey Brewer and Derek Fisher are among the other Arkansas standouts, although none can match the overall production of Rice in college.

California: Bill Walton

Prior to his distinguished announcing career, Walton dominated the college ranks to earn the honor of being the best player to hail from California despite some tough competition.

Walton grew up in La Mesa just outside of San Diego and earned stardom early in his career by playing for the U.S. National Team at the age of 17. John Wooden recruited Walton to play for UCLA in 1971, and he would go on to become one of the best players in the history of the storied program.

The 6-foot-11 center could not be stopped at the collegiate level and averaged 20.3 points on 65.1 percent shooting from the field and 15.7 rebounds per contest over his three-year career. Walton was a consensus All-American all three seasons and is one of two players with three Naismith Player of the Year Awards, joining fellow legend Ralph Sampson.

The Bruins won the national championship in 1972 and 1973, and Walton was the key driving force behind UCLA’s record 88-game winning streak during the period. The Portland Trail Blazers selected Walton first overall in the 1974 draft, and he went on to put together a Hall of Fame career that included two more titles and the 1978 MVP Award.

California has produced more talent than anywhere outside of New York, including Jamaal Wilkes, Paul Pierce and George Yardley. More legends will come out of The Golden State soon enough, but Walton is going to be tough to beat.

Colorado: Chauncey Billups 

While it’s not exactly a hotbed for the sport, The Centennial State was home to Billups, who helped put Colorado basketball on the map with a memorable career both in college and the NBA.

Billups started his career at George Washington High School in Denver, earning Mr. Colorado Basketball honors three times and a spot on the 1995 McDonald’s All-American team. With Kansas, Oklahoma State and Cal courting him, Billups decided to stay in-state and play for Colorado.

The Buffaloes were a bottom feeder in the Big 8 at the time and had not qualified for the NCAA Tournament since 1969. Billups gave the program its first star in decades, as he averaged 18.5 points, 5.6 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game while earning second team All-American honors in 96-1997.

Colorado earned that elusive tournament berth in Billups’ final season, and he scored 24 points in a first round win over Indiana. Rick Pitino and the Boston Celtics selected Billups third overall in 1997, and he went on to earn five All-Star nods and the 2004 NBA Finals MVP Award as a member of the Detroit Pistons.

The Buffaloes have enjoyed a recent resurgence under head coach Tad Boyle, a native of Greeley. Other Colorado standouts include Bob Doll, who helped the Buffaloes to a Final Four in 1942.

Connecticut: Calvin Murphy

For all the recent success of the Connecticut program, nobody has yet topped Murphy in Constitution State college basketball lore.

Murphy grew up in Norwalk, a suburb of the New York metropolitan area, and earned All-American honors twice in high school. Several major programs were interested in Murphy’s services, but he decided to play for a Niagara team that had never qualified for the NCAA Tournament at the time.

Murphy was a scoring machine at Niagara with over 33 points per game for his career, finishing with a career tally of 2,548 in just three seasons. The diminutive guard’s freshman season was his most impressive, as Murphy averaged 38.2 points per contest while taking 288 free throw attempts over 24 games.

Niagara qualified for the 1970 NCAA Tournament in Murphy’s final season and reached the Sweet 16 behind his 35-point performance in an opening round win over Pennsylvania. The San Diego Rockets took a chance on Murphy in the second round despite his size, and he turned in a strong career with the franchise that resulted in one All-Star appearance, retirement of his No. 23 jersey, and induction into the Basketball Hall of Fame.

Other memorable Connecticut players include Marcus Camby, who led UMass to the 1996 Final Four, and three-time Division II champion Rick Mahorn.

Delaware: Walt Hazzard

After helping establish the UCLA dynasty in the early 1960s, Hazzard’s accomplishments out of The First State will be hard to top.

Hazzard was born in Wilmington before eventually settling at Overbrook High School, where he was named Philadelphia Player of the Year as a senior. Wooden convinced Hazzard to move across the country to play for UCLA, which was still searching for its first Final Four appearance in 1961.

The Bruins found success right away with a berth in the Final Four during Hazzard’s freshman season. Hazzard went on to lead the team to its first championship in 1963 as part of a perfect 30-0 season, and he was named tournament MVP behind a fantastic performance in the semifinal against Kansas State.

UCLA repeated as champion in 1964, as Hazzard won the College Player of the Year Award and was named a first-team All-American. Hazzard’s No. 42 is retired by UCLA, and he coached the program for four years in the mid-80s, earning a career 77-47 record.

Other notable Delaware players include A.J. English, a prolific scorer for Iona, and John Irving, who helped Hofstra to its strongest period of success in the 1970s. On the women’s side, Wilmington native Elena Delle Donne was one of the most prolific recruits ever and turned in a terrific career at Delaware before starring in the WNBA.

Florida: David Robinson

Florida is a talent factory for just about any sport, but Robinson still stands out as clearly the best player from the Sunshine State.

A native of Key West, Robinson moved around a lot in early life as his father was in the U.S. Navy, and didn’t start playing organized basketball until his senior year of high school. With few offers to choose from, Robinson committed to play for a Navy program that had gone over two decades without a postseason appearances.

After starting his senior high school season at 6-foot-6, Robinson just kept growing all the way to 7-1, helping him become a dominant big man at both the collegiate and professional level. Robinson averaged 21 points and 10.3 rebounds per game to become the best player in Navy history en route to winning three CAA Player of the Year Awards and the 1987 Naismith Trophy.

The Midshipmen reached the NCAA Tournament in each of Robinson’s final three years, including an Elite Eight berth in 1986. Following a two-year break to finish his military commitment, Robinson joined the San Antonio Spurs and became a 10-time All-Star with two NBA championships.

Had Tracy McGrady or Amar’e Stoudemire played college ball, they may have challenged Robinson for the top spot. Vince Young, Chandler Parsons and Larry Sanders are among the many other standouts to hail from the Sunshine State in recent times.

Georgia: Pervis Ellison

For his heroics in the 1986 NCAA Tournament, Ellison earns the top honors from the state of Georgia.

Ellison grew up in Savannah and dominated high school competition, helping him to earn attention from programs all around the country. Legendary coach Denny Crum recruited Ellison to Louisville, which had three Final Four appearances over a span of five years at the time, including the 1980 title.

The 6-foot-9 forward became one of the most prolific all-around players in school history with an average of 15.8 points, 8.4 rebounds and 2.8 blocks per contest. During Louisville’s run to the 1986 title, Ellison became the first freshman to be named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player in four decades, earning the nickname “Never Nervous” Pervis in the process.

Ellison helped the Cardinals to two more Sweet 16 appearances, earning Metro Player of the Year honors and a first-team All-American nod over his final two seasons. The Sacramento Kings selected Ellison first overall in the 1989 draft, but injuries would limit his NBA career.

Marietta native Shareef Abdur-Rahim turned in one terrific season at Cal before heading off to the NBA, with Dale Ellis also ranking just behind Ellison.

Hawaii: Cedric Ceballos 

Only a select few players have made the journey from Hawaii to Division I basketball, with Ceballos leading the way.

Ceballos was born in Maui, where he would spend his early childhood before moving to the Los Angeles area. With little attention out of high school, Ceballos spent two years at JUCO Ventura College, where he would earn All-American honors.

The 6-foot-9 forward transferred to Cal State Fullerton for his final two collegiate seasons in 1988 and 1989. There, Cellabos would become a prolific scorer with an average of 22.1 points and 10.7 rebounds per contest.

Cellabos’ senior year is one of the best individual seasons in Titans’ program history, which helped him earn a shot in the NBA as a late second-round pick of the Phoenix Suns. The Suns would get great value out of the selection, as Cellabos helped the team to the 1993 NBA Finals before being named an All-Star two years later with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Hawaii’s most famous college basketball moment came in 1982 with Chaminade’s legendary upset of No. 1 Virginia. Derrick Low ranks just behind Cellabos as the best player from The Aloha State after putting together a solid career with Washington State in the mid-2000s.

Idaho: Luke Ridnour

Oregon fans owe thanks to the Gem State, as Ridnour helped build one of the best teams in Ducks history after spending his early life in Idaho.

Prior to leading Blaine High School to a pair of Washington state titles, Ridnour was born in Coeur d’Alene. A McDonald’s All-American as a senior in 2000, Ridnour chose Oregon over the likes of Kentucky and Utah to become the Ducks’ most high-profile recruit in a number of years.

The hype was warranted, as Ridnour averaged 14.6 points, 5.2 assists and 1.6 steals per game over his three years in Eugene. Oregon qualified for its first Elite Eight since 1960 in Ridnour’s sophomore season, as he effectively ran one of the nation’s top offenses.

While the Ducks would get eliminated in the first round the following season, Ridnour won Pac-12 Player of the Year honors with an average of 19.7 points and a school-record 218 assists. Ridnour chose to forgo his senior season to be selected 14th overall by the Seattle Supersonics, and he compiled a solid if unspectacular NBA career that spanned 13 years.

Sean Sutton is also in the discussion for Idaho after a strong playing career and brief coaching stint at Oklahoma State.

Illinois: George Mikan

The Chicago area has been home to a ton of basketball talent over the years, but nobody can match the innovation Mikan brought to the sport.

Mikan was born in Joliet and grew to 6-foot-10 upon entering nearby DePaul University in 1942. Tall players were considered too awkward to play basketball at the time, but head coach Rey Meyer decided to give Mikan a shot.

The move paid off, as Mikan became the first successful big man in the history of the sport. Mikan averaged 19.1 points per game for his career, became a pioneer in rebounding and shot blocking, and picked up two National Player of the Year Awards.

DePaul reached the Final Four in 1943 and won the prestigious NIT in 1945 behind Mikan’s 120-point effort over three games. Mikan went on to be a superstar with the Minneapolis Lakers, and his presence caused a number of rule changes, including the creation of goaltending and the widening of the foul lane.

That’s impossible competition to stack up to, but The Prairie State has been home to an impressive group of college players inclduing Mark Aguirre, Hersey Hawkins and Isiah Thomas.

Indiana: Larry Bird

Indiana has produced a number of outstanding players as a basketball hotbed at both the high school and collegiate level, but nobody can come close to topping Bird’s stardom.

Bird was born in tiny West Baden Springs, a town of 574 in southern Indiana, but still earned the attention of teams around the nation with a terrific high school career. After spending a month at Indiana, Bird decided the school was a little too big for him, and eventually joined Indiana State for the 1976 season.

As expected, Bird instantly turned a program that had never reached the NCAA Tournament into a short-lived powerhouse. Bird averaged 30.3 points per game on 53.3 percent shooting, along with 10.3 rebounds and 4.6 assists for his career, a performance good enough to earn him the 1979 Naismith Award.

Despite having little help on the roster, Bird carried the Sycamores all the way to the 1979 national final, where they would lose to Magic Johnson and Michigan State. The Boston Celtics selected Bird sixth overall in the subsequent draft, and he would go on to win three straight MVP Awards between 1984-1986.

There’s plenty of talent from the Hoosier State beyond Bird, as Steve Alford and Dick Barnett are among the many Hall of Famers to call Indiana home.

Iowa: Raef LaFrentz

Recent surges from the state’s two flagship programs have helped Iowa produce more talent as a whole, but no player from The Hawkeye State is yet to top the accomplishments of LaFrentz.

The Hampton native attended high school in tiny Monona, earning McDonald’s All-American honors as a senior in 1994. After a tight recruiting battle with Iowa, Roy Williams and Kansas earned LaFrentz’s services, and he would go on to become a star.

LaFrentz averaged 15.8 points and 9.1 rebounds per game over his four-year career in Lawrence. Tim Duncan and Shaquille O’Neal were the only other two players in college basketball to earn a pair of first-team All-American nods in the 1990s, while LaFretnz would be named the Big 12 Player of the Year in each of his final two seasons.

Kansas won 123 games during the LaFrentz era, although it could get no further than the Elite Eight in the NCAA Tournament. The Denver Nuggets picked LaFrentz third overall in the 1998 draft, but his middling NBA career got off to a bad start with a torn ACL early in his rookie season.

More recent Iowa stars include Harrison Barnes and Marcus Paige, who both found college success with North Carolina.

Kansas: Perry Ellis

Kansas has imported most of its stars during a legendary basketball history, apart from a handful of standouts.

A native of Wichita, Ellis stands out as the top Sunflower State player following his under-appreciated career with the Jayhawks. Ellis decided to stay in-state with Kansas early in his high school career before being named a McDonald’s All-American as a senior in 2012.

After being used sparingly as a freshman, Ellis became the key player for the Jayhawks between 2014-2016, averaging 12.5 points and 5.8 rebounds per contest. Ellis really improved by his senior season with nearly 17 points per game on 53.1 percent shooting, a performance good enough to earn him second-team All-American honors.

Kansas won 120 games during Ellis’ career and was ranked in the top five in the AP at some point in each of his four seasons. No team was willing to use a draft pick on Ellis, but he’s been playing well recently for the Greensboro Swarm, which could earn him a call-up to Charlotte soon enough.

Lawrence native Paul Endacott deserves a mention as one of the most important players in the early history of Kansas basketball, while Lucius Allen helped UCLA to a pair of national titles in the 1960s.

Kentucky: Wes Unseld

With two of the most legendary programs in college basketball within its borders, the Bluegrass State has been home to a number of noteworthy players since the early history of the sport.

Few players in college basketball can match the domination of Unseld, who became a star at both the collegiate and professional levels after growing up in Louisville. After winning two Kentucky state championships, Unseld stayed at home to play for coach Peck Hickman and the Cardinals.

Unseld put up eye-popping numbers at Louisville with an average of 20.6 points and 18.9 rebounds per contest. A career total of 1,551 rebounds still ranks in the all-time top 25 across college basketball, and Unseld was named an All-American in each of his final two years.

Louisville went to the Sweet 16 in both 1967 and 1968, two of its better seasons in program history at that point. Unseld was selected second overall by the Baltimore Bullets, and became the second player in NBA history to win Rookie of the Year and MVP in the same season.

The sheer per-game production from Unseld is going to be hard to beat, but Bluegrass State legends like Cliff Hagan and Darrell Griffith at least come close.

Louisiana: Elvin Hayes

Louisiana is one of the more underrated sources of talent in the nation with a number of college basketball Hall of Famers, with Hayes standing out from the crowd with some truly incredible career stats.

Born in remote Rayville in the northeastern part of the state, Hayes led Britton High School to the state championship as a senior in 1964 with some huge numbers. Hayes committed to an up-and-coming Houston team, joining fellow Louisiana native Don Chaney on the 1966 team.

At 6-foot-9, Hayes could not be stopped, as he averaged 31 points and 17.2 rebounds per game over a three-year career. Hayes still has the career record for rebounds in the NCAA Tournament with 222, and his 36.8 points per contest in 1968 was good enough to earn AP Player of the Year honors.

Houston reached the Final Four in each of Hayes’ final two seasons, losing to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and UCLA in both years, although the Cougars would get a small measure of revenge in the 1968 “Game of the Century” during the regular season. Hayes went first overall to the San Diego Rockets and put together a Hall of Fame career that included 12 straight All-Star appearances.

Louisiana can put together one of the best starting lineups of any state, as it is also home to Bob Pettit, Karl Malone, Clyde Drexler and Marques Johnson.

Maine: Jeff Turner

Maine’s greatest basketball accomplishment is having two current NBA head coaches in Steve Clifford and Brett Brown, as only a few players from The Pine Tree State have enjoyed productive playing careers.

Turner, a native of Bangor, enjoyed a successful run at Vanderbilt in the early 1980s. At 6-foot-9 early in his high school days, Turner got an offer from Commodores head coach C.M Newton and went on to be a three-year starter.

After a slow first two years, Turner excelled as an upperclassman, and averaged nearly 17 points per game on 53.3 percent shooting from the field as a senior in 1984. Overall, Turner chipped in 10.9 points and 5.3 rebounds per contest.

The Commodores earned their most regular season wins in a decade in 1983 behind Turner, although they were unable to reach the NCAA Tournament until four years after his graduation. New Jersey selected Turner 17th overall, and his biggest career highlight came later that summer with a gold medal at the Los Angeles Olympics.

Perhaps the most beloved basketball figure in state history is Cindy Blodgett, who was named a four-time All-American as a member of the Maine women’s team from 1994-1998.

Maryland: Len Bias

Before his life was tragically cut short, Bias dominated the college ranks to earn the spot as Maryland’s best player ever.

Bias was born in Landover, a suburb of the Washington D.C. metro area. At 6-foot-9 with incredible athleticism reminiscent of the likes of Michael Jordan, Bias looked poised to become a star with a little bit of development, and chose to remain in-state at Maryland to play for longtime head coach Lefty Driesell.

After a so-so freshman season, Bias really took off as a sophomore in 1983-84 and went on to average 16.4 points per game on 53.3 percent shooing from the field. Bias earned back-to-back ACC Player of the Year honors to close out his career, and was a first team All-American in 1986 with 23.2 points and seven rebounds per contest.

Maryland, which was yet to experience much success as a program, reached four straight NCAA Tournaments with Bias on the team including a pair of Sweet 16s. Bias was selected second overall by the Boston College in the 1986 draft, but sadly died two days later of a cocaine overdose.

Fellow native Marylander Michael Beasley enjoyed a terrific freshman season for Kansas State in 2006, while Baltimore’s Juan Dixon will always have a place in Terrapins lore after leading the program to its line national title in 2002.

Massachusetts: Dana Barros

Massachusetts is more known in the basketball world for being home to the NBA’s most successful franchise in the Boston Celtics, but a few standout college players have called The Bay State home.

Barros, a Westwood native, was one of the most prolific high school players in Boston area history with a career tally of 1,821 points. The sharpshooting guard decided to stay in the city and play for head coach Gary Williams, who was in the third year of his brief tenure.

With an average of 19.7 points per game over four seasons, Barros is still the No. 3 all-time leading scorer in Boston College history, and will have his jersey retired later this month. Barros was particularly effective as a junior in 1988 with 3.9 points per game on 45.4 percent shooting from beyond the arc, earning him first-team Big East accolades despite playing on a team that went 12-17.

Williams left for Ohio State when Barros was a sophomore, and the Eagles did not return to the NCAA Tournament until 1994. The Seattle SuperSonics selected Barros 16th overall in the 1989 draft, and he went on to set a then-record by hitting a 3-point shot in 89 consecutive games.

Roxbury native Shabazz Napier is among the other standouts in Massachusetts basketball history after helping UConn win two national titles. One of those championships came under head coach Jim Calhoun, who was born and raised in Braintree.

Michigan: Magic Johnson

While Michigan’s college basketball tradition has been strong over the past two plus decades, its going to take a special effort to top the career of Johnson.

Johnson was raised in Lansing and attended Everett High School, where he earned the nickname “Magic” during his sophomore season. With powerhouses like UCLA and Indiana courting him, Johnson decided to stay home and play for Michigan State, which had just two tournament appearances in school history at the time.

The commitment would change the trajectory of the program forever, as Johnson instantly became a star by averaging 17.1 points, 7.9 assists and 7.6 rebounds per contest over his two-year career. As a 6-foot-8 guard, Johnson still ranks as one of the most unique players in basketball, and his performance earned him a pair of All-American nods with the Spartans.

Michigan Stated defeated Bird in the 1979 final behind 24 points from Johnson, who was named the Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four. The Spartans have since become a consistent power, and Johnson went on to become one of the top players in NBA history after being selected first overall by the Lakers.

Fellow Hall of Famer George Gervin and Duke legend Shane Battier join Johnson in Wolverine State college basketball lore.

Minnesota: Kevin McHale

Before becoming an NBA legend, McHale helped put Minnesota on the basketball map with an outstanding career at both the high school and collegiate level.

McHale grew up in the northeastern part of the state in the small city of Hibbing, where he was named Minnesota’s Mr. Basketball in 1976. In one of the biggest recruiting wins ever for Golden Gophers basketball, McHale decided to stay in-state and play for a program that was dealing with severe sanctions from the NCAA.

The 6-foot-10 forward became the No. 2 all-time leading scorer and rebounder in Minnesota history with an average of 15.2 points and 8.5 rebounds per game over four years. With over 17 points per game in both of his upperclassmen years, McHale earned All-Big Ten honors, and was later named the greatest player in program history.

While they weren’t allowed to play in the postseason, the Golden Gophers went 24-3 in 1976-77 behind McHale and Mychal Thompson. McHale was selected third overall by the Boston Celtics in the 1980 draft and won three championships with seven NBA All-Star appearances.

Roseville native Mike Muscala piled up big numbers during his college career at Bucknell, while Randy Breuer also put up big numbers for the in-state Golden Gophers.

Mississippi: Danny Manning

As arguably the greatest college player to put on a Jayhawks uniform, Manning easily earns the honors as the top college player from Mississippi.

Manning was born and raised in Hattiesburg before moving to Lawrence as a senior in high school, as his father Ed became an assistant coach for the team. After being named Kansas Basketball Player of the Year in 1984, Manning began his storied career with the Jayhawks and excelled right away.

The 6-foot-10 forward finished his career as Kansas’ all-time leading scorer and rebounder with an average of 20.1 points and 8.1 rebounds per game over four years. No Jayhawk even comes close to Manning’s career point total of 2,951, and he piled up three Big 8 Player of the Year Awards, a pair of All-American nods, and the 1988 Naismith Trophy.

Kansas won its first national title since 1952 in Manning’s senior season as a six seed with a team that was dubbed “Danny and the Miracles.” Manning went first overall in the 1988 draft and earned two NBA All-Star nods before knee injuries limited his career.

Memphis native Alphonso Ford earns an honorable mention after becoming the first player to average over 25 points per game in four straight seasons at Mississippi Valley State from 1989-1993.

Missouri: Tyler Hansbrough 

With one of the greatest college basketball careers of the 21st century so far, Hansbrough runs away with the top spot in The Show-Me State.

Hansbrough won two straight state titles at Poplar Bluff High School in the rural southeastern part of the state, earning a spot on the McDonald’s All-American team in 2005. With just about every blueblood program interested in his services, Hansbrough chose to play for defending champion North Carolina.

Nicknamed “Psycho T” for his constant intense effort, Hansbrough became one of the most decorated and beloved Tar Heels ever with 20.2 points and 8.6 rebounds per game for his career. Hansbrough became the first player to be named first-team All-ACC as a freshman, and earned three All-American nods in addition to Player of the Year honors as a junior in 2008.

Following two near misses, North Carolina broke through with a national title in Hansbrough’s final season. Hansbrough was selected 13th overall in the subsequent draft and currently plays for Charlotte in a reserve role.

Legendary coach Phog Allen is also from Missouri, while Hall of Famer Ed Macauley led hometown St. Louis to the NIT title in 1948.

Montana: Adam Morrison 

The remote Treasure State hasn’t been home to too much college basketball talent over the years, but did produce one of the most memorable careers in recent history.

Morrison was born in Glendive, a city of around 5,000 in the eastern part of the state. As his father was a basketball coach, the family moved around a lot in his early life before eventually settling in Spokane, where he stayed for his collegiate career with Gonzaga.

While Morrison wasn’t heavily recruited, he became one of the best players in program history with an average of 19.7 points per game on over 50 percent shooting for his three-year career. The 6-foot-8 forward really took off as a junior with an average of 28.1 points per game and shared the National Player of the Year Award with J.J. Redick.

Gonzaga reached the Sweet 16 in 2006 with Morrison leading the way, although it will forever be wondering what-if following a huge collapse against UCLA. Morrison did not produce much in the NBA after being selected third overall by the Charlotte Bobcats, although he picked up two rings with the Lakers as a bench player.

Missoula native Larry Krystkowiak put together a terrific college career with in-state Montana, while The Treasure State is also home to NBA coaching legend Phil Jackson.

Nebraska: Kenny Sailors 

As one of the true innovators of the game, Sailors earns the top spot in Nebraska college basketball history.

Sailors was born in Bushnell, a town of just 124 near the western border of Nebraska with Wyoming. As he constantly played against his much taller brother growing up, Sailors had to develop an effective jump shot before starting his career at Wyoming in an era when just about every player used a set shot.

The new skill worked, as Sailors led the Cowboys to their greatest period of success in program history. Sailors was named an All-American three times, becoming the only Wyoming player to do so, and earned College Basketball Player of the Year honors in 1943 and 1946.

Wyoming won its lone national championship in 1943. with Sailors winning NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player accolades. Sailors went on to play professionally for seven teams in six years, putting together a productive if short-lived career.

Other Cornhusker State standouts include Iowa State legend Fred Hoiberg and Omaha native Bob Boozer.

Nevada: Greg Anthony

Nevada was the center of the college basketball world for a brief time in the late 1980s and early 1990s, with Anthony standing out as the best player in the state’s history.

Anthony was born in Las Vegas and began his playing career at Rancho High School. After spending his freshman season at Portland, Anthony transferred back home to play for Jerry Tarkanian and UNLV, which had just lost in the Final Four to close out the best season in program history.

Considered the heart and soul of the dominant Rebels teams of the era, Anthony averaged 12.6 points, 6.9 assists and 2.4 steals per game for his career. Anthony was named to the All-Big West team in all three seasons with UNLV, and earned a third-team All-American nod as a senior in 1991.

UNLV broke through with a national title in 1990 and blew out Duke in the championship game, with Anthony scoring 13 points while dishing out six assists. Anthony was selected 12th overall by the New York Knicks to become one of three NBA players from the championship team, and had a middling journeyman career before becoming a college basketball broadcaster.

Other Silver State basketball standouts include Pat Garrity, who piled up points for Notre Dame in the mid-90s.

New Hampshire: Matt Bonner

New Hampshire will likely never be known as a basketball standout, but was still home to a key player in Billy Donovan’s early tenure at Florida.

Bonner attended hometown Concord High School, where he won three New Hampshire state titles. While Bonner didn’t attract a lot of attention in recruiting, Donovan brought him in to a Florida program that was on the rise for the 1999-2000 season.

After being used sparingly as a freshman for a Gators squad that went all the way to the national title game, Bonner became a solid three-year starter with an average of 12 points and 5.9 rebounds per game for his career. Bonner was particularly effective as a senior with 15.2 points and 6.1 rebounds per contest, a performance which earned him first-team All-SEC honors.

While the Gators were unable to break through in the NCAA Tournament, they earned their first No. 1 ranking in school history during Bonner’s junior season, and the era was key in transforming Florida into a consistent SEC powerhouse. Bonner initially didn’t make an NBA roster after being drafted in the second round, but eventually won two titles as a bench player for the Spurs.

Kaleb Tarczewski is the highest profile recruit in the history of The Granite State and turned in a solid if underwhelming career with Arizona, while Penacook’s Scott Drapeau was the key player on a 1993-94 New Hampshire squad that won a then school record 19 games.

New Jersey: Rick Barry

While Barry might be a little more well-known for his unorthodox underhand free throw shooting and legendary NBA career, it shouldn’t be forgotten that he was terrific in the college ranks with the Hurricanes.

Barry was born in Elizabeth and attended Roselle Park High School just outside of Newark. Rather than stay close to home, Barry attended Miami to play for a Hurricanes squad that had just one NCAA Tournament appearance in school history at the time.

The 6-foot-7 forward remains the best player to ever suit up for the Hurricanes with an average of 29.5 points and 16.5 rebounds per contest. Barry led the nation in scoring with 37.5 points per game as a senior in 1965-65, earning a consensus first-team All-American nod in the process.

Miami had its most successful stretch to date during the Barry era, although it could not participate in the NCAA Tournament due to probation. Barry was selected second overall by the San Francisco Warriors and helped the franchise win a title in 1975 while being named an All-Star eight times.

New Jersey offers one of the strongest pools of college basketball talent, including Shaquille O’Neal, John Roosma and Jay Williams.

New Mexico: Damion James

New Mexico has quietly been producing a solid amount of college basketball talent over the past decade, with James leading the way.

James was born in Hobbs, a city on the southeastern border of New Mexico, and eventually developed into one of the nation’s premier recruits while playing high school basketball in Texas. After originally committing to play basketball at Oklahoma, James landed with the Longhorns to play alongside Kevin Durant and D.J. Augistin in 2007.

While James didn’t get a lot of run on that particular team, he went on to have a productive career with 13.5 points and 9.3 rebounds per contest over four seasons. James averaged a double-double with 18 points per game on 50 percent shooting as a senior, earning him a third-team All-American nod from the Associated Press.

The Longhorns reached the Elite Eight for the second time in program history in 2008 with James piling up 18 points in a Sweet 16 win over Stanford. James went late in the first round of the 2010 draft and has bounced around between leagues, although he did pick up a title with the Spurs in 2014.

Las Cruces’ Andre Roberson also turned in a nice career for Colorado before heading off to the NBA, while Bryce Alford is an important part of a current UCLA squad that looks like a Final Four threat.

New York: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

No state has contributed more to college basketball than New York, but there’s still little debate about the best player in its history.

Then known as Lew Alcindor, Abdul-Jabbar was born in New York City and led Power Memorial High School to a 71-game winning streak. At 7-foot-2, Abdul-Jabbar was unlike any other player in college basketball at the time, and went on to turn that physical skill into a dominant career at UCLA under John Wooden.

With an average of 26.4 points and 15.5 rebounds per game over three seasons, Abdul-Jabbar has a strong argument as the best to ever play the sport. Abdul-Jabbar was a three-time All-American and won National Player of the Year honors three times, tying a record set by Oscar Robertson and the sport briefly had to ban dunks to his presence.

The Bruins lost just two games with Abdul-Jabbar on campus and won the national title in all three of his seasons. Abdul-Jabbar was selected first overall in the 1969 draft and turned in one of the most prolific NBA careers ever with 19 All-Star appearances and six championships.

While Abdul-Jabbar likely will never be topped, New York has been home to countless other Hall of Fame players including Chris Mullin, Bob Cousy and Michael Jordan.

North Carolina: David Thompson

North Carolina has been a dominant force in college basketball for decades, but Thompson’s stardom and innovation will be hard for anyone to eclipse.

Thompson was born an raised in Shelby, where he attend Crest High School as a four-year starter for the varsity basketball team. NC State played second fiddle to Dean Smith and the Tar Heels at the time, but still managed to land Smith for the 1972 season.

Nicknamed “Skywalker” for his unparalleled athleticism and leaping ability, Thompson piled up 26.8 points and 8.1 rebounds per game over three years for one of the most prolific careers in NCAA history. Thompson was named the ACC Player of the Year in all three of his seasons with the Wolfpack, and won back-to-back AP Player of the Year awards in 1974 and 1975.

NC State won its first national title in 1974 with Thompson piling up 28 points in a semifinal win over UCLA en route to being named the Final Four’s Most Outstanding Player. The Atlanta Hawks selected Thompson first overall in the 1975 draft, and he went on to make four All-Star appearances while winning the 1978 scoring title.

Bob McAdoo and James Worthy are among the other top players for the Tar Heel State, giving it one of the best college basketball legacies of any region of the nation.

North Dakota: Doug McDermott

McDermott’s journey from North Dakota to one of the most prolific scorers in NCAA history shows college basketball talent can come from anywhere.

A native of Grand Forks, McDermott followed his father Greg to various coaching stops early in his life before leading Ames High School to a 53-game winning streak alongside teammate Harrison Barnes. Greg left Iowa State after the 2010 season to take the head coaching job at Creighton, bringing Doug with him.

McDermott defied his three-star prospect ranking by averaging 21.7 points and 7.5 rebounds per game as a four-year starter for the Bluejays to finish his career as the fifth all-time leading scorer in Division I history. The accolades piled up for McDermott by his senior season, as he became the first player in 29 years to be named a first-team All-American three times, in addition to consensus National Player of the Year honors in 2014.

Creighton enjoyed one of its best stretches in school history during McDermott’s career, including a 27-8 mark in its inaugural Big East season in 2014. McDermott was selected 11th overall in the 2014 draft and is developing into an effective bench scorer for the Chicago Bulls.

The Peace Garden State was also home to legendary Arizona coach Lute Olson, who was born in rural Mayville.

Ohio: Jerry Lucas

The Buckeye State has been home to a wealth of college basketball talent throughout history, including one of the best players in the sport’s history in Lucas.

Lucas was born an raised in Middletown, a city which prided itself on the success of its high school’s basketball team. After re-writing the record books as a dominant force at Middeltown High from 1955-195, Lucas chose to remain close to home for his college career at Ohio State over a number of other suitors from around the country.

At 6-foot-8 and 230 pounds, Lucas overwhelmed opposing defenders with career averages of 24.3 points and 17.2 rebounds per game. Lucas is still the only three-time Big Ten Player of the Year winner, and he was named National Player of the Year in both 1961 and 1962.

Ohio State won its lone national championship in Lucas’ debut season, and reached the national final two more times during his career. After initially hesitating to play at the professional level, Lucas went on to become a seven-time NBA All-Star and won a title in 1973 with the New York Knicks.

Other College Basketball Hall of Fame players from Ohio include Ed Ratleff, Nate Thurmond and Lucas’ college teammate John Havlicek.

Oklahoma: Blake Griffin

While his college career was brief, Griffin was dominant enough to stand out from the rest of the competition as the best player in the history of the Sooner State.

A native of Oklahoma City, Griffin won four straight state championships at Oklahoma Christian en route to being named a McDonald’s All-American in 2007. Griffin decided to remain in-state for college to play for Oklahoma, becoming one of the most highly-touted recruits in Sooners history.

Following a strong freshman season, Griffin put together one of the best years in recent memory as a sophomore with an average of 22.7 points on 65.4 percent shooting from the field and 14.4 rebounds per game. That earned Griffin consensus Player of the Year honors, and his 30 double-doubles were one short of tying an NCAA record set previously by Robinson.

Oklahoma went 30-6 in Griffin’s final season and reached the Sweet 16, with Griffin tallying 33 points and 17 rebounds in a second round win over Michigan. The Los Angeles Clippers selected Griffin first overall in the 2009 draft and he’s put together a strong professional career after missing his entire first NBA season with a knee injury.

Fellow Oklahoma native Marques Haynes put up huge stats in college before joining the Harlem Globtrotters, while Hall of Famer Skinny Johnson also grew up in the Sooner State before playing at Kansas in the 1930s.

Oregon: Danny Ainge

Before his prolific NBA career, Ainge lit up the scoreboard at BYU to earn the honor of being Oregon’s top player ever.

A native of Eugene, Ainge became the first high school player ever to be named an All-American in baseball, basketball and football. As Ainge’s father was a bishop of the local LDS Ward, he chose to play basketball for BYU in 1977, becoming the best player in program history.

Ainge averaged 21.9 points and 4.6 assists per contest for his career and set a then-NCAA record with 112 straight games in double-figures scoring. During a senior season in which he averaged 24.4 points per game, Ainge was named a first-team All-American and won the Wooden Award.

BYU went all the way to the Elite Eight in 1981, with Ainge hitting one of the most famous shots in tournament history in a third round win over Notre Dame. Ainge went in the second round of the 1981 draft to the Boston Celtics and won two championships before successfully moving to an executive role after retirement.

Portland has been home to a few other college basketball standouts throughout history, including Gonzaga legend Dan Dickau and Arizona’s Damon Stoudamire.

Pennsylvania: Pete Maravich

While Pennsylvania has a rich basketball tradition, nobody has yet to top the stardom of Maravich in Keystone State history.

Maravich was born in Aliquippa in the Pittsburgh metro area before moving to Raleigh, where his father was a head coach at NC State. When his father took the job at LSU in 1966, Maravich made the journey to Baton Rouge, where he would become one of the most dominant scorers in NCAA history.

With an eye-popping average of 44.2 points per game over his three-year career, Maravich remains the top overall scorer in NCAA history with 3,667 total points despite playing with no 3-point line. Maravich was a three-time consensus All-American, and captured National Player of the Year honors in both 1969 and 1970.

While Maravich never played in the NCCA Tournament, he helped turn around a woeful LSU program that matched a school record with 11 wins in 1970. The Atlanta Hawks selected Maravich third overall in the subsequent draft, and he went on to become one of the best guards in NBA history with five All-Star appearances.

Pennslyvania’s college basketball heritage goes far beyond just Maravich, as Wilt Chamberlain, Dick Groat and Lionel Simmons were also from the Keystone State.

Rhode Island: Marvin Barnes

As a key member of the best team in Providence program history, Barnes shines above the rest of the competition from Rhode Island.

A native of Providence, Barnes attended Central High School and led the team to a state championship. Despite suffering from a number of off-the-court problems, head coach Dave Gavitt brought Barnes in to play for the hometown Friars beginning in 1971.

Barnes put together three productive seasons with an average of 20.7 points and 17.9 rebounds per game for his career. The 6-foot-8 forward led the nation in both scoring in rebounding as a senior in 1974 en route to being named a consensus first-team All-American.

Behind Barnes and teammate Ernie DiGregorio, also of Providence, the Friars made their deepest run in program history to the national final in 1973, where they lost to Memphis. Sadly, Barnes’ NBA career was cut short due to drug use, but he made two All-Star appearances and eventually returned to the Providence area to run a nonprofit foundation for at-risk youth.

Beyond the two members of that legendary Providence squad, Rhode Island is home to former Vermont standout T.J. Sorrentine.

South Carolina: Xavier McDaniel

South Carolina could produce more college basketball standouts in the future with an up-and-coming Gamecocks program, but it will take a special talent to top the career of McDaniel.

A native of Columbia, McDaniel starred at A.C. Flora High School as a 6-foot-7 forward. Rather than stay near home, McDaniel joined a Wichita State team that already had a pair of future NBA players in Antoine Carr and Cliff Levingston in 1981.

McDaniel piled up huge stats over his four-year career with averages of 18.4 points and 11.6 rebounds per contest. Following the graduation of the other two Shockers stars, McDaniel absolutely took over with an average of 27.2 points per game in 1985, earning an All-American nod along with his second MVC Player of the Year Award.

While the Shockers didn’t play in the NCAA Tournament until McDaniel’s final season due to probation, they went 23-6 in 1981-82 and were ranked as high as second in the AP Poll. McDaniel was selected fourth overall by the SuperSonics and turned in a productive NBA career that included an All-Star appearance in 1988.

Fellow Columbia native Alex English is one of the standouts in South Carolina history, while 2016 NCAA Tournament hero Kris Jenkins of Villanova is also from The Palmetto State.

South Dakota: Mike Miller

An outstanding perimeter shooter, Miller rose all the way from rural South Dakota to stardom at Florida in the late 1990s.

Miller was born and raised in Mitchell, a city of just over 15,000 in the southeastern part of the state. One of the most celebrated high school athletes ever in The Mount Rushmore State, Miller chose to play for Donovan at Florida over the likes of Kentucky, Kansas and Duke.

The 6-foot-8 swingman was a productive player for Donovan’s Gators with an average of 13.3 points and 6.0 rebounds per game over two years. Miller led the 1999-00 Florida squad with 14.1 points per game on 47.6 percent shooting from the field, and became a household name with a buzzer beater to help the Gators avoid an upset in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament against Butler.

Florida went all the way to the championship game for the first time in program history during Miller’s sophomore year, losing to Michigan State. Miller went fifth overall in the draft and won the 2001 NBA Rookie of the Year Award with the Orlando Magic to begin a professional career that is still ongoing.

Other South Dakota natives with successful college basketball careers include Aberdeen’s Colton Iverson and Jared Reiner, also of Mitchell.

Tennessee: Oscar Robertson

As one of the all-time greats at every level of the game, Robertson runs away from the rest of the field as the best college basketball player from Tennessee.

Roberston was born in Charlotte before settling in Indianapolis for high school, where he led Crispus Attucks to two state titles and 45 consecutive victories overall. Indiana head coach Branch McCraken infamously made some racial comments about Robertson during the recruiting process, driving him to enroll at Cincinnati in 1957.

The Big O put up unbelievable numbers over three years with the Bearcats, averaging 33.8 points, 15.2 points and 7.8 rebounds per contest. Roberston piled up records and swept the National Player of the Year awards all three seasons while recording 10 career triple-doubles.

Cincinnati went 78-9 overall during Robertson’s career, although it didn’t break through with a national championship until 1961, the first year after his departure. Robertson went on to become one of the most decorated players ever at the professional level, including nine All-Star appearances and an MVP nod in 1964.

While it’s going to be just about impossible to top Robertson, Tennessee has been home to other Hall of Famers like Bailey Howell, along with Cookeville’s J.J. Redick.

Texas: Grant Hill

The Lone Star State might be more known for churning out football talent, but legends like Hill give it a strong tradition on the hardwood.

Hill originally was raised in Dallas before becoming a prized recruit at South Lakes High School in Virginia. Rather than follow his parents’ wishes to attend Georgetown or North Carolina, Hill chose to play for a Duke team that was loaded with talent in 1990.

One of the winningest players in Duke history, Hill averaged 14.9 points and six rebounds for his four-year career, and was regarded as a terrific all-around defender. Hill earned All-American and ACC Player of the Year nods as a senior, as he took over the team following the graduation of Bobby Hurley and Christian Laettner.

Duke won the national championship in 1991 and 1992, with Hill throwing the infamous in-bounds pass to set up Laettner’s buzzer beater in the latter, before making a return to the title game in 1994. Hill was selected third overall by the Detroit Pistons in the 1994 and went on to make seven All-Star appearances.

Hall of Famers Wayman Tisdale and Bill Sharman are also from The Lone Star State, in addition to more recent Texas standout LaMarcus Aldridge.

Utah: Arnie Ferrin

With a historically underrated flagship program, Utah has featured a solid amount of college basketball talent, with Ferrin leading the way.

Ferrin was born and raised in Ogden, just to the north of Salt Lake City. While Ferrin was not recruited to play basketball, Utah brought him on to play as a walk-on under head coach Vadal Peterson in 1943.

Perterson’s decision paid off, as Ferrin led the most successful period in Utes history. Ferrin was named a four-time All-American, the only Utah player ever to do so, and became the first freshman ever to win a Final Four Most Outstanding Player award in 1944.

Utah won its lone national championship, and took home an NIT title in 1947, Ferrin’s last season. Ferrin went on to play for the Minneapolis Lakers and picked up two more NBA titles in 1949 and 1950.

Hall of Famer Cat Thompson was raised in St. George, with Provo native Kyle Collingsworth also among the more recent Beehive State standouts.

Vermont: Taylor Coppenrath

There has surprisingly never been an NBA player from Vermont, but The Green Mountain State has provided a few college basketball standouts, as Syracuse fans would like to forget.

A native of tiny Barnet in the northeast part of the state, Coppenrath didn’t even play varsity basketball until his junior year. Coppenrath developed quickly, as he won the Vermont Player of the Year award that season and went on to stay in-state to play for the Catamounts

The key piece of the best stretch in Catamounts history, Coppenrath averaged 21.4 points and 7.4 rebounds per contest over his four-year career. Coppenrath won three straight America East Player of the Year Awards, earning an honorable mention All-American nod each time.

Vermont reached its first three NCAA Tournaments in program history under Coppenrath, and stunned fourth-seeded Syracuse in the first round in 2005 with Coppenrath scoring 16 points. Coppenrath briefly played in the NBA Summer League before putting together a solid career in Europe.

Few other notable Division I players have come from Vermont, with Fred Bretta ranking as another standout after earning an All-American nod with Purdue in 1940.

Virginia: Ralph Sampson 

Few college players have even been as dominant or unique as Sampson, giving him the top spot in the basketball history of the Old Dominion State.

Sampson was born in Harrisonburg and led the local high school to two straight state titles in 1978 and 1979. At 7-4, Sampson was recruited to just about every program across the country, but chose to remain close to home at Virginia.

The hype was warranted, as Sampson used his physical advantages to dominate the competition to the tune of 16.9 points, 11.2 rebounds and 3.5 blocks per game for his career. Sampson won the Naismith Award in each of his final three seasons, matching a feat only accomplished by Walton, plus a pair of Wooden Awards.

Virginia, which had just one NCAA Tournament appearance in its history at the time, reached the Final Four in 1981 and made another trip to the Elite Eight in 1983. Sampson was the no-doubt No. 1 prospect in the 1983 draft and was a four-time NBA All-Star before injuries ultimately cut his pro career short.

Chesapeake’s Alonzo Mourning is one of the other top college basketball players in state history following a terrific career at Georgetown, while Frank Mason of Petersburg is in the 2016-17 player of the year race.

Washington: Steve Hawes

Washington has been one of the most underrated sources of college basketball talent for the past decade, but the best player from The Evergreen State is from a much earlier era.

A native of Seattle, Hawes played his high school ball at nearby Mercer Island and attracted the interest of a few premier programs across the nation. Rather than sign with the likes of North Carolina or Duke, Hawes committed to hometown Washington, which was a Pac-8 bottom feeder at the time.

Hawes dominated for the Huskies, piling up 20.8 points and 13.2 rebounds per game for his three-year career. That performance earned Hawes first-team All-Conference honors in 1972 despite going up against some tough competition from UCLA, and he was later inducted into the Pac-12 Hall of Fame.

While the Huskies were unable to make the NCAA Tournament due to the dominance of the Bruins, they had one of their most successful seasons in decades with a 20-6 mark in Hawes’ final season. Hawes bounced around between Europe and the NBA professionally, including a solid seven-year stint in Atlanta.

Recent Seattle-area players like Brandon Roy, Nate Robinson and Isaiah Thomas all had fine college careers, while Spokane’s John Stockton didn’t really reach his full potential until joining the NBA ranks.

Washington D.C.: Austin Carr

While not a state, the nation’s capital has been home to too much college basketball talent over the years to not get a mention.

Even with a crowded field, Carr is the clear standout in the history of D.C. college basketball. After earning All-American status at Mackin High School in 1967, Carr became a high-profile recruit and eventually chose to play for Notre Dame.

Carr became one of the most prolific scorers in the history of the sport, racking up 34.6 points per game for his three-year career. The 6-foot-4 shooting guard was only the second player to tally over 1,000 points in a single season, and averaged 38 points per game as a senior in 1971 to earn consensus National Player of the Year honors.

Notre Dame reached the Sweet 16 in 1970, with Carr scoring 61 points in an opening round win over Ohio to set a record that still stands today. The Cleveland Cavaliers selected Carr first overall in the 1971 draft, and he made one All-Star appearance while averaging 15.4 points per contest for his career.

While Carr’s sheer production makes him tough to match, other college basketball legends like Elgin Baylor, Dave Bing and Johny Dawkins are also from Washington D.C.

West Virginia: Jerry West

Prior to making his mark on the NBA with a storied career, West became a legend in the Mountain State with a terrific stint in Morgantown.

West was born in Chelyan and went on to play high school basketball in East Bank, a town of less than 1,000 people. Top colleges around the nation still noticed West after he was named an All-American in 1956. but he chose to stay in-state to play for a West Virginia program that was in the midst of its best stretch in program in history

With one of the best jump shots in basketball, West lit up college defenses with 24.8 points and 13.3 rebounds per contest. West earned Southern Conference Player of the Year honors along with a first-team All-American nod in both 1959 and 1960 to close out his career.

The Mountaineers went all the way to the national title game in 1959, with West taking home Final Four MVP honors. West spent his entire career with the Lakers after going second overall in the 1960 draft and made 14 All-Star appearances while being immortalized as the inspiration for the league’s logo.

Marshall legend Hal Greer is among the other Hall of Famers from West Virginia, while Morgantown native Bob Huggins is one of the best current coaches in the sport.

Wisconsin: Christian Steinmetz

Wisconsin basketball has enjoyed a recent resurgence as a national powerhouse with plenty of homegrown talent, the best player in the history of the Badger State is still from over a decade ago.

Steinmetz was born in Milwaukee and led hometown South Division High School to the 1902 state basketball championship. Later known as “The Father of Wisconsin Basketball,” Steinmetz played a huge role in getting a new Badgers program off the ground.

Despite being smaller than many players at 5-foot-9, Steinmetz became college basketball’s leading scorer all the way until 1920. Steinmetz averaged 25.7 points per game in 1905, an unheard of number for the era, en route to being named an All-American and retroactively winning the Helms Player of the Year Award.

The Badgers advanced all the way to the national final against Columbia in Steinmetz’s final season. Steinmetz spent his post-college life as a lawyer and was eventually inducted into both the Basketball Hall of Fame and Wisconsin Hall of Fame.

More recent Wisconsin natives like Sam Dekker and Chris Mihm enjoyed solid careers, but Steinmetz earns the Badger State nod for being so far ahead of his peers.

Wyoming: Jaycee Carroll

Even the nation’s least populous state is home to college basketball talent, as Carroll had a solid career with Utah State in the mid-2000s.

Carroll was born in Laramie and played high school basketball in Evanston, a city in the western part of the state. While not a highly-touted recruit, Carroll piled up points in high school and was named Wyoming Player of the Year twice before enrolling at Utah State.

With the second highest 3-point shooting percentage in NCAA history, Carroll averaged 18.8 points per game for his four-year career to become the all-time leading scorer in Aggies history. Carroll won the WAC Player of the Year Award as a senior in 2008 while also receiving honorable mention All-American honors.

Utah State won at least 23 games in each of Carroll’s first two seasons, advancing to the NCAA Tournament both years. Carroll played in the NBA Summer League before moving over to Europe, where he is currently enjoying a solid career with Real Madrid.

Wyoming understandably isn’t churning out a ton of college basketball talent, but is also home to current NBA player James Johnson, who was a solid performer at Wake Forest.