Best NCAA basketball players from every state

Best NCAA basketball players ever from every state

HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT - MARCH 23: Ja Morant #12 of the Murray State Racers attempts a free throw against the Florida State Seminoles in the second half during the second round of the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at XL Center on March 23, 2019 in Hartford, Connecticut. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /

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(Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /

Illinois: Dan Issel

I learned to play basketball in the fourth grade because my coach made me do the Mikan Drill every day for a week. So, if I was going to make a sentimental selection it would be George Mikan who averaged 23 points over his final two seasons with a 68 percent success rate from the free-throw line.

Mikan changed the game, he is known as Mr.Basketball when you go to sports.reference.com he is the only member from the 1945-46 All-American team that has a link, and that includes the Player of the Year. If I were to name George Mikan as the greatest collegiate player from Illinois, it would be just that, a sentimental pick.

It could be Dan Issel who averaged 30 points and 13 rebounds in his last two seasons at Kentucky. Or fellow Kentucky alumnus Anthony Davis who averaged 14 and 10 while winning every award you can think of. You also have to mention 6-foot-3 guard Hershey Hawkins as he averaged 21 points, 7 rebounds, almost four assists in his final two seasons. Mikan was a three-time All-American, Issel was selected twice, while Davis and Hawkins made one All-American team each but also won Player of the Year awards.

Mikan does not have the stats, literally, they did not keep all those stats when Mikan played, but his point production did fall in the tournament. Issel had a 29 and 11 average while shooting 58 percent and 82 percent in his tournament games which is better than his four-year averages, plus Issel was never going to win Player of the Year with Pete Maravich lacing them up for LSU. Hawkins maintained his averages during the tournament.

Differentiating these four great collegiate players is virtually impossible and everybody is going to have a different opinion. As I write this I have changed my mind several times, but in the end, Hawkins did split the Player of Year Awards with Manning and I cannot penalize Issel for failing to surpass Maravich. Issel did, however, pass Hershey Hawkins as the best college player born in Illinois. I now have to go re-write my headline.