Fansided

Best NCAA basketball players ever from every state

By Trevor Sinodhinos

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)
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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(Original Caption) College basketball player of the year, Larry Bird of Indiana State is all smiles with Celtics’ General manager Red Auerbach, after signing the Bird to a three-point-25-million dollar, five-year contract with the Boston Celtics. The Bird now becomes the highest-paid rookie in sports history.
(Original Caption) College basketball player of the year, Larry Bird of Indiana State is all smiles with Celtics’ General manager Red Auerbach, after signing the Bird to a three-point-25-million dollar, five-year contract with the Boston Celtics. The Bird now becomes the highest-paid rookie in sports history. /

Indiana: Larry Bird

When you have a nickname like “Larry Legend’ it is a no brainer that you are the best player to come from your state. Granted, Calbert Cheaney’s NBA career and place in basketball history will never be compared to those of Larry Bird, but for two Indiana boys, who stayed in-state to play college basketball, a conversation can be had.

Some similarities come easy, both born in Indiana, Cheaney in Evansville, and Bird in West Laden. Both were drafted sixth overall in the NBA Draft, both swept the six Player of the Year awards, both made the NCAA All-Tournament team (Cheaney twice) and both were named All-Americans (Bird twice). Both ended up losing to the eventual National Champion, Cheaney in the Final Four, and Bird in the finals. This is all to say their personal and team achievements have some similarities. How they came upon their various success differs.

As a 6-foot-9 forward at Indiana State, Bird averaged 30 points, 13 rebounds, four assists with a 53 percent success rate from the field, and 82 percent from the free-throw line. Cheaney is unable to compare to those numbers with averages of 20 points, five rebounds, and two assists while having lower shooting percentages from the field and line.

Bird also has the benefit of being part of the classic showdown in the finals versus another player on a home-state team in Magic Johnson. While Bird did have his worst tournament game in the finals with 19 points on just 33 percent shooting, his averages for the tournament were 27 and 14 with 54 percent from the field. Cheaney remained fairly consistent, but Bird will remain the best collegiate player from Indiana.