Best NCAA basketball players ever from every state

Maryland: Kevin Durant

Suitland, Maryland is just 4.3 square miles from Washington D.C  and one can bicycle to the Nation’s capital in less than an hour. Today the residents of Suitland can take pride in their two casinos, numerous golf courses, as well as being the birthplace of NBA superstar Kevin Durant.

Durant was born in the District of Columbia, which, is not a state. With some further research, it came to light that Durant is indeed a native of Suitland Maryland, where he opened the Durant Center in 2019.

This research promptly eliminated Danny Ferry and Juan Dixon from the running of the best collegiate player to be born in Maryland. Anybody who watched college basketball in the mid-to-late 80s understands that Ferry’s career averages of 15 points, seven rebounds, 3.5 assists and 77 percent from the free-throw line, meant more to Duke’s three Final Four runs than his naming to first and second All-American teams and splitting the Player of the Years Awards with Sean Elliott. Yet, he was not Durant

If the District of Colombia was, in fact, a state, then Juan Dixon who stayed close to home, attended Maryland University and led them to a National Title while being named NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player would be getting more consideration. His career averages of 16 points, 4 rebounds while hitting 90 percent from the free-throw line over 141 games would be good enough, but he was not Durant.

Over his 35 games at Texas, Durant averaged 26 points, 11 rebounds, and shot 81 percent from the free-throw line. Putting aside the Big 12 Player of Year and Rookie of Year awards, Durant claimed the six National Player of the Year awards. Whether basketball purists like it or not, if you are good enough to be a ‘one and done’ you are probably good enough to be the best college player to be born in Maryland.