Best NCAA basketball players ever from every state

Minnesota: Kevin McHale

There are a number of reasons to not give the title of Minnesota’s best college player to Kevin McHale or Dick Garmaker. There are reasons that both would be an acceptable choice. Both players stayed in-state to play with the Golden Gophers, yet neither was the hometown hero who was able to lead their squad to the National Tournament. McHale would be selected third overall, whereas Garmaker would be selected 80th, which is a good indication that his college career was better.

Garmaker suited up for the Golden Gophers in the mid-1950s, approximately 20 years before McHale. His career scoring average is eight points better in 68 fewer games, but McHale averaged one more rebound, shot 15 percent better from the field, and three percent better from the free-throw line. The scoring average is closer if McHale’s first two seasons are not accounted for. Regardless, the scoring average is not going to win you the title of your state’s best player, so we turn to how they were placed among their peers.

McHale made the All-Big 10 team but was never an All-American, that honor was bestowed upon players like Magic Johnson, Bird, Gminski, and Joe Barry Carrol, who happen to be the best collegiate players in their state. Garmaker shared the All-American stage with Russell and Tom Gola, but overall the competition was not as stiff as McHale faced.

Comparing McHale and Garmaker to determine the best collegiate player to be born in Minnesota is a practice in persuasive essay writing that would make any college professor proud, and when done, there is support for it being McHale.