Best NCAA basketball players ever from every state

Mississippi: Danny Manning

There are a select few players in NCAA history whose name is synonymous with basketball greatness. When the name Danny Manning is mentioned, regardless of what decade you grew up watching you know the name. Whether it be from commentators comparing current day players, or highlights being shown, either way, there is no shortage of Manning lore.

Manning averaged 20 points, eight rebounds and a 59 field goal percentage with a 74 success rate from the free-throw line over 147 regular-season games, as well, he maintained those stats over his 16 tournament games. Thanks in part to his regular-season stats, Manning found himself as an All-American three times and split the six Player of the Year awards with Hershey Hawkins. In addition, his tournament stats earned him a Most Outstanding Player award when Kansas won the title in his senior year.

Contenders for best Mississippi born college player were volume scorers Mahmoud Abdul -Rauf and Purvis Short. Abdul-Rauf averaged 29 points in his 64 games at LSU on 47 percent shooting from the field. He would have similar success in the two tournament games he played in and was named to two All-American teams, over players such as Lionel Simmons and Alonzo Mourning

Short would play only one year at Jackson State but averaged an impressive 29.5 points per game as the SWAC Player of Year. Chet Walker, another two-time All-American from Bradley University averaged over 24 points and 13 rebounds over three years in the late 50s to early 60s. Walker as well never played a game in the tournament.

Tournament success is an indication of a great team, rather than just one special player, but during his tournament runs Manning established himself in an area that the others did not. Coming up big when it matters is a sign of a great player.