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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(Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /

North Carolina: David Thompson

The state of North Carolina is really good at preparing peanuts in various ways in order to eat them. North Carolina is also very good at producing great basketball players who stay in-state to play college. James Worthy and Bob McAdoo played at North Carolina University and David Thompson played at North Carolina State.

Out of the three, only McAdoo was unable to win a national title, although it was not from lack of effort on his part. In his 31 games McAdoo averaged 20 points in the regular season and in four tournament games, his rebounds increased by four to 14 in the tournament. These are the types of stats that made him an All-American and was selected to the NCAA All-Tournament team in 1972. With Bill Walton dominating at UCLA, Player of the Year was out of the question, but the best North Carolina born player is a possibility.

James Worthy did not have the stats to compete with McAdoo’, but his individual awards were just as good. Over his three seasons, the 6-foot-9 Gastonia native; averaged over14 points and seven rebounds over 84 games, was an All-American, made the NCAA-All Tournament team as well as the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player. Despite Worthy’s tournament scoring average being one point higher it was not at the level of David Thompson.

Not only did Thompson make the All-Tournament team, win the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player, but he was also a three-time All-American who swept the five organization’s Player of the Year awards a year after winning the one award Walton did not. With a per game regular-season average of 27 points and eight rebounds, David Thompson is the best collegiate player born in North Carolina. All that without even discussing Chris Paul or Zion Williamson.