Best NCAA basketball players from every state

Best NCAA basketball players ever from every state

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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Best NCAA Basketball players from every state

INDIANAPOLIS, IN – MARCH 08: The Ohio State Buckeyes mascot performs during the game against the Maryland Terrapins during the Championship game of Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on March 8, 2020 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by G Fiume/Maryland Terrapins/Getty Images) /

Ohio: Jerry Lucas

First, everybody needs to remember LeBron James did not attend college and was drafted directly out of Saint Vincent-Saint Mary high school. Secondly, when names such as Stephen Curry, Nate Thurmond, and John Havlicek are in the discussion one must recognize Ohio as a hotbed of basketball talent.

John Havlicek spent three years averaging over 14 points and pulling down more than 8 rebounds per game for Ohio State, numbers which would place him on the All-American second team, behind players such as Chet Walker and, yes, Jerry Lucas. Havlicek’s 16 and 10 average in the 1962 tournament won him All-Tournament Team honors. Although, with players like Oscar Robertson and, yes, Jerry Lucas getting national attention, Havlicek would have to be happy with the seventh overall pick in the NBA Draft, just six picks after number one, who was, yes, Jerry Lucas.

Nate Thurmond was a different type of player than Havlicek, at 6-foot-11 ‘Nate the Great’ would average almost 18 points and over 16 rebounds. He would be named to the second-team All-American while playing for Bowling Green State. To this day Bowling Green State has made the tournament four times, half those times Thurmond was the second-leading scorer, and basically the only player rebounding.

The discussion about Ohio college basketball begins and ends with, yes, Jerry Lucas, who remains the choice whenever these lists are made. His 24 point average (22 in the tournament), 17 rebounds (16 in the tournament), and 62 percent shooting from the field (57 in the tournament) has led to a slew of individual awards that is impossible to ignore. A three-time first-team All-American, three-time All-Tournament Team, two NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player awards, and sweeping the three Player of the Year awards two years in a row, are the accolades one would expect only LeBron to obtain. Except, yes, Lucas went to college.