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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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Kansas basketball all-time starting lineup
Wilt Chamberlain (Photo MATT CAMPBELL/AFP via Getty Images) /

Pennsylvania: Wilt Chamberlain

Just to ensure you are able to critique the next 334 words properly, allow me to tell you who was born in Pennsylvania. Wilt Chamberlain, Lionel Simmons, and Pete Maravich. That makes the all-time leading scorer in NCAA history, the fourth all-time scorer in NBA history, and Wilt Chamberlain. Since there is no correct answer let us explore what each has done. While doing that, we are thankful Kobe Bryant did not go to college.

Lionel Simmons won five of the six Player of the Year awards and was a two-time All-American (one-time first team), had career averages of over 24 points, 11 rebounds, and almost 3 assists during his 131 games with LaSalle. Simmons’ tournament stats over four games would be better. The 6’7 forward led LaSalle in scoring each year and the MAAC in his first three seasons. Impressive for LaSalle, but enough for Pennsylvania.

Pete Maravich has the most total points for an NCAA college career with 3,667 in 83 games over three seasons. Maravich attempted 3,166 field goals, which would have him attempting 684 more than Lionel Simmons, but Simmons is just 450 total points behind him. During his three seasons, while playing for his father at LSU, Maravich would be a three-time All-American and sweep the four Player of Year awards in 1970. His career averages of 44 points, 6.5 rebounds and five assists are impressive even while shooting 44 percent from the field. Maravich never played in the tournament, but not from lack of trying on his behalf.

Wilt Chamberlain may be the seventh-highest scorer all-time in NBA/ABA history, but over his 48 games in two years at Kansas he would not rack up such impressive totals. The 7-foot-1 center had fantastic averages though. At 30 points and 18 rebounds per game for his career, he was able to collect two All-American selections while losing Player of the Year to Oscar Robertson, and Lennie Rosenbluth, whose 28/9 average pale to Chamberlain’s 29/19. Chamberlain would be honored with the 1957 Most Outstanding Player of the Tournament by averaging over 30 points and 15 rebounds.