Iowa: Harrison Barnes
Before attending North Carolina, Harrison Barnes was a legendary prep basketball player in Iowa. He thrived on the AAU circuit, won consecutive 4A state championships, and established himself as one of the consensus players at the top of his recruiting class.
Barnes hasn't exactly functioned as a star in the NBA. Compared to the dizzying level of hype he received before stepping foot on a professional court, he's actually been rather disappointing despite contributing valuable minutes to the championship-winning 2014-15 Golden State Warriors and making deep runs with plenty of other squads.
But don't let unmet expectations overshadow the fact that he's averaged 13.6 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 1.8 assists on efficient shooting (46.0/38.5/81.1) over a 14-year career filled with productivity and professionalism.
Honorable mentions: Nick Collison, Kirk Hinrich, Raef LaFrentz
Kansas: Alvan Adams
Were it not for an early retirement, Alvan Adams would likely be more of a household name for the current generation of basketball fans. He came into the NBA on a mission, winning Rookie of the Year and making the All-Star squad during his first go-round with the Phoenix Suns. Then he just kept thriving, showing off all sorts of toughness and skill that often manifested as passing excellence not typically seen from a true big man in the late-'70s and '80s.
But Adams' career lasted just 13 seasons before the mental toll of playing on losing Suns outfits became too much and he lost the passion for the game that fueled his initial surge to prominence. That prevented the Lawrence, Kansas, native from earning enough recognition for his excellent career, but he still did more than enough to outshine the state's other leading exports.
Honorable mentions: Lucius Allen, Larry Drew, Scott Wedman
Kentucky: Dave Cowens
Kentucky has produced a wealth of basketball talent — and we're not just talking about the historic excellence of the Wildcats program. But as great as Cliff Hagan, Wes Unseld, Rajon Rondo, Arnie Risen, Frank Ramsey, Allan Houston, and the rest of the 106 representatives may be, Dave Cowens ekes ahead.
Cowens exemplified hustle during his peak years with the Boston Celtics, winning MVP in 1972-73 and serving as the true galvanizing force the fandom needed after the end of the legendary Bill Russell and John Havlicek era. The Newport-born center would dive for every lose ball, play with unrelenting passion, and do whatever it took to ensure victory for his team (especially on the glass and as an unselfish distributor).
Honorable mentions: Cliff Hagan, Rajon Rondo, Wes Unseld
Louisiana: Bill Russell
Lifelong Louisiana residents know. The Pelican State isn't widely regarded as a cradle of basketball excellence, but it punches well above its weight class when talking about all-time greats. Clyde Drexler, Karl Malone, and Bob Pettit were all no-doubt Hall of Famers, and they ensure that Robert Parish, Elvin Hayes, Joe Dumars, and Willis Reed can't even work their way into the honorable mentions. And that's saying nothing of a next tier that's filled with notable players like Antawn Jamison, Rashard Lewis, Paul Millsap, Thaddeus Young, and plenty more.
But even with 125 possible players from Louisiana, Bill Russell is the obvious choice. The greatest winner in the sport's history and a generational defensive force, he led the biggest dynasty the NBA has ever seen and is an unquestioned member of sports royalty. Even though Russell last played in 1969, you don't know basketball if you aren't familiar with his game.
Honorable mentions: Clyde Drexler, Karl Malone, Bob Pettit
Add us as a preferred source on Google