The Best Kentucky Basketball Player From Each State

Today, July 4, is a celebration of the United States of America–all fifty of them–and the Declaration of Independence that set the original thirteen free. Here at KSR, we are particularly fond of the fifteenth state, the Commonwealth of Kentucky, for its natural beauty, Bluegrass culture, music, horse racing, bourbon, and the Kentucky Wildcats. The latter brings us all together as the Big Blue Nation.

On the anniversary of the U.S. becoming a nation, let’s celebrate Kentucky Basketball and America with a state-by-state analysis of past Wildcat greats. These are the best Kentucky Basketball players from each state and the thirteen states that never had a Wildcat.

Kentucky and Illinois have multiple players listed because it is a holiday and I don’t feel like arguing. You’ll understand.

Alabama (6)

• DeMarcus Cousins (2009-10)

Alaska (1)

• Ramon Harris (2006-10)

Arizona (1)

• TyTy Washington (2021-22)

Arkansas (5)

• Malik Monk (2016-17)

California (16)

• Tayshaun Prince (1998-2002)

Colorado (4)

• Lavon Williams (1976-80)

Connecticut (2)

• Chuck Aleksinas (1977-79)

Delaware (0)

Florida (15)

• Brandon Knight (2010-11)

Georgia (19)

• Kenny Walker (1982-86)

Hawaii (0)

Idaho (0)

Illinois (28)

• Dan Issel (1967-70)
• Anthony Davis (2011-12)

Indiana (48)

• Kyle Macy (1977-80)

Iowa (1)

• Milton Cavana (1930-31)

Kansas (2)

• Willie Cauley-Stein (2012-15)

Kentucky (411)

• Ralph Beard (1945-49)
• Cliff Hagan (1950-54)
• Jack Givens (1975-78)

Louisiana (3)

• Cotton Nash (1961-64)

Maine (0)

Maryland (4)

• Immanuel Quickley (2018-20)

Massachusetts (9)

• Wayne Turner (1995-99)

Michigan (8)

• Joe Crawford (2004-08)

Minnesota (1)

• Reid Travis (2018-19)

Mississippi (2)

• Dale Brown (1991-93)

Missouri (5)

• Josh Harrellson (2008-11)

Montana (0)

Nebraska (0)

Nevada (0)

New Hampshire (2)

• Wenyen Gabriel (2016-18)

New Jersey (12)

• Karl-Anthony Towns (2014-15)

New Mexico (0)

New York (19)

• Jamal Mashburn (1990-93)

North Carolina (8)

• John Wall (2009-10)

North Dakota (0)

Ohio (32)

• Alex Groza (1944-49)

Oklahoma (3)

• Kelenna Azubuike (2002-05)

Oregon (2)

• Terrence Jones (2010-12)

Pennsylvania (12)

• Sam Bowie (1979-84)

Rhode Island (0)

South Carolina (0)

South Dakota (1)

• Terry Shigg (1986-87)

Tennessee (14)

• Tony Delk (1992-96)

Texas (13)

• Aaron and Andrew Harrison (2013-15)

Utah (1)

• Nate Knight (1999-00)

Vermont (0)

Virginia (5)

• Keith Bogans (1999-03)

Washington (1)

• Mark Pope (1993-96)

West Virginia (9)

• Patrick Patterson (2007-10)

Wisconsin (2)

• Tyler Herro (2018-19)

Wyoming (0)

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Player hometown database courtesy of Big Blue History.