Top Universities That Have Produced Elite NBA Players
Top Universities That Have Produced Elite NBA Players
The overwhelming majority of the professional basketball players we root for in the National Basketball Association (NBA) were also standouts during their collegiate campaigns. Each has honed their basketball skills at college, gaining notoriety and giving some measure of glory to their alma mater.
There are many schools worth mentioning when discussing basketball, but we've done the legwork to find the best ones that have produced the basketball elites we see in NBA today.
University of North Carolina
The program has produced 62 NBA players and has a track record of producing top-tier talent for the NBA. North Carolina has won six national championships overall, including three under current head coach Roy Williams.
While many current or future NBA stars started in North Carolina, Michael Jordan is the most famous Tar Heel of all time. Six times NBA champion Michael Jordan retired from the game in 2003 after winning titles in two different stints with the Chicago Bulls.
Plus, eight former Tar Heels competed in the NBA Playoffs last season, led by Cam Johnson and the Western Conference's best team, the Phoenix Suns. Former colleague Coby White, now in his third season with the Chicago Bulls, also participated in the postseason alongside Johnson last year.
University of California, Los Angeles
With its stellar reputation, this top university is sure to attract top-tier college basketball recruits. With the help of great coach John Wooden and solid recruiting, UCLA has won an unprecedented eleven NCAA titles.
Kevin Love, Russell Westbrook, Reggie Miller, and Lonzo Ballare some of the other former Bruins who have found success in the NBA. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the all-time leading scorer, and iconic center, graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles. He went on to win six NBA Championships as a player, one with the Milwaukee Bucks, then five with the Los Angeles Lakers.
University of Kansas
When it comes to NCAA basketball, the University of Kansas is a powerhouse. It has consistently topped the basketball charts and ranks well in college basketball betting odds.
The school has a ton of excellent players among its alums, as 81 of them have played in the NBA. Currently, 12 former Kansas players are playing in the NBA in the 2022-23 season. Famous examples are Marcus Garrett and Devon Kelly Oubre, Jr.
Three times national champions, the Jayhawks have also launched the careers of many current NBA stars. Wilt Chamberlain, a two-time NBA champion, was one of the game's all-time greats, averaging a record 30 points per game and 22 rebounds per game. Andrew Wiggins, Danny Manning, Paul Pierce, and Joel Embiid are a few more well-known players on the team.
University of Kentucky
The University of Kentucky consistently produces some of the nation's most promising young talents. Kentucky has made it to the Final Four 17 times throughout its history and has won eight national titles, good for second all-time. Kentucky's record under coach John Calipari is 307-71.
Twenty-five players who once played for the University of Kentucky are now playing in the NBA in 2022-2023. Anthony Davis, Devin Booker, and Rajon Rondo are just a few of the talented athletes Kentucky has produced.
Georgetown University
Patrick Ewing leads the team as its current head coach. Georgetown University, located in Washington, DC, has been to the Final Four five times and won the National Championship in 1984. They hold the record for most Big East Conference tournament victories with eight and the most Big East regular season championships with ten.
Patrick Ewing, a former center for the New York Knicks and one of the league's all-time greats, was a defensive powerhouse and made the NBA All-Star team 11 times throughout his career.
Duke University
Duke University's men's basketball team has been a symbol of excellence and glory for decades. Several of the greatest NBA players proudly donned the Blue Devils' uniform before going pro.
To date, the NBA draft has added over 107 alums of Duke University. As of the 2022-23 season, 21 players who once played for the Duke University basketball team are now active in the National Basketball Association. Since 1980, Coach Mike Krzyzewski has been in charge of the program and has steered the careers of stars such as Grant Hill, Kyrie Irving, Elton Brand, and Corey Maggette.
University of Michigan
When it comes to intercollegiate sports, Michigan is among the very best. Michigan has 15 Big Ten Conference titles and 2 Big Ten tournament crowns to go along with their 1 NCAA victory and 2 National Invitation Tournaments (NIT) crowns.
Starting NBA rosters for the 2022-23 season included nine former Michigan Wolverines basketball players. NBA veterans Trey Burke and Tim Hardaway, along with newcomers Isaiah Livers of the Detroit Pistons and Orlando Magic's Franz Wagner, are among the current crop of players.
To find Michigan's greatest NBA players, you must go back to the program's glory days in the 1970s and 1980s. Among NBA Wolverines, Chris Webber is supreme.
Final Thoughts
These schools have been giving their all in every match, highlighting promising players for bigger leagues like the NBA. This is proof that being a top-tier basketball player is no fluke. Instead, it takes commitment to the game and opportunities to hone one's skills, like that provided by a collegiate basketball team.