Top 10 states with most first-round NBA draft picks since 1990

By Mitch Stephens Jun 20, 2019, 3:00pm

Golden State has produced most overall, while Texas claims three No. 1s and Virginia boast three Hall of Famers.

Video: Top NBA Draft producing states
These states have has produced the most first-round picks since 1990,

Since 1990, there have been 842 players selected in the first round of the NBA draft.

The Golden State has claimed nearly 10 percent of those picks, the most of any state in the country. However, Texas boasts the most No. 1 overall picks with three and Virginia lands three Hall of Famers — Allen Iverson, Grant Hill and Alonzo Mourning — among its first-rounders.

Here are the top 10 states where those picks attended high school.

1. California

Number of first-round picks since 1990: 79
Overall No. 1: None
Most accomplished: Jason Kidd of St. Joseph Notre Dame (Alameda)
Top current player: Kawhi Leonard of King (Riverside)

2. Texas
Number: 50
Overall No. 1: Larry Johnson (Hornets, 1991) of Skyline (Dallas); Shaquille O'Neal (Magic, 1992) of Cole (San Antonio); Kenyon Martin (Nets, 2000) of Adams (Dallas)
Most accomplished: O'Neal
Top current player: Jimmy Butler of Tomball



3. Illinois
Number: 39
Overall No. 1: Derrick Rose (Bulls, 2008) of Simeon (Chicago); Anthony Davis (Hornets, 2012) of Perspectives Leadership/IIT/Joslin/Tech (Chicago)
Most accomplished: Dwyane Wade of Richards (Oak Lawn)
Top current player: Davis

4. New Jersey
Number: 36
Overall No. 1: Kyrie Irving (Cavaliers, 2011) from Patrick School (Hillside.); Karl-Anthony Towns (Timberwolves, 2015) of St. Joseph (Metuchen)
Most accomplished: Irving
Top current player: Towns

5. New York
Number: 34
Overall No. 1: Elton Brand (Bulls, 1999) of Peekskill
Most accomplished: Joakim Noah of United Nations International (New York)
Top current player: Kemba Walker of Rice (New York)

6. Georgia
Number: 31
Overall No. 1: Dwight Howard (Magic, 2004) of Southwest Atlanta Christian (Atlanta)
Most accomplished: Howard
Top current player: Jaylen Brown of Wheeler (Marietta)

7. (tie) Florida
Number: 29
Overall No. 1: Ben Simmons (76ers, 2016) of Montverde Academy (Montverde)
Most accomplished: Amar'e Stoudemire of Cypress Creek (Orlando)
Top current player: Joel Embiid of The Rock (Gainesville)

7. (tie) Indiana
Number: 29
Overall No. 1: Glenn Robinson (Bucks, 1994) of Gary Roosevelt (Gary)
Most accomplished: Robinson
Top current player: Gordon Hayward of Brownsburg



9. North Carolina
Number: 28
Overall No. 1: John Wall (Wizards, 2010) of Word of God Christian Academy (Raleigh)
Most accomplished: Tracy McGrady of Zion Christian Academy (Roxboro)
Top current player: Stephen Curry of Charlotte Christian (Charlotte)

10. (tie) Maryland
Number: 27
Overall No. 1: Markelle Fultz (76ers, 2017) of DeMatha (Hyattsville)
Most accomplished: Kevin Durant of Montrose Christian (Rockville)
Top current player: Durant

10. (tie) Pennsylvania
Number: 27
Overall No. 1: None
Most accomplished: Kobe Bryant of Lower Merion (Ardmore)
Top current player: Kyle Lowry of Cardinal Dougherty (Philadelphia)

10. (tie) Virginia
Number: 27
Overall No. 1: Allen Iverson (76ers, 1996) of Bethel (Hampton); Joe Smith (Warriors, 1995) of Maury (Norfolk)
Most accomplished: Iverson
Top current player: JJ Redick of Cave Spring (Roanoke)

There were also 118 first-round picks who were born outside of the United States, including overall No. 1 selections Andrea Bargnani (Raptors, 2006) and Andrew Bogut (Bucks, 2005). Other overseas first-rounders since 1990 include Tim Duncan, Dirk Nowitzki and Dikembe Mutombo.
Graphic by Ryan Escobar