The first NBA Draft took place in 1947 when the Pittsburgh Ironmen selected Clifton McNeely out of Texas Wesleyan with the No. 1 overall selection. He was the first of five No. 1 picks from Texas. The other four selections from the Lone Star State were Howie Shannon in 1949, Larry Johnson in 1991, Shaquille O'Neal in 1992 and Kenyon Martin in 2000.
Despite Texas' early run at the top of the draft, Illinois and North Carolina claim the top spot on the list with seven No. 1 selections apiece. Walt Bellamy, Jimmy Walker, David Thompson, John Lucas, James Worthy, Brad Daugherty and
John Wall were each top picks from the Tar Heel State. Gene Melchiorre, Cazzie Russell, LaRue Martin, Doug Collins, Mark Aguirre,
Derrick Rose and
Anthony Davis were top selections from the Land of Lincoln.
Georgia has established itself as a hotbed for elite talent in recent years as the only state with three No. 1 overall selections since the turn of the century. The Peach State saw Kwame Brown selected No. 1 in 2001, Dwight Howard drafted first in 2003 and
Anthony Edwards picked with the top selection in 2020.
New York hasn't produced a No. 1 overall selection since Elton Brand was selected in 1999 but produced five top picks from 1953 through 1970, including six-time NBA MVP Lew Alcindor in 1969.
Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.) and Charleston (W.Va.) are the only high schools that have produced two No. 1 selections. Montverde Academy saw
Ben Simmons drafted No. 1 by the Philadelphia 76ers in 2016 and
Cade Cunningham selected first by the Detroit Pistons in 2021. Charleston alumni Mark Workman was taken No. 1 in 1952 and Hot Rod Hundley was picked by the Cincinnati Royals in 1957.
In total, 27 states have produced a No. 1 pick. Washington is among 11 states with one — with
Paolo Banchero being selected by the Orlando Magic last year in the 2022 NBA Draft.
If Victor Wembanyama goes No. 1 to the San Antonio Spurs tonight, he would mark the seventh international player selected atop the NBA Draft. Wembanyama would join Andrea Bargnani (2006), Andrew Bogut (2005), Yao Ming (2002), Michael Olowokandi (1998), Tim Duncan (1997) and Hakeem Olajuwon (1984).
T1. Illinois — 7
T1. North Carolina — 7
1961: Walt Bellamy, J.T. Barber (New Bern)
3. New York — 6
1969: Lew Alcindor, Power Memorial Academy (New York)
4. Texas — 5
T5. Georgia — 4
T5. Indiana — 4
1994: Glenn Robinson, Roosevelt (Gary)
T5. Virginia — 4
T5. West Virginia — 4
1957: Hot Rod Hundley, Charleston
1952: Mark Workman, Charleston
T9. Florida — 3
2016: Ben Simmons, Montverde Academy
T9. Michigan — 3
T11. California — 2
T11. District of Columbia — 2
1971: Austin Carr, Mackin
T11. Maryland — 2
T11. New Jersey — 2
T11. Ohio — 2
T11. Oklahoma — 2
T17. Arizona — 1
T17. Colorado — 1
T17. Kansas — 1
T17. Kentucky — 1
T17. Louisiana — 1
1968: Elvin Hayes, Eula D. Britton (Rayville)
T17. Massachusetts — 1
T17. Nebraska — 1
1959: Bob Boozer, Omaha Technical (Omaha)
T17. Nevada — 1
2013: Anthony Bennett, Findlay Prep (Henderson)
T17. Pennsylvania — 1
T17. South Carolina — 1
T17. Washington — 1
