New York state has produced many of the greatest NBA players in the league's long history, but which members of that long list would make up a theoretical starting lineup? Additionally, who would be on the starting five in California? Or North Carolina?
MaxPreps attempts to answer these questions for every state in the country, using the Win Shares formula originated by the people at Basketball-Reference.com.
Win Shares is a long and somewhat complicated formula that endeavors to rank players based on their contribution to a team's success. Theoretically, the players with the most Win Shares are the league's top players.
The formula produces some interesting rankings. For instance Isiah Thomas has long been considered one of the greatest players ever to play in Illinois while at St. Joseph Westinghouse in the late 1970s. However, Thomas's career NBA Win Shares total only makes him the ninth best player from Illinois and places him behind the likes of Jeff Hornacek, Jack Sikma and Dan Issel.
Another curiosity finds Walt Bellamy and Buck Williams on the first five in North Carolina ahead of the likes of Steph Curry and James Worthy.
With that being said, New York comes out on top with a combined Win Shares total of 823.66, coming in 50 points ahead of second-place California. North Carolina is the No. 3 team while Louisiana is No. 4.
Eight states did not have enough players reach the NBA and were not included in the rankings. They include Alaska, Hawaii, Idaho, Maine, New Hampshire, North Dakota, South Dakota and Vermont. Each starting five is listed with its overall Win Shares total, each player's high school and the player's NBA career Win Shares total.
James Harden, Artesia
File photo by Chris Williams
1. New York, 823.66
Kareem Abdul Jabbar, Power Memorial (New York), 273.41
Julius Erving,
Roosevelt, 181.11
Dolph Schayes,
DeWitt Clinton (Bronx), 142.4
Bob Lanier,
Bennett (Buffalo), 117.11
Elton Brand,
Peekskill, 109.63
2. California, 773.91
Reggie Miller,
Poly (Riverside), 174.4
Bill Russell,
McClymonds (Oakland), 163.51
Paul Pierce,
Inglewood, 150.04
Gary Payton,
Skyline (Oakland), 145.53
James Harden,
Artesia (Lakewood), 140.43
3. North Carolina, 766.31
Michael Jordan,
E.A. Laney (Wilmington), 214.02
Chris Paul,
West Forsyth (Clemmons), 184.68
Walt Bellamy, JT Barber (New Bern), 130.05
Buck Williams,
Rocky Mount, 120.09
Dominique Wilkins,
Washington, 117.47
4. Louisiana, 732.12
Karl Malone,
Summerfield, 234.6
Robert Parish,
Woodlawn-Shreveport (Shreveport), 147
Bob Pettit,
Baton Rouge, 136.05
Elvin Hayes, Britton, 120.76
Paul Millsap, Grambling, 93.75
5. Pennsylvania 703.26
Wilt Chamberlain,
Overbrook (Philadelphia), 247.26
Kobe Bryant,
Lower Merion (Ardmore), 172.74
Paul Arizin,
La Salle College (Wyndmoor), 108.8
Kyle Lowry, Cardinal Dougherty (Philadelphia), 97.06
Earl Monroe,
John Bartram (Philadelphia), 77.4
6. Illinois, 691.28
Kevin Garnett,
Farragut (Chicago), 191.42
Dan Issel,
Batavia, 157.82
Dwyane Wade,
Richards (Chicago), 120.71
Jack Sikma,
St. Anne, 112.46
Jeff Hornacek,
Lyons (LaGrange), 108.87
7. Ohio, 653.15
LeBron James,
St. Vincent-St. Mary (Akron), 241.35
John Havlicek,
Bridgeport, 131.72
Jerry Lucas,
Middletown, 98.41
Neil Johnston,
Chillicothe, 91.99
Charles Oakley,
John Hay (Cleveland), 89.68
8. Virginia, 646.46
Moses Malone,
Petersburg, 179.15
David Robinson,
Osbourn Park (Manassas), 178.67
Grant Hill,
South Lakes (Reston), 99.93
Allen Iverson,
Bethel (Hampton), 98.97
Alonzo Mourning,
Indian River (Chesapeake), 89.74
9. Texas, 641.57
Shaquille O'Neal,
Cole (San Antonio), 181.71
Clyde Drexler,
Sterling (Houston), 135.57
LaMarcus Aldridge,
Seagoville (Dallas), 112.29
Zelmo Beaty,
Woodville, 106
Chris Bosh,
Lincoln (Dallas), 106
10. Alabama, 595.63
Artis Gilmore, Carver (Dothan), 189.65
Charles Barkley,
Leeds, 177.21
Ben Wallace,
Central (Hayneville), 93.51
John Drew,
Shields (Beatrice), 68.91
Robert Horry,
Andalusia, 66.35
11. Indiana, 583.06
Oscar Robertson,
Indianapolis Crispus Attucks (Indianapolis), 189.21
Larry Bird,
Springs Valley (French Lick), 145.83
Shawn Kemp,
Concord (Elkhart), 89.51
Zach Randolph,
Marion, 81.12
Mike Conley,
Lawrence North (Indianapolis), 77.39
12. Michigan, 570.6
Magic Johnson,
Everett (Lansing), 155.79
Chet Walker,
Benton Harbor, 117.35
George Gervin,
King (Detroit), 116.28
Al Horford,
Grand Ledge, 92.47
Glen Rice,
Northwestern (Flint), 88.71
13. Washington, 545.02
John Stockton,
Gonzaga Prep (Spokane), 207.7
Detlef Schrempf,
Centralia, 109.52
Jason Terry,
Franklin (Seattle), 101.99
Marvin Williams,
Bremerton, 65.11
Jamal Crawford,
Rainier Beach (Seattle), 60.7
14. Georgia, 538.96
Dwight Howard,
Southwest Atlanta Christian (Atlanta), 135.64
Horace Grant,
Hancock Central (Sparta), 118.23
Walt Frazier,
Howard (Atlanta), 113.54
Dale Davis,
Stephens County (Toccoa), 86.86
Dale Ellis,
Marietta, 84.69
15. Maryland, 527.23
Kevin Durant,
Montrose Christian (Rockville), 144.4
Adrian Dantley,
DeMatha (Hyattsville), 134.22
Carmelo Anthony,
Towson, 103.45
Sam Cassel,
Dunbar (Baltimore), 87.46
Rudy Gay,
Archbishop Spalding (Severn), 57.7
16. Florida, 522.01
Vince Carter,
Mainland (Daytona Beach), 125.27
Otis Thorpe,
Lake Worth, 106.39
Eddie Jones,
Blanche Ely (Pompano Beach), 100.56
Tracy McGrady,
Auburndale, 97.27
Amare Stoudemire,
Cypress Creek (Orlando), 92.52
17. South Carolina, 477.78
Ray Allen,
Hillcrest (Simpsonville), 145.08
Larry Nance, McDuffie (Anderson), 109.57
Alex English,
Dreher (Columbia), 100.68
Jermaine O'Neal,
Eau Claire (Columbia), 65.95
Tyrone Corbin,
Flora (Columbia), 56.5
18. Tennessee, 450.44
Shawn Marion,
Clarksville, 124.91
Bailey Howell,
Middleton, 114.82
Marc Gasol,
Lausanne Collegiate (Memphis), 84.4
Thaddeus Young,
Mitchell (Memphis), 64.41
Anfernee Hardaway,
Treadwell (Memphis), 61.9
19. Arkansas, 438.8
Scottie Pippen,
Hamburg, 125.08
Sidney Moncrief,
Hall (Little Rock), 90.32
Joe Johnson,
Central (Little Rock), 82.85
Michael Cage,
West Memphis, 74.38
Caldwell Jones, Desha Central (Rohwer), 66.17
20. Kentucky, 404.48
Wes Unseld,
Seneca (Louisville), 110.08
Dave Cowens,
Newport Central Catholic (Newport), 86.32
Cliff Hagan,
Owensboro, 85.28
Jeff Mullins,
Lafayette (Lexington), 62.8
Rajon Rondo,
Eastern (Louisville), 60
21. New Jersey, 398.66
Rick Barry,
Roselle Park, 128.94
Luol Deng,
Blair Academy (Blairstown), 74.04
Billy Paultz,
River Dell (Oradell), 70.43
Kyrie Irving, St. Patrick (Elizabeth), 65.25
Tom Heinsohn, Saint Michael's (Union County), 60
22. Oregon 377.44
AC Green,
Benson Tech (Portland), 99.46
Kevin Love,
Lake Oswego (Lake Oswego), 82.02
Danny Ainge,
North Eugene (Eugene), 71.51
Terrell Brandon,
Grant (Portland), 65.95
Mike Dunleavy Jr.,
Jesuit (Portland), 58.5
23. West Virginia, 363.28
Jerry West, East Bank, 162.58
Hal Greer, Douglass, 102.5
Jason Williams, DuPont, 38.5
Patrick Patterson,
Huntington, 30.8
Gorgui Dieng,
St. Joseph Central (Huntington), 28.9
24. Wisconsin, 340.68
Terry Porter,
South (Milwaukee), 110.39
Fred Brown, Lincoln (Milwaukee), 63.19
Latrell Sprewell,
Washington (Milwaukee), 56.3
Nick Van Exel,
St. Joseph (Kenosha), 55.9
Devin Harris,
Wauwatosa East (Wauwatosa), 54.9
25. Connecticut, 334.74
Calvin Murphy,
Norwalk, 84.12
Marcus Camby,
Hartford Public (Hartford), 81.62
Andre Drummond,
St. Thomas More (Oakdale), 61.4
Mike Gminski,
Masuk (Monroe), 55.9
Rick Mahorn,
Weaver (Hartford), 51.7
26. Colorado, 324.25
Chauncey Billups,
George Washington (Denver), 120.78
Tom Chambers,
Fairview (Boulder), 78.97
Scott Wedman,
Mullen (Denver), 53.7
Joe Barry Carroll,
Denver East (Denver), 35.6
Michael Ray Richardson,
Manual (Denver), 35.2
27. Oklahoma, 315.71
Blake Griffin,
Oklahoma Christian (Edmond), 75.56
Alvan Adams,
Putnam City (Oklahoma City), 73.47
Mark Price,
Enid, 71.08
John Starks,
Central (Tulsa), 49.9
Wayman Tisdale,
Booker T. Washington (Tulsa), 45.7
28. Missouri, 314.27
Ed MaCauley,
St. Louis University (St. Louis), 100.42
David Lee,
Chaminade (St. Louis), 76.05
JoJo White,
McKinley Classical Leadership Academy (St. Louis), 54
Bradley Beal, Chaminade (St. Louis), 45
Bill Bradley,
Crystal City, 38.8
29. Arizona, 312.06
Richard Jefferson,
Moon Valley (Phoenix), 83.03
Mike Bibby,
Shadow Mountain (Phoenix), 73.23
Fat Lever,
Pueblo (Tucson), 61.2
Sean Elliott,
Cholla (Tucson), 55.7
Channing Frye,
St. Mary's (Phoenix), 38.9
30. Massachusetts, 303.25
Patrick Ewing,
Cambridge Rindge & Latin (Cambridge), 126.45
Dana Barros,
Xaverian Brothers (Westwood), 49.6
Steve Adams,
Notre Dame Prep (Fitchburg), 47.5
Jimmy Walker, Boston Trade, 42.9
Jarrett Jack,
Worcester Academy (Worcester), 36.8
31. Mississippi, 301.2
Al Jefferson,
Prentiss, 70.99
Antonio McDyess,
Quitman, 69.81
Clarence Weatherspoon, Motley (Columbus), 58.4
Purvis Short, Blair Center (Hattiesburg), 51.1
Sam Lacey,
Gentry (Indianola), 50.9
32. Minnesota, 297.74
Kevin McHale,
Hibbing, 113.04
Vern Mikkelsen, Askov, 83.4
Mark Olberding,
Melrose, 48
Kris Humphries,
Hopkins (Minnetonka), 30.3
Joe Pryzbilla,
Monticello, 23
33. District of Columbia, 274.72
Elgin Baylor, Springarn, 104.15
Dave Bing, Springarn, 68.77
Kermit Washington,
Coolidge, 36
Sherman Douglas, Springarn, 32.9
Austin Carr, Mackin, 32.9
34. Iowa, 246.8
Kyle Korver,
Pella, 73.4
Kirk Hinrich,
Sioux City West (Sioux City), 52.5
Nick Collison,
Iowa Falls, 44.5
Raef Lafrentz,
MFL MarMac (Monona), 39.4
Harrison Barnes,
Ames, 37
35. Kansas, 185.7
Danny Manning,
Lawrence, 55.1
Antoine Carr,
Heights (Wichita), 42.1
Lucious Allen,
Wyandotte (Kansas City), 42
Larry Drew, Wyandotte (Kansas City), 24.4
Darnell Valentine, Heights (Wichita), 22.1
36. Nebraska, 157.15
Bob Boozer, Omaha Tech, 64.25
Ron Boone, Omaha Tech, 59.3
Mike McGee,
Omaha North, 15.1
Eric Strickland,
Bellevue West (Bellevue), 13.4
Grant Simmons,
Benson (Omaha), 5.1
37. Nevada, 155.1
Tristan Thompson,
Findlay Prep (Henderson), 45.1
Greg Anthony, Rancho (Las Vegas), 38.5
Cory Joseph, Findlay Prep (Henderson), 24.5
CJ Watson,
Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas), 24.1
Lionel Hollins,
Rancho (Las Vegas), 22.9
38. New Mexico, 111.9
Bill Bridges,
Hobbs, 59.9
Kenny Thomas,
Albuquerque, 31.2
Chick Halbert,
House, 17.3
Jeff Taylor, Hobbs, 2.8
Elmore Morgenthaler, Hobbs, 0.7
39. Utah, 97.7
Shawn Bradley,
Emery (Castle Dale), 40.7
Fred Roberts,
Bingham (South Jordan), 26.2
Danny Vranes,
Skyline (Salt Lake City), 15.3
Travis Knight,
Alta (Sandy), 7.9
Arnie Ferren,
Ogden, 7.6
40. Wyoming, 49.6
James Johnson,
East (Cheyenne), 25.3
Kenny Sailors,
Laramie, 17.1
Vern Gardner,
Star Valley (Afton), 7.4
Leon Brown,
Central (Cheyenne), -0.1
John Pilch,
Hot Springs County (Thermopolis), -0.1
41. Montana, 49.2
Mike Lewis,
Sentinel (Missoula), 24.4
Larry Krystkowiak,
Big Sky (Missoula), 15.6
Ed Kalafat,
Anaconda, 5.3
Ray Kuka,
Havre, 3.2
Josh Huestis,
Russell (Great Falls), 0.7
42. Rhode Island, 42.6
Marvin Barnes,
Central (Providence), 20.6
MIchael Carter-Williams,
St. Andrew's (Barrington), 7.3
Joe Hassett,
La Salle Academy (Providence), 6.4
Ernie Calverley, East (Pawtucket), 5.8
Ernie DiGregerio,
North Providence, 2.5
43. Delaware, 10.9
Donte DiVincenzo,
Salesianum (Wilmington), 6.7
Terence Stansbury,
Newark, 2.4
AJ English,
Howard (Wilmington), 1.1
Laron Profit,
Caesar Rodney (Camden), 0.7
Dexter Boney,
Brandywine (Wilmington), 0
