The following states have produced some of the top-quality athletes in the country. This list is based on which states had the most athletes recruited as a top 100 player in the country.
These athletes may not have ended up playing college basketball in their home state. However, the success they found in college may tell you something about where they got started.
(5) Indiana
Indiana is an interesting case of popular and successful athletes. They have had some of the best sibling pairs of athletes, the Zeller brother's being just one example.
The freshmen who have come out of Indiana are known for their skills and the way that they can take the basketball programs at their respective schools to the next level. The Hoosiers' athletic program is best known for basketball and the athletes that go through that program.
The history of the college's NCAA championships encourages the state to have a lot of camaraderie around the sport.
(4) Illinois
Chicago, Illinois is a city that pumps out athletes like it's nothing. In 2014 both of the top two prospects were from Chicago. Getting athletes from Chicago is a privilege and the city is a pinnacle point for sports in the Midwest.
The Chicago area and Illinois have had a total of 68 players drafted to the NBA since the beginning of the league.
The state overall ensures that anybody that enters their basketball program leaves with a better understanding of the sport and a higher degree of skill.
(3) North Carolina
This state is a given to be on this list. With Duke and North Carolina being among the biggest names in college basketball every year, the state molds their athletes to match this level of playing.
Growing up in a state where all eyes are on the Tar Heels and the Blue Devils, young basketball players seem to always make playing for one of the state's top schools their goal. This checks out for the number of quality basketball athletes that North Carolina puts into each year's national recruiting class.
(2) California
California is one of the biggest states which means the amount of athletes is already going to be more fertile.
Having to keep up with the powerhouses of the West Coast Conference, such as the Gonzaga Bulldogs, pushes the athletes to get to the top. Having their legendary program, UCLA is another motivator for athletes in southern California.
While these are all great things, California could not be number one because they seem to have dry spells when producing athletes. When they do send out a star athlete, however, they end up being one of the top talents of their generation.
(1) Texas
Texas athletics is in another league. They send the top athletes for not only basketball but also football. Texas focuses a lot on the performance of its athletes and athleticism is very well admired in the state.
Although many of the top Texas athletes do not end up staying in the state, it is big news when a large Division I school in the state gets a top prospect from the area. With a total of 21 Division I colleges in the state, they try to boost the drive to win from a young age for athletes in the huge region.
In any sport, one can notice that some of the best athletic performances from collegiate athletes will be consistent with the states that have some of the best Division I college programs in that sport.
This can be a result of camaraderie, motivation, or even the history of a family being involved in those athletic programs. In the end, every state trains its athletes to the best of its ability.
