The NBA Draft: A Showcase of College Basketball Talent
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The 2023 NBA draft has come and gone, with the San Antonio Spurs selecting French star Victor Wembanyama with the first-overall pick. But as we look back on the draft, it’s hard not to notice the dominance of college basketball programs in producing top talent. In fact, since the NBA draft’s inception in 1947, around 90 percent of first-round draft picks have come from Division I schools.
The Top 20 Schools with the Most NBA First-Round Draft Picks
| Rank | College | Conference | First-round picks |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kentucky | SEC | 58 |
| 2 | Duke | ACC | 55 |
| 3 | North Carolina | ACC | 53 |
| 4 | UCLA | Pac-12 | 45 |
| 5 | Kansas | Big 12 | 43 |
No surprises here, as these powerhouses of college basketball have consistently produced top talent. But what’s interesting is that these top 10 schools account for more than half of the NCAA championships alone.
The ACC: The Conference of Champions
The Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) has long been considered one of the premier conferences in college basketball, and the numbers back it up. With 285 players drafted in the first round, the ACC has produced an impressive 20 percent of all Division I players drafted. The Big Ten, Pac-12, and SEC are right behind, but the ACC’s dominance is clear.
The Future of College Basketball
As we look to the future, it’s exciting to think about the next generation of college basketball stars. Players like Malachi Moreno, a top-35 center in the class of 2025, are already making waves in the recruiting world. With offers from Indiana, Arkansas, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisville, North Carolina, Notre Dame, and Ohio State, Moreno is just one example of the talented players who will be taking the court in the coming years.
Malachi Moreno, a top-35 center in the class of 2025
The Olympics: A Showcase of College Talent
The 2024 U.S. Olympic women’s 3x3 basketball team is another example of the talent that college basketball produces. With players from Stanford, TCU, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Wake Forest, this team is a testament to the strength of college basketball programs. And with coaches like Jennifer Rizzotti, who played at UConn and coached at Hartford and George Washington, the Olympics are a true showcase of college talent.
Cameron Brink, a member of the 2024 U.S. Olympic women’s 3x3 basketball team
