Not many players can claim to have been the first overall pick in the NBA draft.
The exclusive club does not include all-time greats like Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant, Giannis Antetokounmpo or 2024 NBA champion and Finals MVP Jaylen Brown.
The list of colleges that have produced a first overall NBA draft pick is even shorter. Here's a look at the college programs that have produced the most number one overall picks in NBA draft history; a history that dates back to 1947.
Duke: 5
The Duke Blue Devils have produced five of the NBA's top draft picks: Art Heyman (1963), Elton Brand (1999), Kyrie Irving (2011), Zion Williamson (2019) and Paolo Banchero (2022).
Duke's first overall picks have combined for three NBA Rookie of the Year awards and 13 NBA All-Star selections. While all five earned first-team NBA All-Rookie recognition, Irving is the only one to ultimately lead his team to an NBA championship.
kentucky: 3
Kentucky has produced three No. 1 overall NBA draft picks: John Wall (2010), Anthony Davis (2012) and Karl-Anthony Towns (2015). All three former Wildcats earned NBA All-Rookie First Team selections, while Towns was named the 2015-16 NBA Rookie of the Year.
Davis, who was drafted by New Orleans, won an NBA title with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2020.
16 schools tied with 2
Cincinnati (Oscar Robertson, 1960; Kenyon Martin, 2000)
Duquesne (Dick Ricketts, 1955; Si Green, 1956)
Georgetown (Patrick Ewing, 1985; Allen Iverson, 1996)
Houston (Elvin Hayes, 1968; Hakeem Olajuwon, 1984)
Indiana (Walt Bellamy, 1961; Kent Benson, 1977)
Kansas (Danny Manning, 1988; Andrew Wiggins, 2014)
Kansas State (Howie Shannon, 1949; Bob Boozer, 1959)
LSU (Shaquille O'Neal, 1992; Ben Simmons, 2016)
Maryland (John Lucas, 1976; Joe Smith, 1995)
Michigan (Cazzie Russell, 1966; Chris Webber, 1993)
North Carolina (James Worthy, 1982; Brad Daugherty, 1986)
Purdue (Joe Barry Carroll, 1980; Glenn Robinson, 1994)
UCLA (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, 1969; Bill Walton, 1974)
UNLV (Larry Johnson, 1991; Anthony Bennett, 2013)
Utah (Bill McGill, 1962; Andrew Bogut, 2005)
West Virginia (Mark Workman, 1952; Hot Rod Hundley, 1957)
31 schools tied for 1
Arizona (Deandre Ayton, 2018)
Bowling Green (Chuck Share, 1950)
Bradley (Gene Melchiorre, 1951)
Davidson (Fred Hetzel, 1965)
DePaul (Mark Aguirre, 1981)
Furman (Frank Selvy, 1954)
Georgia (Anthony Edwards, 2020)
State of Illinois (Doug Collins, 1973)
LIU Brooklyn (Ray Felix, 1953)
Louisville (Pervis Ellison, 1989)
Loyola Chicago (LaRue Martin, 1972)
Marshall (Andy Tonkovich, 1948)
Memphis (Derrick Rose, 2008)
Michigan State (Earvin Magic Johnson, 1979)
Minnesota (Mychal Thompson, 1978)
Marina (David Robinson, 1987)
North Carolina State (David Thompson, 1975)
Notre Dame (Austin Carr, 1971)
Ohio State (Greg Oden, 2007)
Oklahoma (Blake Griffin, 2009)
Oklahoma State (Cade Cunningham, 2021)
Pacific (Michael Olowokandi, 1998)
Providence (Jimmy Walker, 1967)
Seattle (Elgin Baylor, 1958)
Saint Bonaventure (Bob Lanier, 1970)
Syracuse (Derrick Coleman, 1990)
Texas Wesleyan (Clifton McNeely, 1947)
West Texas (Jim Barnes, 1964)
Virginia (Ralph Sampson, 1983)
Wake Forest (Tim Duncan, 1997)
Washington (Markelle Fultz, 2017)
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