Image Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Kentucky Lead the Pack: Top-10 Colleges with the Most Active NBA Players

Top 10 Colleges with the Most Active NBA Players

Image Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images

Some colleges have been elite in their production of NBA caliber players and have stood aside. Kentucky and Duke have double the players in NBA than most of the top-10 colleges. Let’s look at the Top-10 colleges with the most active NBA players from all over the nation.

1. Kentucky – 29 players

Kentucky has consistently led all colleges in sending players to the NBA. From John Wall to De’Aaron Fox to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Tyrese Maxey. Kentucky guards have a strong track record of translating college success into NBA impact.

However, the best prospect is Anthony Davis. A Top 75 honoree, one NBA championship and 10 All-Star selections. The big man is one of a specimen in his NBA career.

Best starting five-

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Devin Booker
Karl-Anthony Towns
Anthony Davis
Bam Adebayo

2. Duke – 24 players

With multiple first overall picks in Irving, Banchero and Williamson, Duke is producing talent of the highest calibre. Some of the best forwards in the league belong to Duke with another coming. Cooper Flagg is rumored to be the first pick of the 2025 NBA Draft.

Best starting five –

Kyrie Irving
Brandon Ingran
Zion Williamson
Jayson Tatum
Paolo Banchero

3. UCLA – 14 players

Russell Westbrook is the best player ever to come out of UCLA. The Nuggets guard won the 2017 MVP and is the only player to have averaged a triple-double throughout a season for multiple seasons.

Best starting five-

Russell Westbrook
Jrue Holiday
Zach Lavine
Kevin Love
Kevon Looney

4. Arizona – 12 players

Lauri Markkanen is the pick of the bunch. The 7-footer is only behind Dirk Nowitzki in most threes made by a 7-footer. Nuggets’, Aaron Gordon is also among the best after pairing up with Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray.

Best Starting five –

T.J. McConnell
Bennedict Mathurin
Lauri Markkanen
Aaron Gordon
Deandre Ayton

5. Arkansas – 11 players

Bobby Portis has played most of his career from the bench. Pairing up with Giannis Antetokounmpo in Milwaukee, Portis’ provided valuable help in the 2021 Bucks’ championship.

Best Starting five –

Anthony Black
Isaiah Joe
Mooses Moody
Bobby Portis
Daniel Gafford

6. Gonzaga – 11 players

Domantas Sabonis is averaging 16.1 points, 10.6 rebounds and 4.9 assists per game in his career. He has led the league two-times in rebounding and has two All-Star and two All-NBA appearances.

Best Starting five –

Andrew Nembhard
Jalen Suggs
Rui Hachimura
Domantas Sabonis
Chet Holmgren

7. Kansas – 11 players

Joel Embiid had a sensational run before picking up an injury in the 2023-24 regular season. He won the MVP in 2022-23, made 7 All-Star appearances, 5 All-NBA teams and was a two-time scoring champ. He averages 27.7 points, 11.0 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game in his NBA career.

Best Starting five –

Quentin Grimes
Christian Braun
Andrew Wiggins
Kelly Oubre Jr.
Joel Embiid

8. USC – 11 players

DeMar DeRozan is only 17 points shy of reaching the 25,000 points barrier in the regular season. The forward has some of the best jumper shots along with clutch abilities. He will become the 27th player to score 25k points in the league.

Best starting five –

Isaiah Collier
De’ Anthony Melton
DeMar DeRozan
Evan Mobley
Nikola Vucevic

9. Michigan – 11 players

The brother duo of Franz Wagner and Moritz Wagner have turned out to be great prospects, especially Franz. However, Poole remains the unbeaten top-pick. The guard was sensational in the 2022 Warriors championship run and played a vital role in the NBA Finals against the Boston Celtics.

Best starting five –

Jordan Poole
Tim Hardaway Jr.
Caris LeVert
Franz Wagner
Moritz Wagner

10. Baylor – 11 players

Taurean Prince has made more than 550 appearances in his NBA career. One of the best utility player in the last decade, Prince averages 9.9 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game. The forward has been on a journeymen route, playing for five teams in the last five years.

Best starting five –

Keyonte George
Jeremy Sochan
Royce O’ Neale
Taurean Prince
Yves Missi

Duke Blue Devils

Jayson Tatum

Kentucky Wildcats

NBA 2024-25

Shai Gilgeous Alexander

Suryansh Kumar

NBA/WNBA Writer

nba

wnba

Hello, my name is Suryansh, and I write NBA/WNBA content for ThePlayoffs. I love sports, which is why I write and I love the NBA because of the stats. My aim is to find unique stats and perspectives to provide my readers with another angle on sports.