With the NBA Draft pushed back this year, among all the other changes, it gave me time to go back and get data on every player selected from a current SEC school. The first draft under the NBA was back in 1950, and that’s where this series starts. I am going to go over each of the decades leading up to today as well as a final article summarizing the draft history of all fourteen SEC basketball programs.
Make sure to check out other posts in this series:
This series is mostly to publish all of the data that I have gathered so far, but I plan to add to it and add other interesting posts on specific aspects in the future.
To wrap everything up, I decided to put everything in the perspective of each of the current SEC schools. Kentucky has unsurprisingly carried the banner for the SEC in the NBA Draft almost the entire time, but several other programs have at least had eras of NBA Draft success.
While I only covered the NBA Drafts since 1950 in each of the decade posts, the numbers in the overview for each team will include all players drafted going back to the 1947 drafts before the NBA was officially the NBA.
Alabama Crimson Tide
Since 1949 Alabama has had 43 players selected in the NBA Draft. Fourteen of those players have been taken in the modern, two-round draft that has been the format since the 1989 NBA Draft.
Alabama’s highest-ever selection was Antonio McDyess being drafted second overall by the Los Angeles Clippers in the 1992 NBA Draft.
The most players taken in a single draft was four in the 1987 NBA Draft where Derrick McKey went ninth overall, Jim Farmer went 20th overall, Terry Coner went 44th overall, and Mark Gottfried went 157th overall.
The Crimson Tide have had eight first-round picks (since the modern two-round draft), five top ten picks, and two top-five picks. Alabama’s top ten picks were:
- George Linn (10th, Boston Celtics, 1956)
- Leon Douglas (4th, Detroit Pistons, 1976)
- Derrick McKey (9th, Seattle SuperSonics, 1987)
- Antonio McDyess (2nd, Los Angeles Clippers, 1995)
- Collin Sexton (8th, Cleveland Cavaliers, 2018)
Arkansas Razorbacks
Since 1948 Arkansas has had 42 players selected in the NBA Draft. Thirteen of those have been taken in the modern, two-round draft.
Arkansas’s highest-ever selection was George Kick being drafted second overall by the Indianapolis Jets in the 1948 NBA Draft.
The most players taken in a single draft was four in the 1992 NBA Draft where Todd Day went eighth overall, Oliver Miller went 22nd overall, Lee Mayberry went 23rd overall, and Isaiah Morris went 37th overall.
The Razorbacks have had seven first-round picks, seven top ten picks, and two top-five picks. Arkansas’s top ten picks were:
- George Kick (2nd, Indianapolis Jets, 1948)
- Ron Brewer (7th, Portland Trail Blazers, 1978)
- Sidney Moncrief (5th, Milwaukee Bucks, 1979)
- Alvin Robinson (7th, San Antonio Spurs, 1984)
- Joe Kleine (6th, Sacramento Kings, 1985)
- Todd Day (8th, Milwaukee Bucks, 1992)
- Joe Johnson (10th, Boston Celtics, 2001)
Auburn Tigers
Since 1960 Auburn has had 30 players selected in the NBA Draft. Six of those have been taken in the modern, two-round draft.
Auburn’s highest-ever selections were Chuck Person being drafted fourth overall by the Indiana Pacers in 1986 and Chris Morris being drafted fourth overall by the New Jersey Nets (now Brooklyn Nets) in 1988.
The most players taken in a single draft was three in the 1988 NBA Draft where Chris Morris went fourth overall, Jeff Moore went 58th overall, and Mike Jones went 63rd overall.
The Tigers have had four first-round picks, three top ten picks, and three top-five picks. Auburn’s top ten picks were:
- Charles Barkley (5th, Philadelphia 76ers, 1984)
- Chuck Person (4th, Indiana Pacers, 1986)
- Chris Morris (4th, New Jersey Nets, 1988)
Florida Gators
Since 1949 Florida has had 36 players selected in the NBA Draft. Twenty of those have been taken in the modern, two-round draft.
Florida’s highest-ever selection was Neal Walk being drafted second overall by the Phoenix Suns in the 1969 NBA Draft.
The most players taken in a single draft was five in the 2007 NBA Draft where Al Horford went third overall, Corey Brewer went seventh overall, Joakim Noah went ninth overall, Chris Richard went 41st overall, and Taurean Green went 52nd overall.
The Gators have had ten first-round picks, seven top ten picks, and four top-five picks. Florida’s top ten picks were:
- Neal Walk (2nd, Phoenix Suns, 1969)
- Jason Williams (7th, Sacramento Kings, 1998)
- Mike Miller (5th, Orlando Magic, 2000)
- Al Horford (3rd, Atlanta Hawks, 2007)
- Corey Brewer (7th, Minnesota Timberwolves, 2007)
- Joakim Noah (9th, Chicago Bulls, 2007)
- Bradley Beal (3rd, Washington Wizards, 2012)
Georgia Bulldogs
Since 1951 Georgia has had 37 players selected in the NBA Draft. Fourteen of those have been taken in the modern, two-round draft.
Georgia’s highest-ever selection was Dominique Wilkins being drafted third overall by the Utah Jazz in the 1982 NBA Draft.
The most players taken in a single draft was three in the 1973 NBA Draft where Tim Bassett went 106th overall, Rod Hogue went 116th overall, and John Fraley went 195th overall.
The Bulldogs have had five first-round picks, four top ten picks, and one top-five pick. Georgia’s top ten picks were:
- Dominique Wilkins (3rd, Utah Jazz, 1982)
- Willie Anderson (10th, San Antonio Spurs, 1988)
- Jarvis Hayes (10th, Washington Wizards, 2003)
- Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (8th, Detroit Pistons, 2013)
Kentucky Wildcats
Since 1947 Kentucky has had 131 players selected in the NBA Draft. Fifty-four of those have been taken in the modern, two-round draft.
Kentucky’s highest-ever selections were John Wall being drafted first overall by the Washington Wizards in 2010, Anthony Davis being drafted first overall by the New Orleans Pelicans in 2012, and Karl-Anthony Towns being drafted first overall by the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2015.
The most players taken in a single draft were six in the 2012 NBA Draft and then again in the 2015 NBA Draft.
The Wildcats have had 40 first-round picks, 25 top ten picks, and 11 top-five picks. Kentucky’s top-five picks were:
- Alex Groza (4th, Indianapolis Olympians, 1949)
- Rick Robey (3rd, Indiana Pacers, 1978)
- Sam Bowie (2nd, Portland Trail Blazers, 1984)
- Kenny Walker (5th, New York Knicks, 1986)
- Jamal Mashburn (4th, Dallas Mavericks, 1993)
- John Wall (1st, Washington Wizards, 2010)
- Demarcus Cousins (5th, Sacramento Kings, 2010)
- Anthony Davis (1st, New Orleans Pelicans, 2012)
- Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (2nd, Charlotte Hornets, 2012)
- Karl-Anthony Towns (1st, Minnesota Timberwolves, 2015)
- De’Aaron Fox (5th, Sacramento Kings, 2017)
### LSU Tigers
Since 1948 LSU has had 57 players selected in the NBA Draft. Twenty-one of those have been taken in the modern, two-round draft.
LSU’s highest-ever selections were Shaquille O’Neal being drafted first overall by the Orlando Magic in 1992 and Ben Simmons being drafted first overall by the Philadelphia 76ers in 2016.
The most players taken in a single draft was four in the 1981 NBA Draft where Greg Cook went 40th overall, Rudy Macklin went 52nd overall, Ethan Martin went 74th overall, and Willie Sims went 101st overall.
The Tigers have had nine first-round picks, eight top ten picks, and eight top-five picks. LSU’s top ten picks were:
- Joe Dean (5th, Indianapolis Olympians, 1952)
- Bob Petitt (2nd, Milwaukee Hawks, 1954)
- Pete Maravich (3rd, Atlanta Hawks, 1970)
- Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf (3rd, Denver Nuggets, 1990)
- Shaquille O’Neal (1st, Orlando Magic, 1992)
- Stromile Swift (2nd, Vancouver Grizzlies, 2000)
- Tyrus Thomas (4th, Portland Trail Blazers, 2006)
- Ben Simmons (1st, Philadelphia 76ers, 2016)
Mississippi State Bulldogs
Since 1951 Mississippi State has had 25 players selected in the NBA Draft. Nine of those have been taken in the modern, two-round draft.
Mississippi State’s highest-ever selection was Bailey Howell being drafted fourth overall by the Detroit Pistons in the 1959 NBA Draft.
The most players taken in a single draft was three in the 1983 NBA Draft where Jeff Malone went tenth overall, Kalpatrick Wells went 74th overall, and Terry Lewis went 92nd overall.
The Bulldogs have had three first-round picks, three top ten picks, and one top-five pick. Mississippi State’s top ten picks were:
- Bailey Howell (4th, Detroit Pistons, 1959)
- Jeff Malone (10th, Washington Bullets, 1983)
- Erick Dampier (10th, Indiana Pacers, 1996)
Missouri Tigers
Since 1948 Missouri has had 50 players selected in the NBA Draft. Sixteen of those have been taken in the modern, two-round draft.
Missouri’s highest-ever selection was Steve Stipanovich being drafted second overall by the Indiana Pacers in the 1983 NBA Draft.
The most players ever taken in a single draft were three in the 1974 NBA Draft and again in the 1977 NBA Draft.
The Tigers have had nine first-round picks, five top ten picks, and one top-five pick. Missouri’s top ten picks were:
- Bob Stauffer (7th, Boston Celtics, 1952)
- John Brown (10th, Atlanta Hawks, 1973)
- Steve Stipanovich (2nd, Indiana Pacers, 1983)
- Doug Smith (6th, Dallas Mavericks, 1991)
- Keyon Dooling (10th, Orlando Magic, 2000)
Ole Miss Rebels
Since 1955 Ole Miss has had 15 players selected in the NBA Draft. Four of those have been taken in the modern, two-round draft.
Ole Miss’s highest-ever selection was Gerald Glass being drafted 20th overall by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the 1990 NBA Draft.
The most players ever taken in a single draft were two in the 1983 NBA Draft where Carlos Clark went 91st overall and Roger Stieg went 95th overall.
The Rebels have had one first-round pick and no top ten or top-five picks. The only first-round pick was:
- Gerald Glass (20th, Minnesota Timberwolves, 1990)
South Carolina Gamecocks
Since 1951 South Carolina has had 39 players selected in the NBA Draft. Four of those have been taken in the modern, two-round draft.
South Carolina’s highest-ever selections were when Gary Gregor was drafted eighth overall by the Phoenix Suns in the 1968 NBA Draft and Tom Riker was drafted eighth overall by the New York Knicks in the 1972 NBA Draft.
The most players ever taken in a single draft was four in the 1968 NBA Draft where Gary Gregor went eighth overall, Skip Harlicka went 13th overall, Jack Thompson went 33rd overall, and Frank Standard went 169th overall.
The Gamecocks have had one first-round pick, two top ten picks, and zero top-five picks. South Carolina’s top ten picks were:
- Gary Gregor (8th, Phoenix Suns, 1968)
- Tom Riker (8th, New York Knicks, 1972)
Tennessee Volunteers
Since 1948 Tennesse has had 51 players selected in the NBA Draft. Thirteen of those have been taken in the modern, two-round draft.
Tennessee’s highest-ever selection was Tom Boerwinkle being drafted fourth overall by the Chicago Bulls in the 1968 NBA Draft.
The most players ever taken in a single draft were three in the 1950 NBA Drat, 1977 NBA Draft, and again in the 2019 NBA Draft.
The Volunteers have had four first-round picks, three top ten picks, and one top-five pick. Tennessee’s top ten picks were:
- Tom Boerwinkle (4th, Chicago Bulls, 1968)
- Bernard King (7th, New Jersey Nets, 1977)
- Dale Ellis (9th, Dallas Mavericks, 1983)
Texas A&M Aggies
Since 1951 Texas A&M has had 30 players selected in the NBA Draft. Six of those have been taken in the modern, two-round draft.
Texas A&M’s highest-ever selection was Acie Law being drafted 11th overall by the Atlanta Hawks in the 2007 NBA Draft.
The most players ever taken in a single draft were two in the 1952 NBA Draft, 1969 NBA Draft, 1976 NBA Draft, 1981 NBA Draft, and 1983 NBA Draft.
The Aggies have had three first-round picks and no top ten or top-five picks. Texas A&M’s first-round picks were:
- Antoine Wright (15th, New Jersey Nets, 2005)
- Acie Law (11th, Atlanta Hawks, 2007)
- Robert Williams (27th, Boston Celtics, 2018)
Vanderbilt Commodores
Since 1950 Vanderbilt has had 40 players selected in the NBA Draft. Twelve of those have been taken in the modern, two-round draft.
Vanderbilt’s highest-ever selection was Clyde Lee being drafted third overall by the San Franciso Warriors (now Golden State Warriors) in the 1966 NBA Draft.
The most players ever taken in a single draft were three in the 1974 NBA Draft and again in the 2012 NBA Draft.
The Commodores have had six first-round picks, two top ten picks, and two top-five picks. Vanderbilt’s top ten picks were:
- Clyde Lee (3rd, San Francisco Warriors, 1966)
- Darius Garland (5th, Cleveland Cavaliers, 2019)