Duke Is Tops In NBA Draft Production Over The Past 25 Years

Ever wondered which college basketball programs have been the most successful in terms of producing NBA Draft selections over the past 25 years? Of course you have. It’s natural. Don’t let anyone tell you differently. That kid down the street is only mean because his dad is always working. Also because his dad is Kathy Griffin.

Because this is a sensitive subject and taking that first step is so difficult, I’ve gone ahead and tackled the issue in a clear, easy to understand fashion. We won’t even have to act like this talk ever happened once we’re done.

To ensure that both quality and quantity were taken into account appropriately for these rankings, I developed the simplest possible scoring system: three points for a lottery pick (the lottery included 14, 13, 11 and nine teams at various points over the past 25 years); two points for a non-lottery first-round pick; and one point for a second-round pick. It’s flawless.

Before unveiling the full list, let’s take a look at some notable figures.

-- A total of 200 Division-I programs have had at least one player selected in the NBA Draft between 1987-2011.

-- Duke leads the field in terms of lottery picks with 16. Arch-rival North Carolina ranks second with 14.

-- Despite checking in at No. 3 overall, Arizona has had more players drafted over the past 25 years than any other program with 34. Duke and UCLA are tied for the next most with 32.

-- Of UCLA’s 32 drafted players, 18 of them have been selected in the second round.

-- Kentucky, North Carolina, Georgia Tech and UCLA are tied for the most non-lottery first-round selections with nine.

-- Georgia Tech (8) is the highest-ranked program on the list that hasn’t won a national championship in the past 25 years. Texas (9), Georgetown (12), Memphis (13) and Louisville (14) also rank in the top 15 but haven’t cut down the nets since 1986.

-- Memphis is the highest-ranked non-BCS program on the list (14), while Gonzaga is the highest-ranked “mid-major” at No. 65.

And now, the top Division-I college basketball programs in terms of NBA Draft production over the past 25 years (score listed first, total number of picks in parentheses):

1. Duke - 70 (32)
2. North Carolina - 66 (29)
3. Arizona - 59 (34)
4. Kansas - 59 (27)
5. Kentucky - 55 (26)
6. Connecticut - 54 (25)
7. UCLA - 51 (32)
8. Georgia Tech - 45 (22)
9. Texas - 41 (22)
10. Syracuse - 36 (18)
11. Michigan - 35 (18)
12. Georgetown - 33 (15)
13. Maryland - 31 (18)
14. Memphis - 31 (17)
15. Louisville - 29 (13)
16. Michigan State - 28 (17)
17. Florida - 28 (16)
T-18. LSU - 28 (15)
T-18. Alabama - 28 (15)
20. Indiana - 27 (16)
21. Stanford - 27 (14)
22. Ohio State - 26 (13)
23. UNLV - 26 (10)
T-24. Illinois - 24 (14)
T-24 Cincinnati - 24 (14)
T-24 Florida State - 24 (14)
27. Wake Forest - 24 (11)
28. California - 22 (12)
29. USC - 21 (12)
30. Missouri - 21 (11)
31. Minnesota - 20 (10)
32. Providence - 19 (13)
T-33. Arkansas - 19 (10)
T-33 Temple - 19 (10)
35. Oklahoma - 18 (12)
T-36. North Carolina State - 18 (11)
T-36. Washington - 18 (11)
T-38. Villanova - 18 (10)
T-38. Oklahoma State - 18 (10)
T-38. Iowa State - 18 (10)
41. Iowa - 17 (13)
42. Georgia - 17 (12)
43. St. John’s - 17 (11)
T-44. Xavier - 17 (10)
T-44. Fresno State - 17 (10)
T-46. Notre Dame - 16 (9)
T-46. Oregon - 16 (9)
48. Utah - 16 (8)
49. Pittsburgh - 15 (10)
50. DePaul - 15 (9)
T-51. Boston College - 14 (8)
T-51. Clemson - 14 (8)
53. Wisconsin - 14 (7)
54. Purdue - 13 (10)
55. Marquette - 13 (9)
56. Arizona State - 13 (8)
T-57. BYU - 13 (6)
T-57. Seton Hall - 13 (6)
59. Tennessee - 12 (7)
T-60. Colorado - 12 (6)
T-60. New Mexico - 12 (6)
62. Miami - 11 (9)
63. Oregon State - 11 (5)
64. Mississippi State - 10 (7)
T-65. Gonzaga - 10 (6)
T-65. Virginia - 10 (6)
66. Nevada - 9 (6)
67. Auburn - 9 (6)
68. Houston - 8 (7)
69. Kansas State - 8 (4)
70. Bradley - 8 (3)
T-71. Vanderbilt - 7 (6)
T-71. UTEP - 7 (6)
T-73. Texas Tech - 7 (5)
T-73. Texas A&M - 7 (5)
T-73. Western Kentucky - 7 (5)
T-73. Washington State - 7 (5)
T-77. Baylor - 7 (4)
T-77. La Salle - 7 (4)
T-77. Nebraska - 7 (4)
T-80. West Virginia - 6 (4)
T-80. Massachusetts - 6(4)
T-80. Rhode Island - 6 (4)
T-80. Louisiana Tech - 6 (4)
T-80. Charlotte - 6 (4)
T-80. TCU - 6 (4)
T-86. St. Louis - 6 (3)
T-86. Ohio - 6 (3)
88. Long Beach State - 5 (5)
T-89. Ole Miss - 5 (4)
T-89. New Orleans - 5 (4)
T-91. VCU - 5 (3)
T-91. St. Joseph’s - 5 (3)
T-91. Pepperdine - 5 (3)
T-91. Wyoming - 5 (3)
T-91. Jacksonville - 5 (3)
T-96. Central Michigan - 5 (2)
T-96. San Jose State - 5 (2)
T-96. Southern Mississippi - 5 (2)
T-99. Morehead State - 4 (3)
T-99. Rutgers - 4 (3)
T-99. Colorado State - 4 (3)
T-99. South Carolina - 4 (3)
T-103. Jackson State - 4 (2)
T-103. Old Dominion - 4 (2)
T-103. Marist - 4 (2)
T-103. Butler - 4 (2)
T-107. Oral Roberts - 3 (3)
T-107. Murray State - 3 (3)
T-107. Mississippi Valley State - 3 (3)
T-107. Eastern Michigan - 3 (3)
T-107. Creighton - 3 (3)
T-107. Virginia Tech - 3 (3)
T-107. Tulsa - 3 (3)
T-107. UAB - 3 (3)
T-115. Richmond - 3 (2)
T-115. San Diego State - 3 (2)
T-115. Hofstra - 3 (2)
T-115. South Florida - 3 (2)
T-115. George Washington - 3 (2)
T-115. Louisiana-Lafayette - 3 (2)
T-115. Western Carolina - 3 (2)
T-122. Loyola Marymount - 3 (1)
T-122. Navy - 3 (1)
T-122. Hartford - 3 (1)
T-122. Tennessee State - 3 (1)
T-122. Wright State - 3 (1)
T-122. Pacific - 3 (1)
T-122. Ball State - 3 (1)
T-122. Bowling Green - 3 (1)
T-122. Colgate - 3 (1)
T-122. Davidson - 3 (1)
T-122. Miami (OH) - 3 (1)
T-122. Rider - 3 (1)
T-134. Tulane - 2 (2)
T-134. Santa Clara - 2 (2)
T-134. Arkansas-Little Rock - 2 (2)
T-134. Wisconsin-Green Bay - 2 (2)
T-134. Southern - 2 (2)
T-134. Tennessee Tech - 2 (2)
T-134. Cal State Fullerton - 2 (2)
T-134. Austin Peay - 2 (2)
T-134. Charleston - 2 (2)
T-134. Marshall - 2 (2)
T-144. Cleveland State - 2 (1)
T-144. IUPUI - 2 (1)
T-144. Eastern Washington - 2 (1)
T-144. Rice - 2 (1)
T-144. SMU - 2 (1)
T-144. Texas State - 2 (1)
T-144. Valparaiso - 2 (1)
T-144. Chattanooga - 2 (1)
T-144. Illinois-Chicago - 2 (1)
T-144. UMKC - 2 (1)
T-144. Georgia Southern - 2 (1)
T-144. East Carolina - 2 (1)
T-144. UCSB - 2 (1)
T-144. Northeastern - 2 (1)
T-158. Yale - 1 (1)
T-158. Missouri State - 1 (1)
T-158. South Alabama - 1 (1)
T-158. Loyola (Md.) - 1 (1)
T-158. Evansville - 1 (1)
T-158. Hawaii - 1 (1)
T-158. McNeese State - 1 (1)
T-158. Dartmouth - 1 (1)
T-158. Dayton - 1 (1)
T-158. Milwaukee - 1 (1)
T-158. Iona - 1 (1)
T-158. Saint Francis (Pa.) - 1 (1)
T-158. New Mexico State - 1 (1)
T-158. UNC-Wilmington - 1 (1)
T-158. Alabama State - 1 (1)
T-158. Cal State Bakersfield - 1 (1)
T-158. Drexel - 1 (1)
T-158. Pennsylvania - 1 (1)
T-158. Southern Illinois - 1 (1)
T-158. Duquesne - 1 (1)
T-158. Delaware - 1 (1)
T-158. Louisiana-Monroe - 1 (1)
T-158. Idaho - 1 (1)
T-158. Northern Arizona - 1 (1)
T-158. Illinois State - 1 (1)
T-158. Northwestern - 1 (1)
T-158. Penn State - 1 (1)
T-158. Florida A&M - 1 (1)
T-158. Toledo - 1 (1)
T-158. Boise State - 1 (1)
T-158. North Carolina Central - 1 (1)
T-158. Manhattan - 1 (1)
T-158. North Dakota - 1 (1)
T-158. Detroit - 1 (1)
T-158. Arkansas State - 1 (1)
T-158. Central Connecticut State - 1 (1)
T-158. Eastern Illinois - 1 (1)
T-158. Tennessee-Martin - 1 (1)
T-158. Central Florida - 1 (1)
T-158. Saint Mary’s - 1 (1)
T-158. Oakland - 1 (1)