Duke, West Virginia, Michigan St. & Butler have a combined 104 alumni players who spent time in the NBA, including 2 hall of famers. Let's take a look at the breakdown of this year's Final 4 alumni.
The Duke Blue Devils have sent 51 players to the NBA and have 14 currently active in the league. Their active total is more than the overall total of Butler & West Virginia.
Among Duke's active players are studs like Carlos Boozer, Shane Battier & Elton Brand. Of those 3, Boozer has the biggest potential to be the best NBA player of all time from Duke. He currently averages 17 points and 10 boards over his career and plays on a Utah Jazz team that has a realistic shot at deep playoff success.
Had Grant Hill not missed so many games due to injury, he most likely would be the greatest all time Duke grad. His current NBA career of average of 17.9 points would likely be higher and he may have even competed for a ring.
The Michigan St. Spartans featured one of the greatest players in college and NBA history, Hall of Famer Magic Johnson. He won a title at Michigan St and entered the NBA with the same winning attitude, earning a Finals MVP award en route to the championship in his rookie season. He's one of only 4 players to win a college championship and an NBA championship in back to back seasons.
37 Spartans have played in the NBA. Among the 13 who are currently active are Zach Randolph & Jason Richardson. Retired NBA Alumni include sharp shooter Steve Smith, Bucks coach Scott Skiles & ironman Kevin Willis who played until he was 44 years old.
The West Virginia Mountaineers featured another Hall of Fame guard in Jerry West. The WVa mascot might be Palinesque, but West is the logo of the NBA and a player who some consider to have been the best guard in his era. At 71 years of age, West has a son, not grandson, son named Jonnie who currently plays for his dad's alma mater. Other retired alumni include Utah Jazz announcer Hot Rod Hundley and Nets president Rod Thorn.
The only Mountaineer currently in the NBA is Joe Alexander. His game improved drastically under coach Bob Huggins at W.Va. and he's a promising sign of more Mountaineers on their way to the pros.
The Butler Bulldogs.
They've had 3 alumni who went on to play pro hoops. Bob Evans (not the sausage maker), Ralph O'Brien & Billy Shepherd. They played a combined total of 6 pro seasons.
Unrelated Butler County Community College of Pennsylvania has produced higher stats in every category with their one NBA alumni alone, Stephen Jackson.
This year's Butler squad have the Bulldogs on their biggest stage to date, the Final Four in their home city of Indianapolis. Perhaps we'll look back and see this as the year where Butler's tradition of NBA stars got their start.
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