Kentucky colleges are a power player pipeline. 30+ NBA players with Kentucky ties

Kentucky is a basketball state. Don't believe it? Just look at the numbers.

From all-stars, to champions, to eventual hall of famers, these 35 active NBA players have a connection with Kentucky through their alma mater or hometowns. And with the 2022-2023 NBA season tipping off this week, there's no better time to take a look at the players in the league with ties to the Bluegrass State.

Bam Adebayo, Miami Heat

Before becoming one of the NBA's best centers, Bam Adebayo played one season at Kentucky (2016-2017). During his time in Lexington, Adebayo averaged 13 points and 8 rebounds per game. That year he took the Wildcats to the Elite Eight and was selected First Team SEC.

Karl Anthony-Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves

Karl Anthony-Towns averaged 10.3 points and 6.7 rebounds while only playing a mere 21 minutes a game at Kentucky in 2014-15. Despite the quiet numbers, Anthony-Towns blossomed into the NBA star he was expected to be. After winning Rookie of the Year in 2016, Anthony-Towns has been selected to the All-Star game three times and made the All-NBA Third Team twice.

Dalano Banton, Toronto Raptors

Dalano Banton made history when he was the first Canadian drafted by the Toronto Raptors in 2021. In one season at Western Kentucky, Banton averaged 3.4 points, 3.0 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game before transferring to Nebraska.

Devin Booker, Phoenix Suns

Devin Booker won SEC Sixth Man of the Year award as a freshman before declaring for the NBA Draft. Since then, the former Wildcat has improved quite a bit, becoming one of the premier shooting guards in the league. In 2021, he led the Phoenix Suns to the NBA Finals. Last season, Booker was named to the All-NBA First Team for the first time in his career after averaging 26.8 ppg.

UK basketball: Missed Kentucky basketball's Big Blue Madness? Here's a look at all the memorable moments

Brandon Boston Jr., Los Angeles Clippers

Former five-star recruit Brandon Boston was one of the gems of Kentucky's 2020 recruiting class. In one season with the Wildcats, Boston averaged 11.5 points and 4.5 rebounds per game. Boston is heading into his second season with the Los Angeles Clippers.

Anthony Davis, Los Angeles Lakers

Anthony Davis's time in Lexington was short but impactful. As a freshman, he led the Wildcats to the national championship and was named the consensus National Player of the Year. Since leaving Kentucky, Davis has become one of the best bigs in the NBA, an NBA champion and a member of the NBA's 75th anniversary team.

Hamidou Diallo, Detroit Pistons

A former five-star recruit, Diallo averaged 10 points and 3.6 rebounds per game throughout his one season at Kentucky. In 2019, Diallo won the NBA Slam Dunk Contest as a member of the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Gorgui Dieng, San Antonio Spurs

Gorgui Dieng was born in Senegal but made a name for himself in Louisville. In his three years with the Cardinals, Dieng was a part of Louisville's 2013 national championship team (vacated), was selected as the Big East Defensive Player of the Year (2013) and ranks second all-time in program history in blocked shots (267).

De'Aaron Fox, Sacramento Kings

De'Aaron Fox became the second Wildcat to record a triple-double on Nov. 28, 2016 when he had 14 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists in a win over Arizona State. Fox led Kentucky to the Sweet 16 that season before he was drafted fifth overall by the Sacramento Kings in 2017.

Wenyen Gabriel, Los Angeles Lakers

Wenyen Gabriel was a former five-star recruit that breakthrough for Kentucky in his sophomore season. In 2017, Gabriel averaged 6.8 points, 5.4 rebounds and led the team with 40 blocks. On March 1, Gabriel signed a two-way contract with the Los Angeles Lakers. A month later the Lakers offered Gabriel a standard contract for the rest of the season.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was expected to come off the bench his freshman season at Kentucky but played his way into the starting lineup. He averaged 14.4 points, 5.1 assists and 4.1 rebounds for the Wildcats and led the team to the Sweet 16. Gilgeous-Alexander has become one of the top young guards in the league since being named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team in 2019.

Montrezl Harrell, Philadelphia 76ers

As a freshman, Montrezl Harrell came off the bench to help Louisville win the 2013 NCAA Tournament that was later vacated. During his junior season he averaged 15.7 points and 9.2 rebounds per game and was the inaugural winner of the Karl Malone Award, which is given annually to the top power forward in college basketball. Harrell won the NBA's Sixth Man of the Year award in 2020.

U of L basketball:See where Louisville men's basketball is picked to finish in the ACC

Tyler Herro, Miami Heat

Tyler Herro was drafted 13th overall by the Miami Heat in 2019 and has surpassed expectations. As a rookie, the former Kentucky Wildcat helped lift the Heat to an Eastern Conference title. Last season he was named NBA Sixth Man of the Year and signed a four-year, $130-million contract extension Oct. 2.

Isaiah Jackson, Indiana Pacers

As a freshman, Isaiah Jackson led the Wildcats and the entire SEC with 2.6 blocks per game and earned SEC All-Defensive and All-Freshman Team honors. Jackson was selected by the Lakers with the 22nd pick in the 2021 draft before being traded to the Indiana Pacers.

Keldon Johnson, San Antonio Spurs

Keldon Johnson averaged 13.5 points and 5.9 rebounds per game during his lone season with the Wildcats. Johnson heads into his fourth season with the San Antonio Spurs after having a career season (17 points per game, 6.1 rebounds per game). On July 18, he signed a four-year, $80-million rookie-scale contract extension with San Antonio.

Kevin Knox, Detroit Pistons

Kevin Knox led the Wildcats with 15.9 points a game as a freshman in 2017-2018. Knox was selected by the Knicks with the ninth pick in 2018. After four seasons with the Knicks, Knox will look to make an impact with the Detroit Pistons this season.

Damion Lee, Phoenix Suns

Damion Lee spent the majority of his collegiate career at Drexel before transferring to Louisville for his final season of eligibility. Lee averaged 15.9 points for the Cardinals but went undrafted in 2016. After spending his first few seasons in the NBA G League, Lee got a break with the Hawks in 2018. Last year he won an NBA championship with the Golden State Warriors.

Trey Lyles, Sacramento Kings

Lyles appeared in 21 games and averaged 8.7 points as a freshman at Kentucky. That year, alongside Devin Booker, Karl Anthony-Towns and Willie Cauley-Stein, Lyles helped lead the Wildcats to the Final Four.

Tyrese Maxey, Philadelphia 76ers

Tyrese Maxey led the Wildcats to an SEC title as a freshman while averaging 14 points and 4.3 rebounds per game. Maxey's run in the NCAA Tournament was cut short by the COVID-19 pandemic but was still selected 21st overall by the Philadelphia 76ers. After averaging 6.3 points as a rookie, Maxey exploded in his second season and increased his output to 20.6 ppg.

Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland Cavaliers

Donovan Mitchell didn't turn many heads his freshman year at U of L but he would quickly emerge. Mitchell was selected First Team All-ACC after averaging 15.6 points, 2.7 assists and 4.9 rebounds. A budding star in Louisville, Mitchell reached superstar status once arriving to the NBA. Mitchell was selected to the All-Rookie team in 2018 and has been an All-Star three times since. Mitchell is heading into his first season as the new face of the Cleveland Cavaliers.

U of L Basketball: Why Louisville women's basketball's Hailey Van Lith wants to work with Donovan Mitchell

Malik Monk, Sacramento Kings

Malik Monk spent one season with the Wildcats and was selected as a consensus All-American second-teamer. Last season Monk scored a career-high 41 points for the Lakers in a win against the Denver Nuggets. On July 6, Monk signed a two-year deal with the Sacramento Kings worth $19 million.

Jamal Murray, Denver Nuggets

Of all the one-and-done Kentucky players on the list, Jamal Murray's name stands alone. Murray set the Kentucky school record for points per game by a freshman (20 ppg) and was selected to the All-SEC First Team and the SEC All-Freshman Team. Murray went seventh overall to the Denver Nuggets in 2016. Murray missed the entirety of the 2021-2022 season while recovering from a torn ACL.

Nerlens Noel, Detroit Pistons

Nerlens Noel was in the middle of a wonderful freshman season at UK before tearing his ACL in a game against Florida. Noel was still honored with SEC Freshman of the Year, SEC Defensive Player of the Year, SEC First Team, SEC All Freshman Team awards. Noel heads into his first season with the Pistons.

Jordan Nwora, Milwaukee Bucks

Former Louisville Cardinal Jordan Nwora won the ACC's Most Improved Player award after improving his 5.7 ppg and 2.2 rpg as a freshman to 17 ppg and 7.6 rpg as a sophomore. Nwora won an NBA Championship in 2021 as a member of the Milwaukee Bucks.

Immanuel Quickley, New York Knicks

Immanuel Quickley averaged 16.1 points and 4.2 rebounds per game as a sophomore at Kentucky and made First Team All-SEC honors. In 2021, Quickley made the NBA All-Rookie second team.

Julius Randle, New York Knicks

After leading the Wildcats to the national championship as a freshman, Julius Randle has molded himself into a top NBA power forward. In 2021, Randle made the All-Star game and won the NBA's Most Improved Player award.

Nick Richards, Charlotte Hornets

Nick Richards made First Team All-SEC as a junior. That season he averaged 14 points and 7.8 rebounds per game. Richards was selected 42nd overall to the New Orleans Pelicans in 2020 but was the traded to the Charlotte Hornets.

Kentucky basketball:Why Ex-UK players Nick Richards, PJ Washington call Louisville's Kenny Payne 'family'

Terry Rozier, Charlotte Hornets

"Scary" Terry Rozier had an impressive freshman season at Louisville, but it was his sophomore year where he truly terrorized defenders. Rozier averaged 17.1 points and was selected to the All-ACC second team. Rozier started 73 games for the Hornets last season putting up 19.3 ppg.

D'Angelo Russell, Minnesota Timberwolves

Born in Louisville, D'Angelo Russell was a rising star at Central High School before transferring to Montverde Academy in Florida his sophomore season. Russell led Montverde Academy to back-to-back national titles then signed with Ohio State over Louisville, Michigan State and North Carolina. Russell, a former second-overall pick, heads into his fourth season with the Timberwolves.

Olivier Sarr, Portland Trail Blazers

Olivier Sarr played three seasons at Wake Forest before transferring to Kentucky his senior year. In his lone season with the Wildcats, Sarr averaged 10.8 points and 5.2 rebounds per game. Sarr signed with the Portland Trail Blazers in September after spending a season with the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Shaedon Sharpe, Portland Trail Blazers

Shaedon Sharpe was UK's first No. 1-ranked recruit since Nerlens Noel in 2012. Unfortunately for Wildcats fans, they never got to see Sharpe play a game. After foregoing his eligibility, Sharpe was selected by the Portland Trail Blazers with the seventh pick in the 2022 NBA Draft.

Jarred Vanderbilt, Utah Jazz

Jarred Vanderbilt dealt with injuries throughout his short time at UK and only played 14 games for the Wildcats. Vanderbilt went 41st overall in the 2018 draft and has spent the majority of his career playing in the NBA G League. On April 12, Vanderbilt grabbed 10 rebounds to help the Minnesota Timberwolves beat the Los Angeles Clippers in the play-in tournament. On July 6, the Timberwolves traded Vanderbilt to the Utah Jazz.

P.J. Washington, Charlotte Hornets

P.J. Washington played for UK from 2017-2019 before going 12th overall to the Charlotte Hornets in 2019. Washington has since made an impact in the league. In 2020, Washington made the NBA All-Rookie second team. Last year, Washington averaged 10.3 ppg for Charlotte.

John Wall, Los Angeles Clippers

John Wall had an unforgettable season at Kentucky in 2010. That year Wall led the Wildcats to the Elite Eight while averaging 16.6 points and 6.5 assists per game. Wall was a consensus First Team All-American, won the SEC Player of the Year and was awarded the Adolph Rupp Trophy, which was awarded to the top player in the country. After battling through injuries most of his career, Wall heads into his first season with the Los Angeles Clippers.

TyTy Washington, Houston Rockets

TyTy Washington averaged 12.5 points and 3.9 assists while playing last season at Kentucky. On Jan. 8, Washington finished with 17 points and 17 assists in a 92-77 win over Georgia. The performance broke John Wall's record for the most assists in a game by a Wildcat. Washington was drafted 29th overall by the Memphis Grizzlies before being traded to Houston.

Follow Courier Journal reporter J.L. Kirven on Twitter @JL_Kirven for more updates on Louisville prep sports.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Donovan Mitchell among 35 NBA players with Kentucky ties