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Alabama: Fennis Dembo
While Alabama basketball canāt quite match the success of its football counterparts, The Yellowhammer State has been home to a few standouts.
Several players from Alabama went on to find more success in the NBA, but Dembo earns the top spot in state history for his strong career at the collegiate level. A native of Mobile, Dembo was lightly recruited out of high school and went on to play for Wyoming, one of the only schools to give him an offer.
The decision paid off for head coach Jim Brandenburg, as Dembo would go on to become the best player in the history of the Cowboys program. Dembo averaged 17.9 points and 7.4 rebounds per contest over his four-year career en route to becoming Wyomingās all-time leader in both categories, and earned WAC Player of the Year honors in 1986-87.
Wyoming advanced to the Sweet 16 that season, a feat it has not matched since, with Dembo averaging 27.8 points per game in the NCAA Tournament. The Detroit Pistons selected Dembo early in the second round of the 1988 NBA Draft, and he won a championship the next season.
Of course, Charles Barkley stands out as the Alabama native with the best overall basketball career, but wasnāt quite as dominant during his days at Auburn. Tuscaloosa native Keydren Clark is also in contention after setting a number of scoring records with Saint Peterās from 2002-2006.
Best college basketball player from every state in America
While Alabama basketball canāt quite match the success of its football counterparts, The Yellowhammer State has been home to a few standouts.
Several players from Alabama went on to find more success in the NBA, but Dembo earns the top spot in state history for his strong career at the collegiate level. A native of Mobile, Dembo was lightly recruited out of high school and went on to play for Wyoming, one of the only schools to give him an offer.
The decision paid off for head coach Jim Brandenburg, as Dembo would go on to become the best player in the history of the Cowboys program. Dembo averaged 17.9 points and 7.4 rebounds per contest over his four-year career en route to becoming Wyomingās all-time leader in both categories, and earned WAC Player of the Year honors in 1986-87.
Wyoming advanced to the Sweet 16 that season, a feat it has not matched since, with Dembo averaging 27.8 points per game in the NCAA Tournament. The Detroit Pistons selected Dembo early in the second round of the 1988 NBA Draft, and he won a championship the next season.
Of course, Charles Barkley stands out as the Alabama native with the best overall basketball career, but wasnāt quite as dominant during his days at Auburn. Tuscaloosa native Keydren Clark is also in contention after setting a number of scoring records with Saint Peterās from 2002-2006.
Best college basketball player from every state in America
