NBA Draft: St. Louis Has The Spotlight Tonight
Mar 29, 2013; Arlington, TX, USA; Kansas Jayhawks guard Ben McLemore (23) looks to shoot during the game against the Michigan Wolverines during the semifinals of the South regional of the 2013 NCAA Tournament at Cowboys Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
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Although St. Louis hasn’t had an NBA franchise since the St. Louis Hawks left for Atlanta in 1968, that hasn’t stopped the St. Louis area from producing top level basketball players and tonight is no exception. Tonight could mark the first time that a St. Louis area basketball player is taken 1st overall in the NBA draft. I am talking about Kansas guard Ben McLemore.
Much to the chagrin of Missouri Tigers fans, Ben McLemore might become the best NBA player to ever come out of St. Louis and the surrounding area. Some people claim that Tyler Hansbrough is the best St. Louis player but he lived in Popular Bluff, Missouri. Popular Bluff is 153 miles away from St. Louis so it’s close but not in the St. Louis metro area. Now the history of top prospects from St. Louis in the NBA isn’t great but David Lee seems to be the best NBA player from St. Louis with Bradley Beal not far behind.
Notables Draft eligible with St. Louis Ties:
Otto Porter (Georgetown). Born in St. Louis but lived in Sikeston, MO
BJ Young (Arkansas). Born in St. Louis. Went to Mccluer North High School.