NBA players drafted/signed out of Western Kentucky
The basketball team of Western Kentucky is currently part of the NCAA Division I. The team plays in the Conference USA conference and is nicknamed as the Hilltoppers.
46 players have been selected out of Western Kentucky in NBA draft history, 8 in the first round (0 during the last 10 years), 8 in the second round and 1 among the top 3 picks. The last time a player out of Western Kentucky was selected in the NBA draft was in 2021.
NBA teams with most selected players drafted out of Western Kentucky: Sacramento Kings (5 times), Philadelphia 76ers (5), Boston Celtics (4).
Active NBA players drafted/signed out of Western Kentucky 1
Center
24yo 2.08/ 6'10''
Draft: 2021 / Pick: 53
3 seasons in the NBA
Former NBA players out of Western Kentucky 1
| Name | Draft | Pos. | Ht | In the NBA | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| From | To | Seasons | ||||
| Courtney Lee | 2008 (22) | F/G | 1.96/ 6'5'' | 2008 | 2020 | 12 |
| Jeremy Evans | 2010 (55) | SF/PF | 2.06/ 6'9'' | 2010 | 2018 | 7 |
| Chris Robinson | 1996 (51) | SG | 1.96/ 6'5'' | 1996 | 1998 | 2 |
| Darnell Mee | 1993 (34) | SG | 1.96/ 6'5'' | 1993 | 1995 | 2 |
| Tellis Frank | 1987 (14) | PF | 2.08/ 6'10'' | 1987 | 1994 | 5 |
| Kannard Johnson | 1987 (41) | PF/SF | 2.05/ 6'9'' | 1987 | 1988 | 1 |
| Jim McDaniels | 1971 (23) | C | 2.11/ 6'11'' | 1971 | 1978 | 5 |
| Clem Haskins | 1967 (3) | PG | 1.91/ 6'3'' | 1967 | 1976 | 9 |
| Greg Smith | 1968 (50) | SF | 1.96/ 6'5'' | 1968 | 1976 | 8 |
| Clarence Glover | 1971 (10) | SF | 2.03/ 6'8'' | 1971 | 1972 | 1 |
| Chuck Osborne | 1961 (28) | PF | 1.98/ 6'6'' | 1961 | 1962 | 1 |
| Tom Marshall | 1954 (7) | F/G | 1.93/ 6'4'' | 1954 | 1959 | 4 |
| Art Spoelstra | 1954 (34) | C | 2.05/ 6'9'' | 1954 | 1958 | 4 |
| Forest Able | 1956 (21) | SG/PG | 1.91/ 6'3'' | 1956 | 1957 | 1 |
| Odie Spears | 1948 (41) | F/G | 1.96/ 6'5'' | 1948 | 1957 | 8 |
| Dan King | 1954 (-) | PF/SF | 1.98/ 6'6'' | 1954 | 1955 | 1 |
| Jack Turner | 1954 (8) | F/G | 1.93/ 6'4'' | 1954 | 1955 | 1 |
| Bob Lavoy | 1950 (9) | PF/C | 2.01/ 6'7'' | 1950 | 1954 | 4 |
| Gene Rhodes | 1952 (35) | SG/PG | 1.85/ 6'1'' | 1952 | 1953 | 1 |
| John Oldham | 1949 (15) | SG/PG | 1.90/ 6'3'' | 1949 | 1951 | 2 |
| Dee Gibson | 1948 (57) | G/F | 1.81/ 5'11'' | 1949 | 1950 | 1 |
| Charlie Parsley | n.d | SG/PG | 1.88/ 6'2'' | 1949 | 1950 | 1 |
| Don Ray | 1948 (11) | PF/C | 1.96/ 6'5'' | 1949 | 1950 | 1 |
| Blackie Towery | n.d | PF/C | 1.93/ 6'4'' | 1948 | 1950 | 2 |
| John Mills | n.d | C/PF | 2.03/ 6'8'' | 1946 | 1947 | 1 |
| Buck Sydnor | n.d | PG/SG | 1.78/ 5'10'' | 1946 | 1947 | 1 |
| Virgil Vaughn | n.d | SF/PF | 1.93/ 6'4'' | 1946 | 1947 | 1 |
Other NBA draft picks out of Western Kentucky 1
| YEAR | PICK | ROUND | POS. | PLAYER | TEAM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1962 | 20 | 3 | 2 | Bobby Rascoe | New York Knicks |
| 1967 | 23 | 3 | 4 | Dwight Smith | Los Angeles Lakers |
| 1959 | 24 | 3 | 8 | Ralph Croswaite | Boston Celtics |
| 1958 | 27 | 4 | 3 | Ralph Croswaite | Detroit Pistons |
| 1950 | 27 | 3 | 3 | Buddy Cate | Philadelphia Warriors |
| 1971 | 28 | 2 | 11 | Jim Rose | Boston Celtics |
| 1951 | 47 | 5 | 7 | Rip Gish | Boston Celtics |
| 1958 | 52 | 7 | 4 | Owen Lawson | New York Knicks |
| 1966 | 56 | 6 | 6 | Steve Cunningham | Cincinnati Royals |
| 1957 | 56 | 8 | 1 | Bob Daniels | Cincinnati Royals |
| 1987 | 61 | 3 | 15 | Clarence Martin | Utah Jazz |
| 1950 | 70 | 6 | 10 | John Givens | Rochester Royals |
| 1964 | 76 | 9 | 4 | Darel Carrier | St. Louis Hawks |
| 1975 | 82 | 5 | 10 | Mike Odems | Cleveland Cavaliers |
| 1980 | 85 | 4 | 16 | Billy Bryant | Philadelphia 76ers |
| 1982 | 90 | 4 | 21 | Craig McCormick | Los Angeles Lakers |
| 1972 | 107 | 7 | 10 | Jerry Dunn | Seattle SuperSonics |
| 1968 | 110 | 9 | 4 | Wayne Chapman | Baltimore Bullets |
| 1976 | 120 | 7 | 16 | Johnny Britt | Cleveland Cavaliers |
| 1983 | 132 | 6 | 16 | Tony Wilson | Seattle SuperSonics |
| 1970 | 153 | 9 | 17 | Walker Banks | New York Knicks |
| 1967 | 156 | 16 | 4 | Wayne Chapman | Philadelphia 76ers |
| 1971 | 173 | 11 | 5 | Jerome Perry | Seattle SuperSonics |
| 1984 | 207 | 10 | 1 | Gary Carver | Indiana Pacers |
(1) Non NCAA international players are listed by the country in which they were playing when drafted or signed if undrafted.