Does Your State Produce the Richest Athletes?
There might be nothing more enjoyable as a sports fan than watching athletes from your hometown or your high school or college alma mater succeed in their professional sporting endeavors. Community pride comes when TV announcers talk about the player and mention your city or school, and personal bragging rights emerge when you can say to a buddy, "See him? He was the point guard and my teammate on my high school basketball team."
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Of course, not everyone can brag about their personal or regional ties to a pro athlete.
That's why GOBankingRates conducted a study to see which states can lay claim to producing the top athletes. The study took the 90 highest-paid athletes in the four major American sports -- a list that no hockey player was able to crack, unsurprisingly -- and then found the state where they were born, the state where they attended high school and the state where they went to college. Each instance was counted once and combined for a final tally that should give a better sense of which states have played the largest role in the development of some of the world's most elite athletes.
Note that among the highest-paid athletes, 13 of them were born internationally.
Nebraska
Born in state: 0
Attended high school in state: 0
Attended college in state: 1
Before Ndamukong Suh began his long NFL career, he starred at the University of Nebraska. He made an immediate impact with the Detroit Lions in his first NFL season in 2010, winning Rookie of the Year and garnering his first of three All-Pro selections.
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Massachusetts
Born in state: 0
Attended high school in state: 0
Attended college in state: 1
Matt Ryan, the 2016 NFL Most Valuable Player, played his college football at Boston College. The quarterback threw for 56 TDs and 37 interceptions, leading the Eagles to three bowl victories and 9- and 10-win seasons. Ryan was the No. 3 overall pick in the 2008 NFL draft.
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Delaware
Born in state: 0
Attended high school in state: 0
Attended college in state: 1
Slugging first baseman Paul Goldschmidt was born in Wilmington, Delaware, but grew up in Woodlands, Texas. The six-time All-Star is in the middle of a five-year, $130,000 deal with the St. Louis Cardinals. In 10 seasons with the Arizona Diamondbacks and Cardinals, Goldschmidt has 249 career homers.
Utah
Born in state: 0
Attended high school in state: 0
Attended college in state: 2
Alex Smith went 21-1 as the starting quarterback for the University of Utah, while Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard was a third-team All-American at Weber State University.
South Carolina
Born in state: 1
Attended high school in state: 1
Attended college in state: 0
South Carolina can claim Kevin Garnett as its own. The 15-time NBA All-Star and Hall of Fame member was born there and went to high school in Mauldin before jumping straight to the pros.
North Dakota
Born in state: 0
Attended high school in state: 1
Attended college in state: 1
Although he was born in North Carolina, football player Carson Wentz moved with his family to North Dakota when he was 3 years old, and he played at Century High School in Bismarck, then North Dakota State University. The quarterback currently is an NFL free agent.
Kentucky
Born in state: 0
Attended high school in state: 0
Attended college in state: 2
The University of Kentucky draws some of the nation's best recruits to its blue-blooded basketball program, so it's no surprise that two future NBA players on this list chose to play for the Wildcats: Anthony Davis and John Wall.
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Colorado
Born in state: 1
Attended high school in state: 1
Attended college in state: 0
Calais Campbell, who is entering his 16th NFL season this fall, is Colorado's lone entry on the list. He was born there and played high school ball before heading to Miami for college.
Arizona
Born in state: 0
Attended high school in state: 0
Attended college in state: 2
Philadelphia 76ers guard James Harden played two stellar seasons at Arizona State. Who on this list also played for the Sun Devils? Barry Bonds, baseball's all-time home run leader.
Oregon
Born in state: 1
Attended high school in state: 2
Attended college in state: 0
Miami Heat forward Kevin Love, the son of former NBA player Stan Love, played his high school basketball at Lake Oswego High School in Oregon. Now, he's a five NBA All-Star. Love wasn't born in Oregon, but NFL defensive lineman Ndamukong Suh was.
Illinois
Born in state: 2
Attended high school in state: 1
Attended college in state: 0
Los Angeles Lakers star Anthony Davis was born and raised in Illinois, then headed to Kentucky for college. Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins also is from Illinois.
Wisconsin
Born in state: 1
Attended high school in state: 1
Attended college in state: 2
J.J. Watt is the pride of Wisconsin, having gone from growing up in Pewaukee to starring at the University of Wisconsin. He entered the NFL in 2011 and was named to five All-Pro teams and won three NFL Defensive Player of the Year awards before his retirement at the end of the 2022 season. Another pretty good football player, Russell Wilson, also played for the Badgers.
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Washington
Born in state: 2
Attended high school in state: 1
Attended college in state: 1
Jon Lester, a Tacoma native, played at Bellarmine Preparatory School before embarking on a baseball career, winning three World Series and being selected to five All-Star teams. Retired NFL quarterback Alex Smith was born in Bremerton before moving to La Mesa, California, for high school. Golden State Warriors shooting guard Klay Thompson was a standout at Washington State University.
Tennessee
Born in state: 1
Attended high school in state: 1
Attended college in state: 2
David Price was born and played high school in Tennessee and attended Vanderbilt. The 2012 American League Cy Young Award winner, Price was a five-time All-Star and won the 2018 World Series with the Boston Red Sox. Who else played college ball in Tennessee? None other than the great Peyton Manning.
New York
Born in state: 2
Attended high school in state: 1
Attended college in state: 1
Born in Brooklyn, Carmelo Anthony played his high school basketball in Maryland before returning to New York to play college hoops at Syracuse. He led the Orange to the 2003 NCAA championship and later won two Olympic gold medals.
Minnesota
Born in state: 2
Attended high school in state: 2
Attended college in state: 0
Two of the best athletes at their positions, catcher Joe Mauer and wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald, were born and raised in Minnesota. Mauer went on to a successful career with the Minnesota Twins.
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Maryland
Born in state: 1
Attended high school in state: 3
Attended college in state: 0
Kevin Durant is one of the NBA's most recognized names -- winning two titles in three seasons with the Golden State Warriors before signing with the Brooklyn Nets last offseason. He is from Washington, D.C., but played his high school ball in nearby Rockville, Maryland, at Montrose Christian School. Former major leaguer Mark Teixeira was born in the state and went to high school there.
Mississippi
Born in state: 1
Attended high school in state: 1
Attended college in state: 3
Hall of Fame quarterback Brett Favre was born in Mississippi and played his college ball at Southern Miss. Fellow Super Bowl-winning QB Eli Manning attended Ole Miss.
Indiana
Born in state: 1
Attended high school in state: 2
Attended college in state: 2
Charlotte Hornets forward Gordon Hayward was born in Indianapolis and didn't venture far from home. He played high school basketball in Brownsburg and at in-state Butler for college. Minnesota Timberwolves guard Mike Conley played in high school in Indiana, and quarterback Drew Brees chose Purdue for college.
Michigan
Born in state: 0
Attended high school in state: 3
Attended college in state: 3
They weren't born in Michigan, but Tom Brady and Kirk Cousins have become synonymous with its two major universities. Retired quarterback Brady played at Michigan and fellow QB Cousins at Michigan State. Cousins and Baseball Hall of Fame member Derek Jeter attended Michigan high schools.
Alabama
Born in state: 2
Attended high school in state: 2
Attended college in state: 2
Alabama native Julio Jones played his high school and college football in the state, and longtime NFL quarterback Cam Newton finished his college career by winning a Heisman Trophy and national championship at Auburn. Another QB, Philip Rivers, was born and raised in Alabama.
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New Jersey
Born in state: 4
Attended high school in state: 3
Attended college in state: 0
It's no surprise that no college players from New Jersey make the list, because Rutgers and Princeton don't turn out too many superstars. By the time his all-world career is over, native son Mike Trout likely will cement his status as New Jersey's most cherished athlete, but he isn't the only one born there. Like Trout, Super Bowl-winning quarterback Joe Flacco was born in the state and attended high school there, and Hall of Fame members Shaquille O'Neal and Derek Jeter call New Jersey their birth state but went to high school elsewhere.
Louisiana
Born in state: 3
Attended high school in state: 3
Attended college in state: 1
Just call Louisiana the modern-era birthplace of quarterbacks. Peyton Manning, Eli Manning and Dak Prescott all were born in the state and played high school football there. Prescott, of the Dallas Cowboys, is the only one still active. O'Neal played his college basketball at Louisiana State.
Georgia
Born in state: 2
Attended high school in state: 2
Attended college in state: 3
Before heading to Auburn, Georgia-born Cam Newton played high school football at Westlake in the state, and Dwight Howard honed his basketball skills at Southwest Atlanta prior to entering the NBA straight out of high school. Others came to the state for college. NBA star Chris Bosh and baseball player Mark Teixeira, both retired, found their way to Georgia Tech, and Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford played at the University of Georgia.
Ohio
Born in state: 4
Attended high school in state: 2
Attended college in state: 2
Ohio is a hotbed of talent across several sports, with Stephen Curry and Russell Wilson both born there, and Mike Conley choosing Ohio State for his college basketball career. LeBron James made Akron famous, born and raised there, and he starred in basketball in high school before jumping straight to the NBA. Retired NFL quarterback Ben Roethlisberger comes out in the study as the ultimate Ohio guy, however, being born there, playing in high school at Findlay, and attending Miami University in Ohio.
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Pennsylvania
Born in state: 3
Attended high school in state: 3
Attended college in state: 3
Known as the cradle of quarterbacks for turning out stars such as Joe Montana, Joe Namath and Dan Marino over the years, Pennsylvania has produced some fine NBA players. The great Kobe Bryant was born in Pennsylvania and attended high school there, as did Kyle Lowry, a six-time All-Star. While Bryant turned pro out of high school, Lowry stayed home and played college ball at Villanova. NFL quarterback Matt Ryan was born in and grew up in Pennsylvania but went out of state for college. Minnesota native Larry Fitzgerald, one of the great all-time wide receivers, played collegiately at Pitt.
Oklahoma
Born in state: 3
Attended high school in state: 3
Attended college in state: 3
Oklahoma lands two players in all three categories: Blake Griffin. Griffin was born in Oklahoma City, won four state titles with Oklahoma Christian School, then attended Oklahoma. He led the Sooners to the NCAA Tournament in both of his seasons at the school, reaching the Elite Eight in 2009. Former Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford, who played eight NFL seasons, also fits all three categories, while Oklahoma native Matt Kemp played high school baseball in the state before embarking on an MLB career.
Florida
Born in state: 2
Attended high school in state: 3
Attended college in state: 4
The Sunshine State has produced an impressive collection of high-earning athletes, including veteran MLB pitcher Zack Greinke, who was born there and attended Apopka High School. Alex Rodriguez went to high school in Florida, and the state's vast college system also has attracted high-profile athletes who went on to play pro ball, including basketball's Al Horford and Bradley Beal, and football's Calais Campbell.
Virginia
Born in state: 3
Attended high school in state: 6
Attended college in state: 1
Longtime pitcher Justin Verlander was born in Manakin-Sabot and played high school ball there before playing for Old Dominion University for three seasons. The state produced two modern-day star baseball players in David Wright and Justin Upton, and Super Bowl-winning quarterback Russell Wilson played his high school football in Richmond.
Missouri
Born in state: 3
Attended high school in state: 4
Attended college in state: 3
Missouri produced two modern-day baseball stars, both sure first-ballot Hall of Fame future enshrinees: New York Mets ace Max Scherzer and the recently retired Albert Pujols. Scherzer was born and raised in the Show Me State and stayed there for college, but Pujols was born in the Dominican Republic before moving to Independence, Missouri. Pujols played at Fort Osage High School and Maple Woods Community College. Oh, and a pretty fair basketball player, Bradley Beal of the Washington Wizards, also was born and raised in Missouri.
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North Carolina
Born in state: 4
Attended high school in state: 4
Attended college in state: 7
North Carolina native Chris Paul didn't need to leave the basketball-crazed state for college, choosing to play at Wake Forest. Football player Julius Peppers also stayed close to home, playing at North Carolina. Superstar Stephen Curry went to high school in North Carolina and stayed in state for college, choosing Davidson. And plenty of athletes have chosen to leave their home areas for an N.C. college, including Kyrie Irving (Duke) and Philip Rivers (North Carolina State).
Texas
Born in state: 7
Attended high school in state: 10
Attended college in state: 4
Everything's bigger in Texas, right? That includes the output of well-paid athletes such as standout NFL players Von Miller and Ryan Tannehill, who were born in Texas and played their college ball at Texas A&M. High school teammates Clayton Kershaw and Matthew Stafford left the state for pro baseball and college, respectively, but NBA star Kevin Durant chose to play at Texas.
California
Born in state: 18
Attended high school in state: 17
Attended college in state: 9
California is far and away the top state when it comes to producing the richest athletes. The state has a built-in advantage of being the most populous state, but it also has top-notch college programs that attract top-tier athletes. Among them are quarterbacks Aaron Rodgers and Jared Goff, who played at Cal. New York Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole and well-traveled NBA veteran Russell Westbrook wore the UCLA uniform. Westbrook is among the athletes who were born in California, played high school ball there and remained in state for college. That list includes retired NFL quarterback Carson Palmer as well as basketball standouts Kawhi Leonard, DeMar DeRozan, and Paul George. Other notables born in the Golden State include James Harden, Kevin Love, Klay Thompson, and baseball's C.C. Sabathia, Cole Hamels and Adrian Gonzalez. California is the only state that can claim a seven-time Super Bowl winner, Tom Brady, who was born and raised there.
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Joel Anderson and George Malone contributed to the reporting for this article.
Methodology: GOBankingRates found the states that produce the richest athletes by sourcing salary data from Spotrac, a site that tracks contracts, salaries, caps, bonuses and other sports transactions. Using this, GOBankingRates found the 30 highest-paid athletes in terms of (1) all-time career earnings through the 2022 seasons across Major League Baseball (MLB), the National Basketball Association (NBA) and the National Football League (NFL). Once this data was gathered, GOBankingRates used SportsReference.com to find in which state each of the 90 richest athletes were (2) born, (3) attended high school and (4) attended college (if applicable). GOBankingRates then tallied the number of times each state appeared in each of the three categories. All data was collected on and up to date as of April 27, 2023.
This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Does Your State Produce the Richest Athletes?
