With the NBA Draft taking center stage this week, it’s a good time to look back at the players who paved the way. Mississippi has quietly produced some of the biggest names in basketball history, with stars who didn’t just reach the NBA but heard their names called near the top of the draft. This list ranks the 12 highest-drafted players who played their high school basketball in Mississippi. There are 12 players instead of the usual 10 because of a tie for the final spot. As a bonus, I’ve also included the highest-drafted player from each four-year college in Mississippi.
Antonio McDyess (Quitman, MS) (Alabama) 1995; 2nd Overall LA Clippers
NBA Career: 1995-2011
Teams played for: Denver Nuggets, Phoenix Suns, New York Knicks, Detroit Pistons, San Antonio Spurs
One of the greatest basketball players to come out of Mississippi, Antonio McDyess was selected second overall in the 1995 NBA Draft after starring at Alabama. He quickly made an impact with the Denver Nuggets, where his athleticism, shot blocking, and highlight reel dunks made him one of the league’s rising young forwards.
A series of knee injuries changed the course of his career, but McDyess adapted. As his athleticism declined, he developed into a dependable mid-range shooter and veteran presence, helping playoff teams with the Detroit Pistons and later the San Antonio Spurs. He earned his lone NBA All-Star selection in 2001, was named to the All-NBA Third Team that same season, and finished his 15-year career with more than 12,000 points and 7,600 rebounds. McDyess also helped Team USA win a gold medal at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
Mahmoud Abdul-Raiff (Gulfport) (LSU) 1990; 3rd Overall Denver Nuggets
NBA Career: 1990-2001
Teams Played for: Denver Nuggets, Sacramento Kings, Vancouver Grizzlies
One of the most talented scorers Mississippi has ever produced, Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf, who began his career as Chris Jackson, was selected third overall in the 1990 NBA Draft by the Denver Nuggets after a standout career at LSU. Known for his lightning-quick release and deadly free throw shooting, Abdul-Rauf averaged 14.6 points per game over nine NBA seasons with the Nuggets, Sacramento Kings, and Vancouver Grizzlies.
His best season came in 1992-93 when he won the NBA’s Most Improved Player Award, and throughout his career he ranked among the league’s most accurate free throw shooters. After leaving the NBA, Abdul-Rauf continued playing professionally overseas in countries including Turkey, Russia, and Japan. He is also remembered for his decision not to stand during the national anthem in 1996, a stance rooted in his religious beliefs that sparked a nationwide conversation and remains one of the most discussed moments of his career.
Mike Green (McComb) (Louisiana Tech) 1973; 4th Overall Seattle SuperSonics
NBA/ABA Career: 1973-1980
NBA/ABA Teams played for: Denver Nuggets/Rockets, Virginia Squires, Seattle SuperSonics, San Antonio Spurs, Kansas City Kings
Mike Green put together a solid professional career during the 1970s, spending time in both the ABA and NBA. After being drafted in 1973, he broke into the ABA with the Denver Rockets and later the Virginia Squires, where he quickly established himself as one of the league’s promising young big men. Green earned ABA All-Rookie honors in 1974 and was selected to the ABA All-Star Game the following season after averaging 15.1 points and 8.7 rebounds.
When the ABA merged with the NBA in 1976, Green continued his career with the Seattle SuperSonics, San Antonio Spurs, and Kansas City Kings. Over eight professional seasons, he appeared in 459 combined ABA and NBA games, averaging 11.5 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks while earning a reputation as a dependable frontcourt player.
Purvis Short (Hattiesburg) (Jackson State) 1978; 5th Overall Golden State Warriors
NBA Career: 1978-1990
NBA Teams played for: Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets, New Jersey Nets
A Hattiesburg native, Purvis Short first made his name at Blair High School, helping lead the Wildcats to the 1974 state championship. He carried that success to Jackson State, where he became the school’s all-time leading scorer and won SWAC Player of the Year honors in both 1977 and 1978. By the time his college career ended, Short was averaging nearly 30 points per game and had established himself as one of the nation’s top scorers.
The Golden State Warriors selected Short with the fifth overall pick in the 1978 NBA Draft, and he rewarded them with a productive 12-year NBA career. He averaged 17.3 points per game and delivered one of the greatest scoring performances in franchise history when he poured in 59 points against the New Jersey Nets in 1985. From his days in Hattiesburg to his standout career at Jackson State and in the NBA, Short remains one of Mississippi’s greatest basketball players.
Sam Lacey (Indianola) (New Mexico State) 1970; 5th Overall Cincinnati Royals
NBA/ABA Career: 1970-1983
NBA/ABA Teams Played for: Cincinnati Royals, Kansas City/Omaha Kings, New Jersey Nets, Cleveland Cavaliers
Sam Lacey enjoyed one of the longest and most productive NBA careers of any Mississippi native. After starring at New Mexico State, he was selected fifth overall by the Cincinnati Royals in the 1970 NBA Draft. Lacey spent the next 13 seasons with the Royals and later the Kansas City Kings, becoming one of the franchise’s most dependable players.
Known for his rebounding, defense, and passing ability, Lacey earned his only NBA All-Star selection in 1975. He finished his career averaging 10.3 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game while totaling more than 10,000 points and nearly 9,700 rebounds. His impact on the organization was later recognized when the Kings retired his No. 44 jersey, honoring one of the best big men in franchise history.
Jonathan Bender (Picayune) (Picayune High School) 1999; 5th Overall Toronto Raptors
NBA Career: 1999-2006; 2009-2010
NBA Teams Played for: Indiana Pacers, New York Knicks
Jonathan Bender emerged as one of the nation’s top high school prospects during his career at Picayune Memorial High School. As a senior, he averaged 23 points, 15 rebounds, five blocks, and four assists per game before capping his prep career with a memorable performance in the 1999 McDonald’s All-American Game. Bender scored a game-record 31 points for the West team, breaking the previous record held by Michael Jordan.
Rather than play college basketball, Bender entered the 1999 NBA Draft and was selected fifth overall by the Toronto Raptors before being traded to the Indiana Pacers on draft night. At 6-foot-11, he had the size of a forward but the ball-handling and shooting skills of a guard, making him one of the draft’s most intriguing prospects. Knee injuries, however, prevented him from reaching his full potential. He spent eight seasons in the NBA before retiring after a brief comeback with the New York Knicks.
Clarence Weatherspoon (Columbus) (Southern Miss) 1992; 9th Overall Philadelphia 76’ers
NBA Career: 1992-2005
NBA Teams Played For: Philadelphia 76’ers, Golden State Warriors, Miami Heat, Cleveland Cavaliers, New York Knicks, Houston Rockets
Few players have left a bigger mark on Southern Miss basketball than Clarence “Spoon” Weatherspoon. During his four seasons in Hattiesburg from 1988 to 1992, he became the program’s second all-time leading scorer with 2,130 points and remains the school’s all-time leader in rebounds. A three-time Metro Conference Player of the Year, Weatherspoon led the Golden Eagles to consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances and eventually had his No. 35 jersey retired by the program.
His success at Southern Miss made him the ninth overall pick in the 1992 NBA Draft, where he was selected by the Philadelphia 76ers. Weatherspoon earned NBA All-Rookie Second Team honors and went on to enjoy a 13-year career with six franchises, averaging 11.5 points and 7.5 rebounds per game. Known for his toughness and consistency, he once appeared in 231 consecutive games and finished second in the 1993 NBA Slam Dunk Contest. When he retired in 2005, he had scored more than 10,000 career points while pulling down nearly 6,850 rebounds.
After his playing days ended, Weatherspoon returned to Hattiesburg as an assistant coach at Southern Miss, giving back to the program where he became a college basketball star. He later joined the coaching staff at Jones College before being named head coach at Meridian Community College ahead of the 2024-25 season.
Gene Short (Hattiesburg) (Jackson State) 1975; 9th Overall Seattle SuperSonics
NBA Career: 1975-1976
NBA Teams Played For: Seattle SuperSonics, New York Knicks
Before Purvis Short became an NBA star, his older brother Gene Short had already made a name for himself on the basketball court. A standout at Hattiesburg’s Blair High School, Gene earned First Team Parade All-American honors before continuing his career at Jackson State. There, he was a two-time SWAC Player of the Year and helped the United States win a bronze medal at the 1974 FIBA World Championship.
His success led to the New York Knicks selecting him with the ninth overall pick in the 1975 NBA Draft. Short spent the 1975-76 season with the Seattle SuperSonics and the Knicks, appearing in 34 NBA games before his professional career came to an end. Although his time in the NBA was brief, Gene helped establish one of Mississippi’s greatest basketball families. A few years later, his younger brother, Purvis Short, followed him to the NBA and went on to score nearly 15,000 career points over a 12-year career.
Devin Booker (Moss Point) 2015: 13th Overall Phoenix Suns Kentucky
NBA Career: 2015-present
NBA Teams Played For: Phoenix Suns
Devin Booker first made headlines at Moss Point High School, where he averaged around 30 points per game as a senior and finished his career as the school’s all-time leading scorer with 2,518 points. After one season at Kentucky, Booker declared for the 2015 NBA Draft and was selected 13th overall by the Phoenix Suns.
Booker quickly developed into one of the NBA’s premier scorers. He became an All-Star, scored 70 points against the Boston Celtics in 2017, and helped lead the Suns to the 2021 NBA Finals. In 2025, he added another milestone when he passed Walter Davis to become Phoenix’s all-time leading scorer. Still in the prime of his career, Booker has already established himself as one of the greatest players in franchise history and one of the league’s top offensive talents.
Al Jefferson (Prentiss) (Prentiss High School) 2004: 15th Overall Boston Celtics
NBA Career: 2004-2018
NBA Teams Played For: Boston Celtics, Minnesota Timberwolves, Utah Jazz, Charlotte Hornets, Indiana Pacers
Al Jefferson was one of the most dominant high school basketball players Mississippi has ever seen. At Prentiss High School, he averaged an incredible 42.6 points, 18 rebounds, and seven blocks per game as a senior while earning Mississippi Mr. Basketball honors and a spot in the McDonald’s All-American Game.
Instead of playing college basketball, Jefferson entered the 2004 NBA Draft and was selected 15th overall by the Boston Celtics. Over the next 14 seasons, he developed into one of the NBA’s best low-post scorers, playing for the Celtics, Timberwolves, Jazz, Hornets, and Pacers. Jefferson averaged 15.7 points and 8.4 rebounds during his career, earned All-Rookie Second Team honors in 2005, and was named to the All-NBA Third Team in 2014. By the time he retired in 2019, Jefferson had scored more than 14,300 points and collected nearly 7,700 rebounds, finishing as one of the most accomplished players to come out of Mississippi.
Rodney Hood (Meridian) (Mississippi State/Duke) 2014: 23rd Overall Utah Jazz Mississippi State/Duke
NBA Career: 2014-2024
NBA Teams Played For: Utah Jazz, Cleveland Cavaliers, Portland Trail Blazers, Toronto Raptors, Milwaukee Bucks, Los Angeles Clippers
Rodney Hood developed into one of Mississippi’s top high school basketball players during his career at Meridian High School. After leading the Wildcats to the Class 6A state championship as a senior, Hood signed with Mississippi State, where he earned SEC All-Freshman Team honors after averaging 10.3 points per game. He later transferred to Duke and took his game to another level, averaging 16.1 points per game while earning Second Team All-ACC honors in 2014.
The Utah Jazz selected Hood with the 23rd overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft, beginning an NBA career that spanned eight seasons. He played for six teams, including the Jazz, Cavaliers, Trail Blazers, Raptors, Bucks, and Clippers, appearing in 448 games while averaging 10.4 points per contest. Hood also played key roles on several playoff teams, including Cleveland’s run to the 2018 NBA Finals, earning a reputation as a dependable scorer off the wing.
Travis Outlaw (Starkville) (Starkville High School) 2003; 23rd Overall Portland Trail Blazers
NBA Career: 2003-2014
NBA Teams Played For: Portland Trail Blazers, Los Angeles Clippers, New Jersey Nets, Sacramento Kings
Travis Outlaw was one of the nation’s top high school prospects during his senior season at Starkville High School, earning McDonald’s All-American honors before declaring for the 2003 NBA Draft. Rather than attend college, Outlaw made the jump straight to the NBA, where the Portland Trail Blazers selected him with the 23rd overall pick.
Outlaw spent 11 seasons in the NBA with the Trail Blazers, Clippers, Nets, and Kings. His best years came in Portland, where he developed into a reliable scorer and averaged a career-high 13.3 points per game during the 2007-08 season. He finished his career having played in 622 regular-season games while averaging 8.5 points and 3.2 rebounds per game.
Outlaw’s impact can still be seen in his hometown of Starkville. The city’s Parks and Recreation Department named its indoor sports complex the Travis Outlaw Center, honoring one of the greatest basketball players to come out of Starkville.
Highest Drafted Player from Each Mississippi College
Mississippi State–Bailey Howell (2nd Overall 1958)
Jackson State–Purvis Short (5th Overall 1978)
Southern Miss–Clarence Weatherspoon (9th Overall 1992)
Alcorn State–Willie Norwood (19th Overall 1969)
Ole Miss–Gerald Glass (20th Overall 1990)
MS Valley State–Alphonso Ford (32nd Overall 1993)
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