Fan Forum: Was Julius Erving Greatest NBA Player to Come From a New England College?

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Dec 22, 2010

Fan Forum: Was Julius Erving Greatest NBA Player to Come From a New England College? New England has a rich history when it comes to college basketball.

With that rich history, have come some pretty impressive draft picks, players who have gone on to All-Star status in the NBA, and in some cases, Hall of Fame status.

One of those players was Julius Erving. The New York native was among the world's best during his time with the ABA and NBA, but he got his start at the University of Massachusetts before he turned pro. In two season with the Minutemen, Dr. J averaged over 26 points and 20 rebounds per contest. For his efforts, his number is retired at the Mullins Center in Amherst.

He's not the only impressive New England product, though. Celtics guard Ray Allen, who will undoubtedly be enshrined as a Hall of Famer one day, played his college ball at UConn. The veteran was lighting it up at Storrs before embarking on an NBA career that will have him breaking Reggie Miller's all-time three-pointer record sooner rather than later.

Of course, what would a conversation about New England college basketball be like without mentioning Holy Cross? More specifically, Celtics legends and Hall of Famers Bob Cousy and Tommy Heinsohn. Cousy played ball for the Crusaders in the late 40s, and recently had a statue built to honor him on campus. Heinsohn was no slouch at Holy Cross, either.

Other New England college greats include Marcus Camby (UMass), Lamar Odom (Rhode Island) and Lenny Wilkens (Providence).

Who is the best player from a New England college? Share your thoughts below?

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Who is the best NBA player to come from a New England college?Market Research

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