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SEC Basketball: Which players have been selected No. 1 overall in the NBA Draft?

By Matt Melton

NEW ORLEANS, LA - MARCH 31: Anthony Davis #23 of the Kentucky Wildcats reacts late in the second half against the Louisville Cardinals during the National Semifinal game of the 2012 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on March 31, 2012 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA - MARCH 31: Anthony Davis #23 of the Kentucky Wildcats reacts late in the second half against the Louisville Cardinals during the National Semifinal game of the 2012 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on March 31, 2012 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /
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SEC Basketball
Kentucky Wildcats center Karl-Anthony Towns (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

2015 – Karl-Anthony Towns, Kentucky

The other half of SEC Basketball’s lone back-to-back No. 1 overall picks in NBA Draft history was Kentucky center Karl-Anthony Towns, the Wildcats third No. 1 overall pick in program history who went first overall to the Minnesota Timberwolves back in 2015.

Coming to Kentucky as a five-star prospect, Towns spent only one season in Lexington in 2014-15, averaging 10.9 PPG, 6.7 RPG, and 2.3 BPG for the Wildcats to earn honors that included Second Team All-American, First Team All-SEC, and SEC Freshman of the Year.

Having spent all seven years of his NBA career in Minnesota so far, Towns has averaged a combined 23.2 PPG and 11.3 RPG during his time with the Timberwolves, a span that includes three All-Star appearances and the 2015-16 Rookie of the Year.

2012 – Anthony Davis, Kentucky

Kentucky center Anthony Davis was selected No. 1 overall in the 2012 NBA Draft by the-then New Orleans Hornets, making the Wildcats at the time the lone SEC Basketball program with multiple top picks in conference history.

Coming to Lexington as the nation’s No. 1 overall recruit, Davis would average a combined 14.2 PPG, 10.4 RPG, and 4.7 BPG during his lone season with the Wildcats, one in which Kentucky won the 2011-12 national championship.

Earning numerous honors that included National and SEC Player and Defensive Player of the Year, First Team All-American and All-SEC, and SEC Freshman of the Year, Davis has since spent 10 seasons in the NBA with New Orleans and the Los Angeles Lakers averaging a career 23.8 PPG, 10.2 RPG, and 2.3 BPG, with accolades such as eight All-Star selections, four First Team All-NBA selections, a two-time First Team All-Defensive selection, and a one-time NBA champion.

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