Basketball's Holy Land to Hoops Deserts: Ranking All 50 U.S. States by Basketball Obsession

🏀 The Methodology Behind Madness
Having spent a decade mapping NBA shot charts, I approached this ranking with four cold-hard metrics: NBA/college team loyalty (TV ratings, merchandise sales), high school participation rates per capita, pro player production (adjusted for population), and streetball cultural impact. This isn’t about which state produces the best players – it’s about where basketball is truly woven into the social fabric.
🔥 Tier 1: Where Basketball Is Religion
- Indiana - The Vatican of hoops. When your high school sectional finals outdraw most college games (9,000+ crowds for single-class tournaments), you’ve earned this spot. Bonus: The movie Hoosiers wasn’t fiction here.
- Kentucky - Where John Calipari gets more scrutiny than the governor. The UK-Louisville rivalry causes more family feuds than politics.
- North Carolina - Tobacco Road’s holy trinity (Duke, UNC, NC State) fuels a $300M annual economic impact from college basketball alone.
💎 Tier 2: The Talent Factories
- Texas - Houston produces more NBA players per capita than any metro area (7 active players in 2023). Fun fact: The state’s AAU circuits have better scouting reports than some D1 programs.
- New York - Rucker Park’s legacy outweighs the Knicks’ struggles. NYC still holds the record for most McDonald’s All-Americans (153 since 1977).
❄️ The Cold Truth About Hoops Deserts
- Alaska - When your outdoor courts are usable 3 months a year, hockey wins.
- Vermont - Their 4.2% high school participation rate isn’t just low – it’s statistically insignificant compared to football states.
Want the full breakdown of where your state ranks? Slide into my DMs with your ZIP code – I’ve got spreadsheets that would make Nate Silver blush.
XcelHoops
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🏀 La locura del baloncesto en EE.UU.
Indiana es como la Sagrada Familia del baloncesto: hasta los partidos de instituto tienen más público que algunos equipos de la ACB. ¿Y Kentucky? Allí John Calipari es más famoso que el Papa.
Pero Alaska… hermano, si solo puedes jugar al aire libre 3 meses al año, mejor comprate unos patines. ❄️
¿Tu estado es una cancha o un erial? ¡Déjalo en los comentarios! (Y si eres de Vermont… lo siento).

🏆 Indiana: Where Basketball Is Scripture
When your high school games have bigger crowds than some NBA arenas (looking at you, Pacers), you’ve officially reached hoops nirvana. The Vatican might have the Pope, but Indiana has Larry Bird’s ghost haunting every cornfield.
❄️ Alaska’s Hoops Drought
Outdoor courts usable only 3 months a year? More like an ice hockey training facility! At this point, even Santa’s elves have better dribbling skills than Alaskan teens.
Pro Tip: Wanna settle family feuds in Kentucky? Just shout “Calipari vs. Pitino” and watch Thanksgiving dinner turn into Game 7 of the Finals.
Where does YOUR state rank? Drop your ZIP code below - my spreadsheets have more layers than Phil Jackson’s triangle offense!

🏀 The Vatican vs. Ice Rinks
Indiana being the ‘Vatican of hoops’? More like the Sistine Chapel where every shot is a masterpiece! Meanwhile, Alaska’s outdoor courts are basically igloos with rims - no wonder hockey wins there.
🔥 Tobacco Road Economics
North Carolina’s $300M college ball economy proves one thing: nothing unites folks like hating Coach K together. That’s what I call team bonding!
Pro tip: If your state ranks below Texas in ANY basketball metric (looking at you, Vermont), maybe switch to curling? #StateYourCase

🏀 Indiana: A Catedral do Basquete
Se em Indiana o basquete fosse uma religião, os jogos de high school seriam missas dominicais! Com estádios lotados como se fossem finais da NBA, esse estado é o Vaticano das quadras.
🔥 Kentucky: O Derby das Quadras
Aqui, a rivalidade entre universidades causa mais brigas que política familiar. John Calipari tem mais fãs (e haters) que o governador!
❄️ Alasca: O Deserto Gelado
Com quadras ao ar livre só 3 meses por ano, até eu trocaria a bola pela patinação… Que tal um basquete no gelo? Seria o novo esporte radical!
E vocês? Qual seu estado preferido pra jogar uma ‘pelada’ de basquete? Conta aqui nos comentários! 😂🏀

Basketball or Hockey?\n\nAs someone who’s analyzed shot charts for a decade, I can confirm: Indiana treats basketball like holy sacrament while Alaska might as well swap their courts for ice rinks. \n\nFun Fact: Kentucky families argue more about Calipari’s lineups than Thanksgiving politics. And Texas? Their AAU scouts have better dossiers than the CIA. \n\nWhere does your state rank? Slide into my DMs—I’ve got spreadsheets hotter than Steph Curry’s shooting percentage.

🏀 Indiana: Donde el baloncesto es religión
¡Vaya locura! En Indiana, los partidos de secundaria atraen más público que muchos juegos universitarios. ¿9,000 personas? ¡Hasta el Papa envidiaría esa devoción!
🔥 Kentucky y Carolina del Norte no se quedan atrás
En Kentucky, Calipari es más famoso que el gobernador (y con razón). Y en Carolina del Norte, el baloncesto universitario mueve $300M al año. ¡Dinero bien invertido!
💬 ¿Tu estado es un desierto de baloncesto como Alaska? ¡Comenta y lo analizo con datos que harían llorar a Nate Silver!

🏀 Divine Courts vs. Frozen Wastelands
Indiana’s high school games drawing bigger crowds than some colleges? That’s not basketball obsession - that’s religious fervor! Meanwhile, Alaska’s courts are basically hockey rinks in disguise.
🔥 The Real March Madness
Kentucky families fight over UK-Louisville more than Thanksgiving politics. And Texas AAU scouts have better intel than the CIA!
❄️ Cold Hard Truth: Vermont’s ‘basketball participation rate’ is just 4 kids passing a ball during snow days. Your state’s ranking shocking you? Slide into my spreadsheets - I’ve got receipts!

🏀 ¿Sabías que en Indiana el baloncesto es más importante que la misa dominical?
Estos locos tienen estadios llenos para partidos de secundaria (¡9,000 personas!), mientras que en Alaska ni siquiera pueden usar las canchas al aire libre más de 3 meses al año.
Datos curiosos:
- En Kentucky discuten más por los partidos de la universidad que por política familiar
- Houston produce más jugadores NBA per cápita que ningún otro sitio
- Vermont tiene menos jugadores que mi barrio en Córdoba
¿Qué opinas? ¿Tu estado sería un paraíso o un desierto baloncestístico? ¡Comenta con tu código postal y te digo dónde quedaste! 😆

🏀 O Vaticano do Basquete
Indiana não brinca em serviço! Se os jogos escolares têm mais público que a NBA, é porque o basquete lá é religião. E olha que o filme Hoosiers nem precisou exagerar!
❄️ Frio no Basquete
Alaska, coitado… Com quadras ao ar livre só 3 meses por ano, até eu viraria fã de hóquei! E Vermont? Melhor nem comentar aquela taxa de participação escolar…
E aí, seu estado é Terra Santa ou Deserto do Basquete? Comenta aí embaixo!

🏀 La locura del baloncesto en EE.UU.
¡Indiana es el Vaticano del baloncesto! Donde los partidos de instituto atraen más público que muchos universitarios. Kentucky y Carolina del Norte no se quedan atrás, con rivalidades que dividen familias más que la política.
❄️ Los desiertos del balón
Alaska y Vermont… mejor ni hablamos. Allí el baloncesto es como un unicornio: todos saben que existe, pero nadie lo ha visto.
¿Y tu estado? ¿Es de los que viven el baloncesto o prefieren el hockey? ¡Comenta y dinos!

🏀 Indiana: A Catedral da Bola Laranja
Se na sua cidade o campeonato escolar de basquete tem mais público que show de pagode, você é oficialmente um cidadão de Indiana! Aqui, o filme Hoosiers é considerado documentário.
❄️ Alasca: O Deserto Gelado
Quando suas quadras ao ar livre são usáveis apenas 3 meses por ano, até eu trocaria a bola por um taco de hóquei. Dados não mentem: 4.2% de participação escolar é patético… mas compreensível com -20°C!
E o Brasil nessa história? Se fizessem o ranking aqui, o RJ seria nosso Indiana - mas com samba no intervalo e gols de bicicleta invadindo a quadra! 🔥 #CadêNossoRanking

🔥 Indiana: Where Basketball Is a Cult
Move over Vatican - Indiana’s high school gyms are the real holy sites! When your state treats sectional finals like the Super Bowl (9,000 fans for teenagers?!), you know you’ve got problems… I mean passion.
❄️ Alaska’s Ice-Cold Truth
Sorry Alaska, but when your outdoor courts are buried under snow 9 months a year, even Michael Jordan would switch to hockey. At least you’ve got polar bears for rebounders?
DM me your ZIP code - I’ll tell you if your neighborhood park games could beat the ‘92 Dream Team. 🏀 #HoopsOrNah

🏀 Indiana: El Vaticano del Baloncesto
¡Indiana no es solo un estado, es una religión! Cuando los partidos de secundaria atraen más público que algunos juegos universitarios (¡9,000 personas!), sabes que el baloncesto corre por sus venas. Y sí, Hoosiers no era ficción aquí.
🔥 Kentucky: Más intenso que la política
En Kentucky, la rivalidad entre UK y Louisville divide más familias que las elecciones. John Calipari tiene más presión que el gobernador. ¿Baloncesto o política? Aquí ya sabemos la respuesta.
💎 Texas: Fábrica de estrellas
Houston produce más jugadores de la NBA per cápita que cualquier otra ciudad. ¡Hasta los equipos AAU tienen mejores informes que algunos programas universitarios!
¿Y tu estado? ¿Está en el cielo del baloncesto o en el desierto? ¡Comenta y dinos! 🏀🔥

From Hoosier Hysteria to Frozen Free Throws
Indiana topping the list? No surprise—their high school games have more drama than a Netflix series. Meanwhile, Alaska’s outdoor courts are basically ice rinks with nets.
Kentucky: Where Basketball > Politics
Calipari’s playbook gets more scrutiny than tax reforms. Family dinners? Just avoid mentioning Louisville vs. UK.
Vermont’s ‘Statistically Insignificant’ Hoops Love
4.2% participation rate? Even their maple syrup has better stats.
Where does your state rank? Drop your ZIP code—I’ll send you a heat map hotter than Steph Curry’s shooting hand.

Indiana: O Vaticano das Quadras
Quando os jogos do ensino médio têm mais público que a universidade, você sabe que o basquete não é esporte – é devoção! E olha que Hoosiers nem precisou exagerar…
Alasca: O Gelo Venceu
Com quadras ao ar livre só 3 meses por ano, até eu trocaria a bola por um puck de hockey. Pior que Vermont, onde basquete perde até para estatística!
E o seu estado? Comente com seu ZIP que eu te conto se você mora no céu do basquete ou no purgatório do esporte! 🏀❄️ #MapaDoBasquete

Basketball’s Holy War
Indiana topping this list is like finding out water is wet - shocker! Their high school games have bigger crowds than my ex’s Twitter following. Meanwhile, Vermont’s “basketball culture” is basically just 3 guys passing a ball between moose sightings.
Tier 1 Logic
Kentucky fans would riot if this was any different. Calipari probably has this ranking framed next to his recruiting violations. North Carolina? More like Basketball ATM with that $300M college cash flow.
Cold Hard Truth
Alaska at #47? Bold of you to assume they even HAVE basketballs there. That -40°C wind chill turns every jumpshot into a science experiment. At least Vermont can claim they invented maple syrup dunk contests.
DM me your ZIP code if you dare - my spreadsheets have more layers than Popovich’s playbook.

Basketball or Bust As a data nerd who breathes shot charts, I can confirm Indiana is basically the Vatican of hoops - their high school games have bigger crowds than some NBA teams! Meanwhile, Alaska’s ‘outdoor season’ lasts about as long as a halftime show.
Cold Hard Facts Texas churns out NBA players like a vending machine, while Vermont’s basketball participation rate is lower than my chances of winning an argument with Coach Pop.
Slide into my DMs if you want to see your state’s shame (or glory) in 4K spreadsheet format!

🏀 El Vaticano del baloncesto está en… Indiana?
Si en tu estado los torneos de instituto llenan más que la NCAA (¡9.000 personas!), tienes un problema… o una religión. Menos mal que en Alaska el hielo salva a los niños de este culto al baloncesto 😂.
🔥 Datos que duelen más que un golpe de Shaq:
- Kentucky: Aquí los debates familiares son “Calipari vs. el gobernador”.
- Vermont: Su tasa de jugadores es tan baja que parece un error estadístico (¡4.2%!).
¿Tu estado es más “Rucker Park” o más “pista de hockey”? ¡Comenta y humilla a tus vecinos! 🏆

🏀 Del Vaticano al desierto
Indiana es el Vaticano del baloncesto: ¡hasta los partidos de instituto llenan estadios como si fuera la NBA! Mientras tanto, en Alaska el baloncesto parece un deporte extraterrestre (con canchas usables solo 3 meses al año).
🔥 Fábricas de talento Texas y Nueva York son las fábricas de estrellas. En Houston tienen más jugadores por habitante que churrerías en Madrid. Y en NYC, Rucker Park es más sagrado que el derbi madrileño.
❄️ Vermont, ¿dónde está tu cancha? Con un 4.2% de participación escolar, aquí el baloncesto parece un rumor. ¡Hasta en Segunda División B hay más pasión!
¿Quieres saber dónde rankea tu estado? ¡Dímelo en los comentarios y te soltaré datos como un tirador de tres!

🏀 The Great Hoops Divide
Indiana’s high school games drawing bigger crowds than some colleges? That’s not basketball obsession - that’s a full-blown religion! Meanwhile in Vermont, their 4.2% participation rate makes you wonder if they even know what a pick-and-roll is.
❄️ Cold Hard Facts
Alaska’s outdoor courts are only usable 3 months a year - talk about unfair home-court disadvantage! Meanwhile Texas keeps pumping out NBA talent like it’s going out of style (7 active players from Houston alone - someone check their water supply).
Where does your state rank on the obsession scale? Drop your ZIP code below and I’ll hit you with stats that’ll make your jump shot jealous!

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