Delaware has produced some incredible basketball talent over the years, and now it's time to crown the state's all-time best boys basketball player. From NBA standouts to high school legends, the First State has a rich hoops history that deserves celebrating.
Making it to the NBA is a rare achievement, and no player with Delaware roots reached the professional ranks until the mid-1980s. But long before the bright lights of the big leagues, Delaware fans were packing gyms to watch their local stars shine. Today, two Delaware natives are even NBA teammates—a testament to the state's growing basketball pedigree.
As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, USA TODAY Sports is honoring the 250 greatest American sports figures of all time. But before we get there, we're starting at the grassroots level—celebrating the high school athletes who became household names in their communities and made headlines with their on-court heroics.
We've already highlighted Delaware's top football and field hockey players. Now, it's basketball's turn. Here are our picks for Delaware's 10 best boys basketball players, listed alphabetically:
Jawan Boney – The 6-foot-4 Brandywine guard made history as Delaware's first sophomore to earn first-team All-State honors in 1986. He also became the first player to score 2,000 career points in 1988, finishing with a then-state-record 2,318 points. After two standout years at Hagerstown Community College—where he averaged 31.6 points per game as a sophomore—Boney transferred to UNLV. There, he started for two seasons, averaged 15.1 points per game, and earned first-team All-Big West honors. He later appeared in eight games for the Phoenix Suns in 1996-97, was named CBA MVP in 1997, and played professionally overseas.
Tyrell Carter – A two-time first-team All-State selection at Tatnall, Carter was named state player of the year in 2006 after leading the Hornets to a state championship. The 5-foot-11 guard finished his high school career as Delaware's all-time leading boys basketball scorer with 2,464 points. He went on to start as a freshman at...
Vote now and let us know who you think deserves the title of Delaware's all-time best boys basketball player. The debate is just getting started!