You dont have to be from the big city playgrounds to become a star in the NBA. This months cover story for Student Sports Magazine focuses on Al Jefferson of Prentiss, Miss., whos the latest hoop in a long line of stars to hail from a small town:
Charles Barkley (Leeds, Ala.)
Henry Bibby (Franklinton, N.C.)
Larry Bird (Spring Valley, French Lick, Ind.)
Dale Davis (Stephens County, Tuccoa, Ga.)
Marcus Fizer (Arcadia, La.)
Bevo Francis (Hammondsville, Ohio)
Kevin Garnett (Mauldin, S.C.)*
Horace Grant (Hancock Central, Sparta, Ga.)
Clem Haskins (Campbellsville, Ky.)
John Havlicek (Bridgeport, Ohio)
Elvin Hayes (Britton, Rayville, La.)
Robert Horry (Andalusia, Ala.)
Dan Issel (Batavia, Ill.)
Raef LaFrentz (Mar-Mac, Monona, Iowa)
Phil Jackson (Williston, N.D.)
Caldwell Jones (Desha Central, Rohwer, Ark.)
Karl Malone (Summerfield, La.)
Jim McDaniels (Allen County, Scottsville, Ky.)
Antonio McDyess (Quitman, Miss.)
Tracy McGrady (Auburn, Fla.)*
Kevin McHale (Hibbing, Minn.)
Tom McMillen (Mansfield, Pa.)
Mike Miller (Mitchell, S.D.)
Scottie Pippen (Hamburg, Ark.)
Willis Reed (West Side, Lillie, La.)
Jerry Sloan (McLeansboro, Ill.)
Gerald Wallace (Childersburg, Ala.)
Jerry West (East Bank, W. Va.)
Dominique Wilkins (Washington, N.C.)
*Attended different high school as a senior.