North Carolina leads Final Four by far in NBA success

Twenty-seven current NBA players have their alma maters playing in next weekend's NCAA Final Four, meaning perhaps a few friendly wagers around the league. Not surprisingly, one basketball factory leads the way.

North Carolina

Basketball Hall of Famers: Michael Jordan, James Worthy, Larry Brown, Billy Cunningham, Bob McAdoo, Dean Smith, Roy Williams

Number of current NBA players: 15

Notable current and former NBAers: Harrison Barnes, Vince Carter, Ed Davis, Danny Green, John Henson, Ty Lawson, Rasheed Wallace, Sam Perkins, George Karl, Mitch Kupchak

North Carolina remains the gold standard for blue-chip college basketball talent moving on to NBA success. As of this year, the school has produced 83 NBA players, third only to Kentucky and UCLA. It's not just superstars like Michael Jordan either; the Tar Heels have consistently produced good, solid pros.

Related: With Final Four set, North Carolina the odds-on favorite

Syracuse

Basketball Hall of Famers: Dave Bing, Jim Boeheim

Number of current NBA players: 7

Notable current and former NBAers: Carmelo Anthony, Michael Carter-Williams, Dion Waiters, Jerami Grant, Wesley Johnson, Derrick Coleman, Sherman Douglas, Rony Seikaly

Syracuse has long been a tier-two power in college hoops, but recent history hasn't produced much in the way of NBA stardom outside of Anthony. One could even pick apart the efficiency issues of players like Waiters and Johnson, but the school's historical NBA turnout is second only to UNC in this Final Four.

Villanova

Basketball Hall of Famers: Paul Arizin

Number of current NBA players: 4

Notable current and former NBAers: Kyle Lowry, Dante Cunningham, Randy Foye, Alvin Williams, Tim Thomas, Kerry Kittles, Ed Pinckney

Fertile ground for basketball talent, the Philadelphia area has recently been unable to funnel its best prep players through local university Villanova. Lowry is the exception, rising from Cardinal Dougherty high school through the Wildcats program and ultimately to NBA stardom with the Toronto Raptors.

Oklahoma

Basketball Hall of Famers: Bruce Drake

Number of current NBA players: 1

Notable current and former NBAers: Blake Griffin, Eduardo Najera, Mookie Blaylock, Harvey Grant, Wayman Tisdale, Alvan Adams

Unlike the other three universities, Oklahoma is a football school first and foremost. Buddy Hield figures to become only the Sooners' second NBA lottery pick in the last 25 years.