Colorado players with NBA dreams take note

The state of Colorado is known for an array of qualities including its mountains, its beer, and its Olympic training center. One quality, however, that the state of Colorado will never be known for its production of NBA players.

Richard Roby, who had an up-and-down career at the University of Colorado, is trying to become just the tenth player from a Colorado college to be drafted in the first two rounds since 1980. If future drafts are any indication, Roby may not hear his name called this summer by any NBA team.

While two seasons ago, Roby seemed like a possible first round pick, he was never able to live up to his sophomore year at CU. But it might not have mattered anyway because the state seems to have a knack for not turning out NBA prospects.

In the entire history of the NBA, in-state universities have produced just two all-stars, CU alums Chauncey Billups and Scott Wedman, and only two NBA champions, also Wedman and Billups.

In addition to those two, an all-star team of players from in-state universities would probably be rounded out by CU’s Jay Humphries, CSU’s Dale Schlueter, and DU’s Byron Beck, with rookie and former CSU Ram Jason Smith potentially joining that list in the future.

No one can be sure why CU and CSU don’t develop many or seemingly any NBA stars, but there are a few reasons. Basketball will never be larger than football at either institution in both terms of fan support and money.

Also, the state’s high schools do not produce many legitimate NBA prospects. Even with a mini surge as both Smith, who was born in Greeley, and Nick Fazekas, who was born in Denver, were selected in last year’s draft.

In fact, there are only four players born in the Centennial State who finished last season on an NBA roster, Billups, Smith, Fazekas, and Michael Ruffin.

So what does it all mean for Roby, a California kid who played his high school ball in Massachusetts before coming to Boulder? No one can say for sure. NBAdraft.net has Roby being the final player selected at No. 60 to the Boston Celtics while ESPN’s Chad Ford ranks Roby outside of the top 60 player pool.

No matter what happens Roby will have face an uphill climb to become a regular NBA player one day. He will not only have to compete against other players but also the history of Colorado basketball players in the NBA. The good news, however, is if he does he will belong with the state’s all-time greats.