Nolan Richardson knew the names and the hometowns when it was mentioned that the state of Arkansas has produced the largest number of NBA players per capita.
There were nine born in Arkansas playing in the NBA last year, including Mike Conley, Bobby Portis, Malik Monk, Daniel Gafford, Austin Reaves, Isaiah Joe, Moses Moody, Jaylin Williams and Nick Smith Jr.
Richardson hasn’t coached at the college level since 2002. Only Conley had direct ties with Richardson.
Conley played his high school basketball in Indianapolis, but he was raised on Richardson’s backyard goal on a farm in northwest Fayetteville.