- Montana leads the nation in high school basketball participation, with 17% of athletes taking part in the sport
- Alaska and South Dakota rank second and third, respectively
- New Jersey had the lowest percentage of high school athletes participating in basketball, at 6.49%
Amsterdam (Special to CESLasVegasNews.com) – A new study by Casino Zonder Registratie has revealed the states producing the most future NBA stars, with Montana taking the top spot.
Casino Zonder Registratie analyzed data from The National Federation of State High School Associations to find the number of high school students participating in basketball per state during the 2023-2024 academic year.
This figure was weighed against the total number of high school students participating in all sports and athletics to calculate a percentage. The states with the highest percentage of high school athletes playing basketball determined the final ranking.
Montana ranks first, with 17% of high school athletes participating in basketball. From a total of 33,744 students taking part in all sports and athletics, 5,735 participated in basketball during the 2023-2024 academic year – 3,240 boys and 2,495 girls.
Alaska ranks second, with 16.67% of high school athletes participating in basketball. During the 2023-2024 academic year, Alaska recorded 3,145 (1,745 boys and 1,400 girls) high school athletes taking part in basketball from a total of 18,870.
Third in the ranking is South Dakota, with 16.26% of high school athletes participating in basketball. South Dakota recorded a total of 32,107 high school athletes during the 2023-2024 academic year, with 5,220 taking part in basketball – 2,907 boys and 2,313 girls.
Wyoming ranks fourth, with 15.89% of high school athletes participating in basketball. From a total of 21,213 students taking part in all sports and athletics, 3,371 participated in basketball during the 2023-2024 academic year – 1,719 boys and 1,652 girls.
West Virginia ranks fifth, with 15.13% of high school athletes participating in basketball. During the 2023-2024 academic year, West Virginia recorded 5,589 (2,910 boys and 2,679 girls) high school athletes taking part in basketball from a total of 36,942.
Wisconsin comes in sixth, with 14.86% of high school athletes participating in basketball. Wisconsin recorded a total of 180,540 high school athletes during the 2023-2024 academic year, with 26,837 taking part in basketball, 14,502 boys and 12,335 girls.
Seventh on the list is Texas, with 13.73% of high school athletes participating in basketball. From a total of 859,301 students taking part in all sports and athletics, 117,977 participated in basketball during the 2023-2024 academic year – 62,212 boys and 55,765 girls.
In eighth place is Idaho, with 13.26% of high school athletes participating in basketball. During the 2023-2024 academic year, Idaho recorded 7,250 (3,929 boys and 3,321 girls) high school athletes taking part in basketball from a total of 54,678.
Tennessee ranks ninth, with 13.09% of high school athletes participating in basketball. Tennessee recorded a total of 116,797 high school athletes during the 2023-2024 academic year, with 15,284 taking part in basketball – 8,427 boys and 6,857 girls.
Landing the tenth spot is Oklahoma, with 13.03% of high school athletes participating in basketball. From a total of 107,321 students taking part in all sports and athletics, 13,985 participated in basketball during the 2023-2024 academic year – 7,890 boys and 6,095 girls.
New Jersey experienced the lowest percentage of high school athletes participating in basketball, at 6.49%. During the 2023-2024 academic year, New Jersey recorded 18,227 (10,285 boys and 7,942 girls) high school athletes taking part in basketball from a total of 280,798.
Percentage of high school athletes participating in basketball – top 10 states
| Rank | State | Basketball participation | Athletics participation | Percentage of high school athletes participating in basketball |
| 1 | Montana | 5,735 | 33,744 | 17.00% |
| 2 | Alaska | 3,145 | 18,870 | 16.67% |
| 3 | South Dakota | 5,220 | 32,107 | 16.26% |
| 4 | Wyoming | 3,371 | 21,213 | 15.89% |
| 5 | West Virginia | 5,589 | 36,942 | 15.13% |
| 6 | Wisconsin | 26,837 | 180,540 | 14.86% |
| 7 | Texas | 117,977 | 859,301 | 13.73% |
| 8 | Idaho | 7,250 | 54,678 | 13.26% |
| 9 | Tennessee | 15,284 | 116,797 | 13.09% |
| 10 | Oklahoma | 13,985 | 107,321 | 13.03% |
Francisco Houwer, Chief Editor of Casino Zonder Registratie, commented on the findings:
“Some states just have basketball in their DNA and these numbers prove it. With a high percentage of high school athletes choosing the sport over others, these states are shaping the future of the NBA. It’s not just about talent—it’s about culture, community, and the strength of youth development programs that fuel young players to chase their dreams on the court.”
- Montana leads the nation in high school basketball participation, with 17% of athletes taking part in the sport
- Alaska and South Dakota rank second and third, respectively
- New Jersey had the lowest percentage of high school athletes participating in basketball, at 6.49%
A new study has revealed the states producing the most future NBA stars, with Montana taking the top spot.
Casino Zonder Registratie analyzed data from The National Federation of State High School Associations to find the number of high school students participating in basketball per state during the 2023-2024 academic year.
This figure was weighed against the total number of high school students participating in all sports and athletics to calculate a percentage. The states with the highest percentage of high school athletes playing basketball determined the final ranking.
Montana ranks first, with 17% of high school athletes participating in basketball. From a total of 33,744 students taking part in all sports and athletics, 5,735 participated in basketball during the 2023-2024 academic year – 3,240 boys and 2,495 girls.
Alaska ranks second, with 16.67% of high school athletes participating in basketball. During the 2023-2024 academic year, Alaska recorded 3,145 (1,745 boys and 1,400 girls) high school athletes taking part in basketball from a total of 18,870.
Third in the ranking is South Dakota, with 16.26% of high school athletes participating in basketball. South Dakota recorded a total of 32,107 high school athletes during the 2023-2024 academic year, with 5,220 taking part in basketball – 2,907 boys and 2,313 girls.
Wyoming ranks fourth, with 15.89% of high school athletes participating in basketball. From a total of 21,213 students taking part in all sports and athletics, 3,371 participated in basketball during the 2023-2024 academic year – 1,719 boys and 1,652 girls.
West Virginia ranks fifth, with 15.13% of high school athletes participating in basketball. During the 2023-2024 academic year, West Virginia recorded 5,589 (2,910 boys and 2,679 girls) high school athletes taking part in basketball from a total of 36,942.
Wisconsin comes in sixth, with 14.86% of high school athletes participating in basketball. Wisconsin recorded a total of 180,540 high school athletes during the 2023-2024 academic year, with 26,837 taking part in basketball, 14,502 boys and 12,335 girls.
Seventh on the list is Texas, with 13.73% of high school athletes participating in basketball. From a total of 859,301 students taking part in all sports and athletics, 117,977 participated in basketball during the 2023-2024 academic year – 62,212 boys and 55,765 girls.
In eighth place is Idaho, with 13.26% of high school athletes participating in basketball. During the 2023-2024 academic year, Idaho recorded 7,250 (3,929 boys and 3,321 girls) high school athletes taking part in basketball from a total of 54,678.
Tennessee ranks ninth, with 13.09% of high school athletes participating in basketball. Tennessee recorded a total of 116,797 high school athletes during the 2023-2024 academic year, with 15,284 taking part in basketball – 8,427 boys and 6,857 girls.
Landing the tenth spot is Oklahoma, with 13.03% of high school athletes participating in basketball. From a total of 107,321 students taking part in all sports and athletics, 13,985 participated in basketball during the 2023-2024 academic year – 7,890 boys and 6,095 girls.
New Jersey experienced the lowest percentage of high school athletes participating in basketball, at 6.49%. During the 2023-2024 academic year, New Jersey recorded 18,227 (10,285 boys and 7,942 girls) high school athletes taking part in basketball from a total of 280,798.
Percentage of high school athletes participating in basketball – top 10 states
| Rank | State | Basketball participation | Athletics participation | Percentage of high school athletes participating in basketball |
| 1 | Montana | 5,735 | 33,744 | 17.00% |
| 2 | Alaska | 3,145 | 18,870 | 16.67% |
| 3 | South Dakota | 5,220 | 32,107 | 16.26% |
| 4 | Wyoming | 3,371 | 21,213 | 15.89% |
| 5 | West Virginia | 5,589 | 36,942 | 15.13% |
| 6 | Wisconsin | 26,837 | 180,540 | 14.86% |
| 7 | Texas | 117,977 | 859,301 | 13.73% |
| 8 | Idaho | 7,250 | 54,678 | 13.26% |
| 9 | Tennessee | 15,284 | 116,797 | 13.09% |
| 10 | Oklahoma | 13,985 | 107,321 | 13.03% |
Francisco Houwer, Chief Editor of Casino Zonder Registratie, commented on the findings:
“Some states just have basketball in their DNA and these numbers prove it. With a high percentage of high school athletes choosing the sport over others, these states are shaping the future of the NBA. It’s not just about talent—it’s about culture, community, and the strength of youth development programs that fuel young players to chase their dreams on the court.”