Alltime Best For each state's top 50 homegrown sports figures, go to SI.com/50
Elgin Baylor, Basketball player
The Lakers' forward was an 11-time NBA All-Star and averaged 27.4
points in his career (1958-72). Known for his inventive offensive
moves, he had a 68-point game at Springarn High. He didn't play
hoops until age 14 because D.C. playgrounds were closed to
blacks.
John Thompson, Basketball coach
The 6'10" former NBA center coached Georgetown to 14 straight
NCAA tournament berths and the 1984 title. As a player he starred
at D.C.'s Archbishop John Carroll High and Providence and was a
backup to Bill Russell on the Celtics' 1965 and '66 championship
teams.
Dave Bing, Basketball player
The second overall pick in the 1966 NBA draft was a seven-time
All-Star and averaged 20.3 points over 12 seasons, mainly with
the Pistons. The guard from Springarn High went to Syracuse and
was a consensus All-America while lifting that program to
respectability.
Maury Wills, Baseball player
One of the game's great base runners, the Dodgers' infielder led
the majors in steals for six straight seasons (1960-65). In '62
he stole 104 bases, breaking a 47-year-old big league record, and
was the NL's MVP. He was a star quarterback and pitcher at
Cardozo High.
Adrian Dantley, Basketball player
The six-time NBA All-Star played small forward and was a deadeye
shooter. He had a .540 field goal percentage in his 15-year
career. He starred at Notre Dame and averaged more than 30 points
for the Utah Jazz for four straight seasons (1980-81 through
'83-84).
Willie Wood, Football player
The Hall of Fame safety from Armstrong High played in eight NFL
title games with the Green Bay Packers. Though he went undrafted
out of USC, he intercepted 48 NFL passes and played in eight Pro
Bowls during his 12-year NFL career (1960-71).
B/W PHOTO: WORLD WIDE PHOTOS (BAYLOR)
COLOR PHOTO: JOHN MOTTERN/AFP/GETTY IMAGES (THOMPSON)
B/W PHOTO: ROBERT L. MILLER (BING)
B/W PHOTO: HERB SCHARFMAN (WILLS)
COLOR PHOTO: RONALD C. MODRA (DANTLEY)
B/W PHOTO: AP (WOOD)