THE NEXT LEVEL

KELLI ANDERSON

February 22, 2010

Puget Sound has become the NBA's Northwest pipeline. Though only 15th in population among U.S. metro areas, Seattle and its environs have produced the fifth-most NBA draft picks since 1999, with 12 players selected in the first round and four second-rounders. All but one of the first-rounders—Eastlake High's Curtis Borchardt, who spent three seasons with the Utah Jazz and now plays for a pro team in France—are still in the league.