The state of Arizona has produced eight first-round NBA draft picks through the years, although it has been a while since a former Arizona high school standout was called up on stage with the commissioner.

The most recent Arizonan to be picked in the first round?

Former Arizona Wildcats and Phoenix St. Mary’s standout Jerryd Bayless, who was drafted No. 11 overall in 2008.

PHOTOS: First round NBA draft picks from Arizona

In fact, the last five Arizona high school standouts to be drafted in the first round all went to Arizona.

Channing Frye, who also went to St. Mary’s, was taken 8th overall in 2005.

Richard Jefferson, a Phoenix Moon Valley product, was drafted No. 13 overall in 2001.

Mike Bibby went No. 2 overall in 1998. Bibby played high school basketball at Phoenix Shadow Mountain High.

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Sean Elliott out of Tucson Cholla High went No. 3 overall in 1989.

Fat Lever was the first Arizona high school basketball player to go in the first round.

The former ASU and Tucson Pueblo High standout was taken 11th overall in 1982.

No former Arizona high school basketball standouts are projected to be drafted in the first round this year, but it’s only a matter of time before Arizona’s first round drought will end.

It would be nice to see it end soon.

MORE: Arizona’s first round draft picks – NBA, NFL, MLB, NHL

RELATED: 20 Arizonans have been first round NFL draft picks

RELATED: See the Arizonans who have been first round MLB picks

To see photos of all eight of the first round NBA draft picks from Arizona, including the year they were drafted, position they were drafted and their college and high school, click here.

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For more from The Heat Index, go to heatindex.azcentral.com.

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