raged a phenomenal 43.6 points per game (ppg). When Maravich moved up to varsity for his sophomore season, he began the greatest scoring rampage in NCAA history. Maravich seemed ready to get the job done stating, “If I have a choice whether to do the show or throw the straight pass, and were going to get the basket either way, I’m going to do the show.” Indeed he did just that, during his next three seasons 1967-1970 averaging 43.8, 44.2, 44.5 ppg, and leading the nation in scoring each year. In addition, he set the following NCAA marks: most career points (3,667), averaging (44.2 ppg.)(World Almanac and Book of Facts 2000, p970) overall and a season (1,381); most field goals attempted in a career (3,166) and season (1,168); most field goals made in a career (1,387) and season (522); most free throws attempted in a three-year career (1,152) and game (31); most free throws made in a three-year career (893) and game (30); fifty or more points in a game within his career (28) and season (10); and best scoring average for a sophomore, junior and senior, a three-time All-American. He accomplished all this without the three-point basket.(www.nba.com) Although he was perceived as an individual player, Maravich made LSU’s win/loss record during his three years 49-35. Maravich graduated in 1970, and was awarded the Rupp Trophy and the Naismith Award that year as the NCAA’s College Player of the Year. His father, Press Maravich, stated “I get to the point where I don’t coach him,” Press once said of his phenomenon son, “I just watch.”(Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives) Maravich was selected third overall in the 1970 NBA draft by the Atlanta Hawks. The veteran players were hesitant to accept Maravich as a new teammate because of his intimidating 1.9 million dollar contract—an enormous amount at the time. Maravich made a great impact in his first season, when he avera...
