Frank Selvy, Division-I basketball’s only 100-point scorer, dies at age 91

Back before Wilt Chamberlain or Pete Maravich, there was Furman’s Frank Selvy.

A Kentucky high school standout who wasn’t recruited by the biggest college basketball programs in his state, Selvy came south and became one of the sport’s biggest stars in the 1950s.

He is most remembered for scoring 100 points in Furman’s 145-95 victory over Newberry in February 1954. He remains the only Division-I player ever to score 100 points in a game.

Selvy, who went on to enjoy a lengthy NBA career, died Tuesday at his home in Simpsonville, S.C., at the age of 91.

Selvy didn’t attract attention from Kentucky and Western Kentucky, despite being one of the state’s top scorers at Corbin High School. He was 6 feet, 0 inches as a senior in high school and instead chose to attend Furman.

Selvy quickly grew to 6-3 and earned nationwide fame.

He averaged 32.5 points across 78 games at Furman from 1952-54 and reached or exceeded the 40-point mark in 22 contests. His 100-point game came in his senior season, when he averaged 41.7 points per game, led the NCAA in scoring, and was named United Press International Player of the Year. He also was the NCAA leader in his sophomore season.

Selvy also was a three-time all-America selection.

The 100-point game happened to be the first college basketball game ever televised in South Carolina.

At the time, Furman was a member of the Southern Conference, playing against schools like Clemson, Duke, North Carolina, N.C. State, South Carolina, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest and West Virginia.

During his three seasons at Furman, the Paladins compiled a 59-21 record under coach Lyles Alley.

Selvy was the No. 1 pick of the Baltimore Bullets in 1954 and averaged 19.4 points a game in his NBA debut season. The final five years of his pro career were spent with the Minneapolis/Los Angeles Lakers, where Elgin Baylor and Jerry West were among his teammates.

He later coach four seasons at Furman in the late 1960s.

The school’s male-athlete-of-the-year award is named for him, and his jersey No. 28 is retired.

“Frank was both a mentor and a friend, who had an incredible impact on Furman basketball as a player and a coach,” current head basketball coach Bob Richey said. “In addition to being a great basketball player, Frank was a phenomenal person.”

In later years, he spent much of his time on photography, golf and his family.

He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Barbara; by three children; and by grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. Thursday at Thomas McAfee Funeral Home, 639 North Main Street, in Greenville, S.C. A funeral Mass is scheduled for noon Friday at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 111 Hampton Ave., in Greenville.