Pistol Pete Maravich

American college basketball legend who holds the NCAA career scoring record with 3,667 points, averaging 44.2 points per game at LSU from 1968-1970.

Peter Press Maravich was born in Aliquippa, Pennsylvania in 1947, the son of LSU head coach Press Maravich. He attended Louisiana State University under his father and produced the most statistically extraordinary career in college basketball history — scoring 3,667 points across three varsity seasons at an average of 44.2 points per game. The record has stood for over 50 years and is virtually certain to stand forever given the modern era's shot clock limitations and different playing environment. His records were achieved without a shot clock, without the three-point line and in an era of fewer games than modern players play. In his junior season of 1969-70 he averaged an almost incomprehensible 44.5 points per game. He was a three-time consensus All-American and three-time national player of the year. Atlanta Hawks selected him third overall in the 1970 NBA Draft. His professional career produced the creativity and showmanship that made him an entertainer as much as an athlete. He died of heart failure during a pickup game in 1988 aged 40 — an undiagnosed cardiac condition. His LSU career is the single greatest individual statistical achievement in the history of American college basketball.

Maravich was renowned for his extraordinary ball-handling skills, creative passing ability, and unlimited shooting range. He possessed exceptional court vision and could score from virtually anywhere on the court with an array of shots including long-range jumpers, driving layups, and acrobatic finishes. His flashy, innovative style included behind-the-back passes, no-look assists, and theatrical ball-handling that revolutionized how the game could be played.

Maravich transformed basketball into an art form and inspired generations of players to be more creative and expressive on the court. His college scoring records remain untouchable and his influence on modern basketball's emphasis on skill and flair is immeasurable.

• NCAA scoring record (3,667 pts)
• Player of Year 3x
• All-American 3x
• NABC Player of Century