Franklin Delano Selvy (November 9, 1932 – August 13, 2024) was an American National Basketball Association (NBA) player who was best known for holding the record for the most points (100) in a Division I college basketball game. Born in Corbin, Kentucky, Selvy was an All-State basketball player at Corbin High School and was a teammate of College Football Hall of Fame inductee Roy Kidd. Selvy was the No. 1 overall pick in the 1954 NBA draft and was a two-time NBA All-Star, playing nine seasons.
Early life
Selvy was born on November 9, 1932, in Corbin, Kentucky to John Robert Selvy, a coal miner from ages 12–54, and Iva Selvy. He was named after Franklin Delano Roosevelt, who had been elected President of the United States the day before Selvy was born. He was one of ten children living in a two-bedroom home. At only 12 years old, Selvy was a summer migrant worker in Indiana, picking tomatoes. Selvy attended Corbin High School where he starred in basketball, even though his playing time was limited because he had to work. He played basketball for coach Harry Taylor, as did older brother Curt and younger brother Edd. He was the Most Valuable Player (MVP) in a number of high school all-star games.
College career
After a storied career at Corbin High School, Selvy attended Furman University, where he was two-time Southern Conference Player of the Year, and a two-time All American. Selvy, chose Furman after Kentucky's Adolph Rupp and Western Kentucky's E.A. Diddle refused him scholarships, due to his then- height and small frame. In 1952–53, Selvy averaged 29.5 points as Furman finished 21–6.
As a senior in 1953–54, Selvy led the NCAA in scoring for the second season in a row, scoring 1,209 points (averaging 41.7 points per game), as Furman finished 20–9. His 41.7 points per game remained a record until Pete Maravich averaged 43.8 points per game at Louisiana State University in the 1967–68 season.
Overall, in 78 career games, Selvy averaged 32.5 points at Furman.
100-point college game
Selvy is best remembered for scoring 100 points in a college game for Furman University against Newberry College on February 13, 1954, the only NCAA Division I player ever to do so. (Jack Taylor of Division III Grinnell College holds the NCAA all-time record for points scored at 138.
The Hawks moved to St. Louis, Missouri in 1955–56 and Selvy averaged 11.0 points, as future Naismith Hall of Fame inductee Bob Pettit became the centerpiece of the 33–39 Hawks. Selvy then missed the 1956–57 season to military service with the U.S. Army.
In 1957–58, Selvy played a reserve role, averaging only 7.5 minutes per game in 26 games, as the St. Louis Hawks captured the 1958 NBA Championship, defeating the Boston Celtics in six games. Selvy missed a ring, as he was traded on February 16, 1958, by the Hawks to the Minneapolis Lakers for Dick Boushka and Terry Rand. In 1960–61, Selvy averaged 10.8 points in the first season in Los Angeles, playing alongside Elgin Baylor and Jerry West, as the team advanced to the Western Division Finals.
In 1961–62, the Lakers finished 54–26 as Selvy averaged 14.7 points. They advanced to the 1962 NBA Finals, losing to the Boston Celtics in seven games. Selvy averaged 12.1 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 4.0 assists in the Finals.
The Lakers advanced to the NBA Finals again in 1962–63, with Selvy averaging 10.3 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game.
Selvy averaged 10.8 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 2.8 assists in his nine-season NBA Career and played in the 1955 and 1962 NBA All-Star Games. Selvy was proud of his two baskets in 20 seconds that tied the game, giving the Lakers a chance to win, but would typically only hear about the missed shot.)
Selvy's miss meant that Hundley's sacrifice had been for naught and that Hundley would never know if indeed he would have won the championship himself, had he taken the shot he had available. Because of this, Hundley would occasionally call Selvy and, when Selvy answered the phone, Hundley would simply say, "Nice shot!" and then hang up. For his part, Selvy has expressed some degree of irritation at Hundley's teasing.
<blockquote>It was a fairly tough shot because I was almost on the baseline. But I would trade all my points for that last basket.
:— Frank Selvy as quoted on NBA.com
:</blockquote>
Coaching career
After retiring from the NBA with multiple injuries, Selvy joined the Furman basketball staff as an assistant coach in 1964, under his former coach Lyles Alley.
Selvy was hired to replace Alley as head coach at Furman beginning in the 1966–67 season. His Furman teams finished 9–15, 13–14, 9–17 and 13–13 in his four seasons. His brother, Charles Selvy, was a top player on his Furman teams. He was replaced as head coach by Joe Williams in 1970. Overall, Selvy led Furman to a 44–59 mark.
Personal life
Later, Selvy was employed for 25 years with the St. Joe Paper Company. In 2016, a biography of Selvy's life was published.
Career statistics
NBA
Source
- Selvy was a charter member of the Furman Athletic Hall of Fame (1981).
- Selvy's jersey number 28 is retired at Furman.
- Selvy is listed on the "Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Eligible Candidates" for the Class of 2019.
- A street in Corbin, Kentucky is named "Frank Selvy Way".
- The video boards in Timmons Arena at Furman University have "Frank Selvy" adorned on them.