Frank Selvy, the former Furman University basketball star who set an NCAA Division I record by scoring 100 points in a single game, passed away on Tuesday at the age of 91. His family confirmed that Selvy died at his home in Simpsonville, South Carolina.
The Furman athletic department shared the news, with Jason Donnelly, the school’s vice president of intercollegiate athletics, describing Selvy as “Furman’s all-time greatest athlete.”
Born in Corbin, Kentucky, Selvy was a standout player at Furman from 1952 to 1954. Standing 6 feet 3 inches tall, he twice led the NCAA in scoring, averaging 41.7 points per game during his senior year. On February 13, 1954, Selvy made history by scoring 100 points in a 145-95 victory over Newberry College, with 41 field goals and 18 free throws.
Throughout his college career, Selvy scored 40 points or more in 22 of the 78 games he played. He was named the Southern Conference player of the year in both 1952-53 and 1953-54 and was a three-time All-America selection.
In 1954, Selvy was the No. 1 overall draft pick, selected by the Baltimore Bullets. Over his nine-year NBA career, Selvy played for five different teams and was a two-time All-Star. He spent the final 4 1/2 seasons of his professional career with the Lakers, transitioning with the team from Minneapolis to Los Angeles in 1960.
After retiring from professional basketball, Selvy returned to Furman University, where he served as the head coach of the Paladins for four seasons.
Selvy is survived by his wife, Barbara, to whom he was married for 65 years, their two children, Valerie S. Miros and Mike Selvy, as well as 11 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. The cause of death was not disclosed.
