31 Facts About Frank Selvy

Franklin Delano Selvy was an American National Basketball Association player who was best known for holding the record for the most points in a Division I college basketball game.

Frank Selvy was the No 1 overall pick in the 1954 NBA draft and was a two-time NBA All-Star, playing nine seasons.

Frank Selvy was named after Franklin Delano Roosevelt, who had been elected President of the United States the day before Selvy was born.

Frank Selvy was one of ten children living in a two-bedroom home.

At only 12 years old, Frank Selvy was a summer migrant worker in Indiana, picking tomatoes.

Frank Selvy attended Corbin High School where he starred in basketball, even though his playing time was limited because he had to work.

Frank Selvy played basketball for coach Harry Taylor, as did older brother Curt and younger brother Edd.

Frank Selvy was the most valuable player in a number of high school all-star games.

Frank 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.

The game was the first to be broadcast live on television in South Carolina and a large contingent from Frank Selvy's hometown, including his family, had made the six-hour trek just for the occasion.

Frank Selvy obliged, hitting 41 of 66 field goals and 18 of 22 free throws, his last two points coming on a desperate heave near midcourt at the buzzer.

Frank Selvy was drafted first overall by the Baltimore Bullets in the 1954 NBA draft.

Frank Selvy went on to play nine seasons in the National Basketball Association during the late 1950s and early 1960s, interrupted by a stint in the US Army.

Frank Selvy was drafted by Milwaukee in the dispersal draft of Baltimore players.

Subsequently, Frank Selvy remained with the Lakers for last five seasons of his career.

Frank Selvy averaged 10.7 points for the Lakers in their last season in Minneapolis.

Frank Selvy was one of the Lakers on the plane that crashed in an Iowa cornfield in 1960, during a blinding snowstorm.

Frank Selvy averaged 12.1 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 4.0 assists in the Finals.

Frank 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.

Frank Selvy's best known game in the NBA was probably Game 7 of the 1962 NBA Finals in which he almost defeated the Celtics.

Frank Selvy's Lakers faced a four-point deficit at the hands of Boston Celtics in the final minute of the game's fourth quarter.

Frank Selvy proceeded to secure two crucial rebounds and score two baskets in 20 seconds to tie the game at 100.

Frank Selvy pump-faked a pass to Jerry West, who was covered, then passed back to an open Selvy in the left corner.

However, Frank Selvy lost his chance for the ultimate heroic moment as he missed a 12-foot jump shot right before the buzzer that would have secured the championship for the Lakers had it gone in.

Frank 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.

Regrettably for Frank Selvy, his missed shot gained even larger significance as those years went by because the Lakers ultimately lost every one of those championship battles with the Celtics, thus magnifying the pain of Los Angeles having lost a golden opportunity, with Frank Selvy's shot, to end that streak of futility before it had even begun.

Frank 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.

Frank Selvy's brother, Charles Selvy, was a top player on his Furman teams.

Frank Selvy was replaced as head coach by Joe Williams in 1970.

Later, Frank Selvy was employed for 25 years with the St Joe Paper Company.

Frank Selvy died at his home in Simpsonville, South Carolina, on the morning of August 13,2024.