University of Iowa guard Caitlin Clark celebrates after making the game-winning shot against Michigan State on Jan. 2, 2024. Matthew Holst/Getty Images
:10—If you’ve been following me over the last few weeks, you know that I’ve made a few things absolutely clear. #1. I love women; #2 I love women’s basketball; and #3 I have great respect and admiration for Caitlin Clark, the scoring machine out of Iowa. And the all-time leading scorer in NCAA basketball history after passing “Pistol Pete” Maravich, eclipsing his 3,667 points with her new record of 3,702 and counting. She also has 55 30-point games, 17 triple doubles, and she needs under 200 points to pass Pearl Moore, who scored 3,884 at Francis Marion College (1975-1979) to set the overall AIAW record before the NCAA began governing women’s athletics. Clark is averaging 32.3 per game, with 12 40-point games. She has declared herself eligible for the WNBA next season.
:09—But hold on, wait a minute. Let’s be reminded of several people who, for whatever reason, have been lost in time or simply, possibly innocently overlooked: Lynette Woodard, Pearl Moore, Kelsey Plum and others.
:08—Having said that, allow me to remind you once again about the great and legendary “Pistol Pete” Maravich! And for a few reasons. First of all, he’s homegrown, “STRAIGHT OUTTA-ALIQUIPPA, PA.” Secondly, there’s a reason his record has stood for 54 years. Simply put, who he was and what he did was unbelievable. Obviously a great high school player with legendary tales of him dribbling the basketball leaning out the car window while his dad drove the car, or his playing at night in pitch black dark to be in absolute control of the ball. But it was at LSU where the legend took on enormous proportions.
:07—So, unless you’ve been under a proverbial basketball rock, you know he didn’t play as a freshman due to the then-NCAA rules. But, did you know in his first game as a freshman against the varsity team, he scored 42 points? By now you know he averaged 44.2 points a game in his three-year college career. But there was no 3-point shot! OK, maybe you didn’t hear me. While playing Division I basketball at LSU in the highly competitive Southeastern Conference, the man is going to get 44 a game and there was nothing a scouting report could do about it. You can Google the rest of his 10 pages of records. Neither time nor space will allow me to do so now.
:06—So, as a sidebar and a flashback, I am fortunate and privileged to tell you that when at my alma mater, Slippery Rock University, at the time the only sport that I cared about was football. It was the late summer of 1970 that I was introduced to the game of basketball by “Rock Legends” Ron Hunt and Jeff Lake that began my obsession with basketball for life! Oh, the memories of the good ole days. (Needless to say, I know you don’t really care about this part, but it’s my column, so you just have to shut up and take the bitter with the sweet.) Anyway…that being said, and watch how I tie this all together. Had it not been for my newfound obsession, I would have never volunteered to work the youth basketball camp held at the historic Morrow Field House on campus in the summer of “71” when “Pistol Pete” Maravich was the special guest. (It’s important to point out, in case you’re wondering, how and why Pete was at the Rock. It’s because during that decade, Slippery Rock had one of the greatest basketball teams in the nation, and under the direction of Coach Mel Hankinson had great respect and numerous NAIA Division II Championships!) Now, if you would just let me finish…of course the Pistol put on a great shooting exhibition with all the drills and thrills. But what I will never forget is how he concluded his demonstration by putting five 50 cent pieces on the back of his hand, tossing them in the air and then snatching each one at a time in mid-air. It mystified everyone, especially the young campers. But most importantly, spoke to his quickness and hand/eye coordination.
:05—Get to it Neal, will ya! OK, OK, just relax. So to my point, given all her recent accomplishments, we applaud Caitlin Clark and give her all her props. But before you put her on the same basketball pedestal with Pete, here’s a few things you need to know about “Pistol Pete Maravaich!” • Named College Player of the Year in 1970. • Did not play varsity ball his freshman year due to the NCAA rule at the time. • Even still, is the all-time leading NCAA Division I scorer with 3,667 points. • That was accomplished before the adoption of the three-point line and 24 second shot clock. • His per game average was 44.2 points. • He scored 60 or more points four times with the highest being 69 against Alabama. Yeah, I got your “Roll Tide” right here! • It is estimated that had there been a 3-point shot when he played, he would have averaged 54 points a game! • As a freshman and a part of the LSU Freshman Team that went undefeated in 19 games, Pete averaged 40 points, 12 rebounds and 9 assists per game. • Had there been a 3-point shot, it is estimated he would have scored over 4,000 points. To cap it off, the great Julius “Dr. J.” Erving said the number one guy he trained with in the summer to get ready for the season was Maravich. “He had unlimited range…stealing the ball was nearly impossible…and people forget Pete was 6’5” and would cross me up and dunk on me!”
:04—After a not so super NBA career with the Atlanta Hawks, New Orleans Jazz, and the Boston Celtics, Maravich died in 1988 at the too young age of 40, playing pick-up basketball, his light shining much too bright and ahead of the game in his 10-year pro career.
:03—To put things in perspective, I went to our area basketball greats and scoring legends to get their opinion on lighting it up! And who they thought were the greatest. #1. Jennifer Bruce, Pgh. City League Carrick H.S., City League Hall of Fame, Connie Hawkins League Hall of Fame, former all-time leading scorer for both Pitt men and women, Big East Hall of Fame, an automatic WNBA star had the timing been sooner, total NCAA points 2,295, most points in a game 37, scoring average 24 ppg. Big props and great respect for Caitlin Clark and Lynette Woodard—her top 5 scorers are LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Caitlin Clark, Lynette Woodard, and Steph Curry. #2. Baron B.B. Flenory—Sports Illustrated featured star, 83 points scored in middle school, Valley H.S. legend, ranked top 75 players in PA H.S. history, ranked top 100 Duquesne University all time players with 1,382 points—309 assists and only player to lead the Dukes in scoring and assists 3 consecutive seasons, scored 50-plus twice in H.S., once in college. Drafted by Boston Celtics, won a championship in Venezuela—his top 5 scorers are Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Pete Maravich, Calvin Murphy, Wilt Chamberlain/Dan Issel. #3. Myron Brown—AKA “Flyin” Myron Brown, two-time CBA Slam Dunk Champion, McKees Rocks H.S. basketball star, Slippery Rock University Hall of Fame, all-time leading scorer, voted most dominant player in PSAC History with a conference record of 2,619 career points, 23 points per game scoring average, 133 steals—299 assists—760 rebounds, drafted by the Minnesota Timberwolves of the NBA, great European career in Italy, most points in a college game 51, 70 points in Ormsby Park City League Summer Tournament, Connie Hawkins League Hall of Fame. His top 5 scorers are Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul Jabbar, Pete Maravich, George Gervin, Bernard King. #4. Bobby Franklin—Ohio H.S. Basketball Hall of Fame, rated all-time great player in Ohio, Point Park University all-time leading scorer, Connie Hawkins Summer League Hall of Fame 2020 total points, average 20 points per game, game high 25 points. The great Norm Nixon of the NBA LA Lakers said, “Bobby Franklin should be in the NBA!” His top 5 scorers are Wilt Chamberlain, Oscar “Big O” Robinson, LeBron James, Kobe Bryant and Caitlin Clark. #5. Larry Baxter—Harrisburg H.S. double sport man, basketball and track, opted out of a bona fide spot on the Slippery Rock basketball team to pursue a nationally ranked track career, inches away from the Olympic team in the triple jump, held the Div. II state and Slippery Rock record 49 ft. 2 in. His top 5 scorers are Julius “Dr. J.” Erving, Connie Hawkins (Note: not how many he scored but the way he scored), Pete Maravich, Earl Monroe and George “The Iceman” Gervin.
:02—The beat will go on about the best of the best and more. You can hear more of this conversation and meet these legendary players at “Champions Live Sports Talk Show.” Autographs and photographs as well. Thursday, March 14, at the Comfort Inn, Penn Hills, 699 Rodi Road, 15235—for information, call Achieving Greatness Inc. at 412-628-4856.
:01—Community Note: To all concerned parties, the sun is now shining and the Corvettes will soon be rollin’! Anyone wanting the Elite Corvettes of Pittsburgh Club to be a part of your activity or events, call Bill Neal, Club Community Director, at 412-628-4856 —don’t wait too long, dates fill up quick!!! Start your engines!
:00—GAME OVER!