Darrell Floyd
Encyclopedia
Darrell Floyd was an American
college basketball All-America
n while playing for Furman University
in Greenville, South Carolina
from 1953–56. He was a two-time national scoring champion, two-time Consensus NCAA Division I All-America
Second Team selection, two-time South Carolina Player of the Year and two-time Southern Conference Player of the Year
. Floyd was just the second player to repeat as NCAA scoring champion. The first was Frank Selvy who also played for Furman with Floyd for one season (1953–54) and won consecutive scoring titles in 1953 and 1954.
As a junior in 1954–55, Floyd led the nation in scoring while averaging 35.9 points per game. On January 2, 1955 he scored 67 points in a win over Morehead State, which stands as the ninth-highest single-game scoring total in NCAA history. Also in his junior season he scored 56 points against Clemson
, which is still the highest opponent total against the Tigers. Floyd was named to the Consensus All-America Second Team
in 1955.
In 1955–56, Floyd repeated as the national scoring leader by averaging 33.8 points. By the time his Furman career had ended he owned a 32.1 points per game scoring average, which is the eighth-highest in NCAA history and ahead of other college greats like Elgin Baylor
and Larry Bird
. In 71 career games, the 6'1" (1.85 m) guard scored 2,281 points and topped 40 points in a game on 15 occasions.
When Floyd played college basketball the game's rules were different than they are in the present day. The three-point shot had yet to be created and implemented, a common foul
only allowed for one point on free throws, and the "one-and-one" rule meant that the free throw shooter did not get the ball back if he made his first attempt. Given that Floyd was a small guard, one may reasonably infer that the majority of his shots were from at least a mid-range distance. Additionally, as a 78.3% free throw shooter, his scoring averages would have been higher if players had been rewarded with bonus free throw opportunities as they are under the game's current rules.
in health and physical education, Floyd spent two years serving in the United States Army
. Although he had been drafted
by the St. Louis Hawks of the National Basketball Association
(NBA), the league was in its fledgling state and could not offer more money than his job selling heavy machinery was paying. When the Hawks and Floyd could not agree on a contract price, the Hawks traded his rights to the Cincinnati Royals, but nothing ever came of it. Floyd holds the rare distinction of being a two-time NCAA scoring champion who never played a single game of professional basketball anywhere.
In his later life, Floyd became an entrepreneur
, businessman and basketball coach for a girls' church league team. He married Kay Harling, and they had three daughters—Diane, Nancy and Libby.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
college basketball All-America
All-America
An All-America team is an honorary sports team composed of outstanding amateur players—those considered the best players of a specific season for each team position—who in turn are given the honorific "All-America" and typically referred to as "All-American athletes", or simply...
n while playing for Furman University
Furman University
Furman University is a selective, private, coeducational, liberal arts college in Greenville, South Carolina, United States. Furman is one of the oldest, and more selective private institutions in South Carolina...
in Greenville, South Carolina
Greenville, South Carolina
-Law and government:The city of Greenville adopted the Council-Manager form of municipal government in 1976.-History:The area was part of the Cherokee Nation's protected grounds after the Treaty of 1763, which ended the French and Indian War. No White man was allowed to enter, though some families...
from 1953–56. He was a two-time national scoring champion, two-time Consensus NCAA Division I All-America
NCAA Men's Basketball All-Americans
The NCAA Men's Basketball All-American teams are honorary teams made up of those NCAA basketball players voted the best in the country by a variety of organizations.-History:...
Second Team selection, two-time South Carolina Player of the Year and two-time Southern Conference Player of the Year
Southern Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Year
The Southern Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Year is a basketball award given to the Southern Conference's most outstanding player. The award was first given following the 1951–52 season. Fred Hetzel of Davidson is the only player to have won the award three times...
. Floyd was just the second player to repeat as NCAA scoring champion. The first was Frank Selvy who also played for Furman with Floyd for one season (1953–54) and won consecutive scoring titles in 1953 and 1954.
College career
Darrell Floyd began his college career in 1952–53 at Wingate (N.C.) Junior College, where in his only season there he was named a Junior College All-American. From there he transferred to Furman University where he played for three years.As a junior in 1954–55, Floyd led the nation in scoring while averaging 35.9 points per game. On January 2, 1955 he scored 67 points in a win over Morehead State, which stands as the ninth-highest single-game scoring total in NCAA history. Also in his junior season he scored 56 points against Clemson
Clemson Tigers men's basketball
The Clemson Tigers men's basketball team is a college basketball program that competes in the Atlantic Coast Conference in the NCAA Division I. The current head coach is Brad Brownell.-Team history:...
, which is still the highest opponent total against the Tigers. Floyd was named to the Consensus All-America Second Team
1955 NCAA Men's Basketball All-Americans
The Consensus 1955 College Basketball All-American team, as determined by aggregating the results of six major All-American teams. To earn "consensus" status, a player must win honors from a majority of the following teams: the Associated Press, Look Magazine, The United Press International, the...
in 1955.
In 1955–56, Floyd repeated as the national scoring leader by averaging 33.8 points. By the time his Furman career had ended he owned a 32.1 points per game scoring average, which is the eighth-highest in NCAA history and ahead of other college greats like Elgin Baylor
Elgin Baylor
Elgin Gay Baylor is a retired Hall of Fame American basketball player and former NBA general manager who played 13 seasons as a forward for the NBA's Minneapolis Lakers/Los Angeles Lakers....
and Larry Bird
Larry Bird
Larry Joe Bird is a former American NBA basketball player and coach. Drafted into the NBA sixth overall by the Boston Celtics in 1978, Bird started at small forward and power forward for thirteen seasons, spearheading one of the NBA's most formidable frontcourts that included center Robert Parish...
. In 71 career games, the 6'1" (1.85 m) guard scored 2,281 points and topped 40 points in a game on 15 occasions.
When Floyd played college basketball the game's rules were different than they are in the present day. The three-point shot had yet to be created and implemented, a common foul
Foul (sports)
In sports, a foul is an inappropriate or unfair act by a player as deemed by a referee. A foul may be intentional or accidental, and often results in a penalty....
only allowed for one point on free throws, and the "one-and-one" rule meant that the free throw shooter did not get the ball back if he made his first attempt. Given that Floyd was a small guard, one may reasonably infer that the majority of his shots were from at least a mid-range distance. Additionally, as a 78.3% free throw shooter, his scoring averages would have been higher if players had been rewarded with bonus free throw opportunities as they are under the game's current rules.
Post college
After graduating in 1956 with a bachelor's degreeBachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in health and physical education, Floyd spent two years serving in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
. Although he had been drafted
NBA Draft
The NBA Draft is an annual event in which the thirty teams from the National Basketball Association can draft players who are eligible and wish to join the league. These players are usually amateur U.S. college basketball players, but international players are also eligible to be drafted...
by the St. Louis Hawks of the National Basketball Association
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
(NBA), the league was in its fledgling state and could not offer more money than his job selling heavy machinery was paying. When the Hawks and Floyd could not agree on a contract price, the Hawks traded his rights to the Cincinnati Royals, but nothing ever came of it. Floyd holds the rare distinction of being a two-time NCAA scoring champion who never played a single game of professional basketball anywhere.
In his later life, Floyd became an entrepreneur
Entrepreneur
An entrepreneur is an owner or manager of a business enterprise who makes money through risk and initiative.The term was originally a loanword from French and was first defined by the Irish-French economist Richard Cantillon. Entrepreneur in English is a term applied to a person who is willing to...
, businessman and basketball coach for a girls' church league team. He married Kay Harling, and they had three daughters—Diane, Nancy and Libby.