List of NCAA Division I men's basketball career free throw scoring leaders
In basketball, a free throw is "an opportunity given to a player to score one (1) point, uncontested, from position behind the free throw line and inside the semicircle."[1] The National Collegiate Athletic Association's (NCAA) Division I is the highest level of amateur basketball in the United States. The NCAA did not split into its current divisions format until August 1973.[2] From 1906 to 1955, there were no classifications to the NCAA nor its predecessor, the Intercollegiate Athletic Association of the United States (IAAUS).[2] Then, from 1956 to spring 1973, colleges were classified as either "NCAA University Division (Major College)" or "NCAA College Division (Small College)".[2]
The all-time leader in NCAA free throws made is Tyler Hansbrough of North Carolina.[3][4] From 2005–06 through 2008–09, Hansbrough made 982 free throws, surpassing the 54-year-old record of 905 that was held by Wake Forest's Dickie Hemric.[3][5] While Hansbrough's free throw percentage (79.1%) is better than Hemric's (66.6%), Hemric accomplished the feat in only 104 career games played compared to Hansbrough's 142.
Five players on this list are Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame inductees: Pete Maravich,[6]Oscar Robertson,[7]Bill Bradley[8]Joe Dumars,[9] and Alonzo Mourning.[10] Some players on this list, such as those whose career games played is below 100, played college basketball during the era before freshmen were allowed to play varsity basketball, and were instead allowed to play freshman or junior varsity basketball only. Their free throw makes and attempts could have been significantly higher had they played an additional season.
^Boum's career spanned six seasons, but he only played in five. After playing one season at San Francisco, he transferred to UTEP, sitting out the 2018–19 season due to then-current NCAA transfer regulations. He then played three seasons for UTEP, one of which was during the COVID-shortened season of 2019–20. The NCAA allowed any student-athletes who played that season to gain an additional year of eligibility. Boum took advantage and played his final collegiate season at Xavier in 2022–23.
^"Peter P. "Pete" Maravich". Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. hoophall.com. 2009. Archived from the original on August 31, 2012. Retrieved May 29, 2010.
^"Oscar P. Robertson". Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. hoophall.com. 2009. Archived from the original on March 4, 2010. Retrieved May 28, 2010.
^"William W. "Bill" Bradley". Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. hoophall.com. 2009. Archived from the original on February 15, 2011. Retrieved May 28, 2010.
^"Joe Dumars". Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. hoophall.com. 2009. Archived from the original on August 7, 2009. Retrieved May 28, 2010.