1,000+ words about Purdue men’s basketball’s 1,000-point scorers

The intention for this week’s column was to write 1,000 words about Purdue men’s basketball’s 1,000-point scorers.

That goal was surpassed two-thirds into writing about the 54 players to reach that milestone. I needed more than 70 words to begin to describe Rick Mount’s once-in-a-lifetime greatness.

The list could grow to 55 before the end of the 2021-22 season. Assuming good health during the remaining 21 regular season games and at least two postseason contests (Big Ten and NCAA tournaments), senior guard Sasha Stefanovic would need to average 12.3 points a game the rest of the way. That’s not a big jump from his current 11.9 average.

One final note before starting the countdown: Trevion Williams’ scoring total is through the North Carolina State victory.

1. Rick Mount (1967-70) – More than 50 years after his final basket in Mackey Arena, Mount still holds the Purdue career scoring record of 2,323 points. In today’s era of early entries into the NBA Draft, it seems likely this record will survive Mount. The 1966 Indiana Mr. Basketball from Lebanon also holds the Purdue and Big Ten single-game scoring record of 61 points. Had the 3-point arc been in effect in that 1970 game against Iowa, Mount would have scored 74 points.

2. Joe Barry Carroll (1977-80) – The 7-foot center holds the Purdue record for most points in an NCAA tournament, scoring 158 during the Boilermakers’ run to the 1980 Final Four. That effort pushed Carroll into second place behind Mount at 2,175 points.

3. E’Twaun Moore (2008-11) – The guard from East Chicago led Purdue in scoring as a freshman (12.9 ppg.), sophomore (13.8) and a junior (16.4) on his way to 2,136 points.

4. Dave Schellhase (1964-66) – Purdue’s first NCAA single-season scoring champion (32.5 ppg in 1966). Only Mount reached 1,000 points faster (36 games) than the Evansville native (38), who finished with 2,074.

5. Troy Lewis (1985-88) – The Anderson native was a remarkably consistent scorer as a sophomore (18.4), junior (18.5) and senior (17.9), leading Purdue all three seasons to finish with 2,038 points.

6. Terry Dischinger (1960-62) – Only two players had multiple 50-point games in their Purdue careers, Mount (3) and Dischinger (2). The Terre Haute native finished with 1,979 points and still holds Big Ten records for free throws made (292) and attempted (350) during the 1961-62 season.

7. Carsen Edwards (2016-19) – Purdue’s first winner of the Jerry West Award as the nation’s best shooting guard, Edwards’ records include a Big Ten-best 135 3-pointers made in 2018-19. He led the conference in scoring as a junior (21.4) to finish with 1,920 points.

8. JaJuan Johnson (2008-11) – The 6-11 center from Franklin Central won the Big Ten scoring title as a senior (20.7) on his way to first-team All-America honors and a career total of 1,919 points.

9. Walter Jordan (1975-78) – One of six players in Boilermaker history to lead Purdue in scoring three seasons (16.9 as a sophomore, 18.6 as a junior and 17.0 as a senior). The Fort Wayne native scored 1,813 points.

10. Robbie Hummel (2008-12) – Applying the technique he learned at Valparaiso High School, Hummel shot 90.2 percent from the free throw line (110 of 122) during the 2009-10 season. That percentage ranks second in Purdue history behind Henry Ebershoff’s 90.7 mark in 1965-66. Hummel finished with 1,772 points.

11. Keith Edmonson (1979-82) – The guard from San Antonio won the 1982 Big Ten scoring title, averaging 20.6 points on his way to finishing with a career total of 1,717.

12. Glenn Robinson (1992-94) – The Indiana Mr. Basketball from Gary is the only player in Big Ten history to score more than 1,000 points in a single season (1,030 in 1993-94) on his way to a career total of 1,706 points.

13. Todd Mitchell (1985-88) – The Toledo native once scored 30 points against Minnesota on 8 of 8 field goal shooting and 14 of 16 from the free throw line. He finished one free throw shy of 1,700 points.

14. Chad Austin (1995-98) – The Richmond native made 212 3-pointers on his way to 1,694 points, the biggest coming at Indiana in 1996 to help Purdue continue toward a Big Ten Conference threepeat.

15. Cuonzo Martin (1992-95) – One of the greatest games in the East St. Louis native’s career was overshadowed by Glenn Robinson. Martin made eight 3-pointers during a 29-point effort in the 1994 NCAA Sweet Sixteen against Kansas, the same night Robinson hung 44 on the Jayhawks. Martin finished with 1,666 points.

16. Vincent Edwards (20015-18) – The only 30-point game of the Middletown, Ohio native’s Purdue career came on a nearly perfect night against Michigan in 2018: 9 of 11 field goals, 3 of 3 from 3-point range and 9 of 10 at the free throw line. The four-year starter finished with 1,638 points.

17. John Garrett (1973-75) – Only Boilermaker legends Rick Mount, Dave Schellhase, Terry Dischinger and Glenn Robinson have higher career scoring averages than the 6-11 Peru native. Garrett averaged 19.8 points while scoring 1,620 for his career.

18. Jaraan Cornell (1997-2000) – The South Bend native (1,595 points) holds Purdue’s single season 3-point percentage record, making 50 percent (61 of 122) during the 1997-98 season.

19. A.J. Hammons (2013-16) – With 1,593 career points, 930 rebounds and 343 blocked shots, the 7-foot center is one of only two players in Big Ten history with 1,500 points, 900 rebounds and 340 blocks.

20. Brian Cardinal (1997-2000) – The Tolono, Ill., fan favorite (1,584 points) holds Purdue’s Big Ten Tournament single-game scoring record with 33 against Michigan in 1999.

21. Isaac Haas (2015-18) – The 7-2 center from Hokes Bluff, Ala., ranks fourth in Purdue history with a .561 career field goal percentage. He finished with 1,555 points.

22. Melvin McCants (1986-89) – A four-year starter at center, the Chicago native never averaged less than 10 points a game on his way to a total of 1,554.

23. Brad Miller (1994-1998) – The 7-foot center from Kendallville (1,530 points) holds the Purdue record for free throws made (15) and attempted (21) in an NCAA Tournament game.

24. Russell Cross (1981-83) – Purdue’s first early entry into the NBA Draft, the Chicago native (1,529 points) holds the school’s freshman season scoring record with 540 points.

25. Eugene Parker (1975-78) – The four-year starting guard from Fort Wayne (1,430 points) had one career double-double, 16 points and 11 assists against San Diego State in 1975.

26. David Teague (2003-07) – The Indianapolis native had just one 30-point game in his Purdue career but it came against No. 24 Indiana in an 81-68 victory in 2007. His 32 points that night were the most memorable of his 1,378 total.

27. Willie Deane (2001-2003) – The Boston College transfer (1,328 points) holds Purdue records for free throws made (17) and attempted (19), set against Ohio State in 2003.

28. Mike Robinson (1997-2000) – The Peoria, Ill., native (1,322 points) ranks second to Carsen Edwards in Big Ten Tournament scoring with 54 points.

29. Terone Johnson (2011-14) – The Indianapolis North Central graduate (1,308 points) had a career-high 32 points in an 80-75 loss to No. 7 Michigan in 2013.

30. Frank Kendrick (1972-74) – His 18 double-doubles during the 1973-74 season ranks only behind Caleb Swanigan’s 28 during the 2016-17 season. The Indianapolis native scored 1,269 points over three seasons.

31. Drake Morris (1978-81) – The East Chicago native (1,250 points) ranked second only to Joe Barry Carroll in scoring with 89 points during Purdue’s Final Four run in 1980.

32. Bob Ford (1970-72) – Long before Caleb Swanigan was born, the Evansville native (1,244 points) put up a 36-point, 20-rebound game in 1971 against Minnesota.

33. Mel Garland (1962-64) – One of only seven individuals to average more than 20 points in a season (21.8 in 1963), the Indianapolis native went on to score 1,243 points.

34. Bruce Parkinson (1973-77) – Purdue’s career assists leader had 14 double-double performances. The Yorktown native finished with 1,224 points.

35. Carl Landry (2005-07) – The Vincennes University transfer’s career average of 18.4 points (1,175 career points) ranks sixth in Purdue history.

36. Matt Waddell (1992-95) – A career 40-percent shooter from 3-point range, the Tipton standout scored 1,170 points.

37. Jerry Sichting (1976-79) – More than 40 years after his final game in gold and black, the Martinsville native (1,161 points) remains Purdue’s career free throw percentage leader at 86.7 percent.

38. Stephen Scheffler (1987-90) – The center from Ada, Mich. (1,155 points), was perfect against Minnesota in 1989, scoring 20 points on 5 of 5 from the field and 10 of 10 at the free throw line.

39. Dakota Mathias (2015-18) – A big reason why the Elida, Ohio, guard scored 1,140 points is that he ranks second to Carsen Edwards with 250 3-pointers.

40. Herm Gilliam (1967-69) – Teamed up with Rick Mount to become the highest scoring duo in any Purdue season (a combined 46.8 scoring average in 1969). The Winston-Salem, N.C. native finished with 1,118 points.

41. Trevion Williams (2019-present) – The newest member of Purdue’s 1,000-point club, Williams (1,109) is the reigning Big Ten Player of the Week for averaging 21.5 points, 11.5 rebounds and 5 assists against Rutgers and North Carolina State.

42. Larry Weatherford (1969-71) – The Evansville native (1,103 points) shares a 51-year-old record with Rick Mount. The duo combined for 82 points (61-21) in a 1970 loss to Iowa.

43. Joe Sexson (1954-56) – Purdue’s first Indiana Mr. Basketball twice led the Boilermakers in scoring on his way to 1,095 points.

44. Steve Reid (1983-85) – The Dodge City, Kansas, product is one of nine Boilermakers with 1,000 points (1,084) and 400 assists (416).

45. Kenneth Lowe (2000-04) – More than one-third of the Gary native’s 1,079 points came at the free throw line (393).

46. Woody Austin (1989-92) – The Indiana Mr. Basketball from Richmond (1.076 points) is second in single-season 3-point percentage (33 of 68, .485 in 1989-90).

47. Bob Purkhiser (1963-65) – The Bluffton native (1,060 points) teamed up with All-American Dave Schellhase to average nearly 50 points a game during the 1964-65 season.

48. Billy Keller (1967-69) – One half of the greatest backcourt in Purdue history, the Indiana Mr. Basketball from Indianapolis Washington (1,056 points) combined with Rick Mount to put up 71 points in a 120-76 victory against Indiana in 1969.

49. Everette Stephens (1985-88) – The Evanston, Ill., native (1,044 points) has one of two games in Purdue history with at least 20 points and 10 assists, against Michigan State in 1987 (22 and 10).

50. Tony Jones (1987-90) – During his junior and senior seasons, the Fort Wayne native (1,041 points) averaged better than 10 points and 5 assists a game.

51. Keaton Grant (2007-10) – The Kissimmee, Fla., product made 44 percent of his 3-point attempts, helping him score 1,030 points.

52. Wayne Walls (1975-78) – A four-year starter from Jeffersonville, Walls recorded 14 double-doubles on his way to 1,030 points.

53. Dennis Blind (1952-55) – Purdue’s first 1,000-point scorer (1,011) thanks to wartime eligibility rules, the Lafayette Jeff graduate is one of four Boilermakers to have played a record 70 minutes in a six-overtime loss at Minnesota in 1955.

54. Rapheal Davis (2013-16) – The Big Ten’s Defensive Player of the Year in 2015, the Fort Wayne product (1,009 points) recorded four double-doubles.

Kenny Thompson is the former sports editor for the Lafayette Journal & Cou­rier and an award-winning journalist. He has covered Purdue athletics for many years.