A three-point field goal (also known as a "three-pointer" or "3-pointer") is a field goal in a basketball game, made from beyond the three-point line, a designated arc radiating from the basket. A successful attempt is worth three points, in contrast to the two points awarded for shots made inside the three-point line. The statistic was first recognized in the 1986–87 season when 3-point field goals were officially instituted by the NCAA. [1] From the 1986–87 season through the 2007–08 season, the three-point perimeter was marked at 19 ft 9 in (6.02 m) for both men's and women's college basketball. [2] On May 3, 2007, the NCAA men's basketball rules committee passed a measure to extend the distance of the men's three-point line back to 20 ft 9 in (6.32 m); [2] the women's line remained at the original distance until it was moved to match the then-current men's distance effective in 2011–12. [3] On June 5, 2019, the NCAA men's rules committee voted to extend the men's three-point line to the FIBA distance of 6.75 meters (22 ft 2 in), effective in 2019–20 in Division I and 2020–21 in lower NCAA divisions. The women's line remained at 20 ft 9 in [4] until being moved to the FIBA distance in 2021–22. [5]
Contents
The all-time leader in three-point field goals made and attempts is Antoine Davis of Detroit Mercy, who made 588 threes in 1,566 attempts. Only one player in the top 25 all-time earned his way onto this list in only three seasons: Stephen Curry of Davidson played from 2006–07 through 2008–09 but left for the National Basketball Association (NBA) after his junior season. Curry also played in the fewest games (104) out of all of the other players in the top 25 and currently ranks 18th all-time.
Five players split their collegiate careers at two schools apiece, and two players split their careers among three programs. Keith Veney, who made 409 threes, first played at Lamar before transferring to Marshall; Akeem Richmond (416) started at Rhode Island before transferring to East Carolina; Andrew Rowsey (404) played two seasons apiece at UNC Asheville and Marquette; Kamdyn Curfman (still active) started at VMI before spending a graduate season at Marshall; and Max Abmas (still active) spent four years at Oral Roberts before one graduate season at Texas. Umoja Gibson, meanwhile, started at North Texas before transferring to Oklahoma and later to DePaul. Cameron Tyson played for Idaho, Houston, and Seattle. The player with the highest three-point percentage for his career on this list is Fletcher Magee of Wofford at 43.5%. Damon Lynn of NJIT has the lowest (35.4%).
Among the current career leaders, seven have played in more than four seasons: Davis, Kevin Foster, Darius McGhee, Tyson, and Abmas each played in five seasons, [6] while Jordan Bohannon and Gibson each played in six. [7] [8] [9] Normally, the only way for a player to play in more than four NCAA seasons is to qualify for a "medical redshirt", officially known by the NCAA as a "hardship waiver". To be eligible, a player must have participated in fewer than 30% of his team's games in that season, and cannot have participated in any games in the second half of the season. Also, the NCAA ruled that the 2020–21 season, seriously disrupted by COVID-19, would not count against any player's period of eligibility. [10] Foster benefited from the hardship waiver, Davis and McGhee from the COVID-19 waiver, and Bohannon and Gibson from both waivers.
