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." 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. From 1906 to 1955, there were no classifications to the NCAA nor its predecessor, the Intercollegiate Athletic Association of the United States (IAAUS). Then, from 1956 to spring 1973, colleges were classified as either "NCAA University Division (Major College)" or "NCAA College Division (Small College)".

The all-time leader in NCAA free throws made is Tyler Hansbrough of North Carolina. 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. 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, Oscar Robertson, Bill Bradley Joe Dumars, and Alonzo Mourning. 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.

Key

Pos.GFCFTMFTAFT%Ref.PositionGuardForwardCenterFree throws madeFree throws attemptedFree throw %References

^ Player still competing in NCAA Division I* Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame C Denotes the number of times a player from that team appears on the list

Top 25 career free throw leaders

All teams are listed under their current athletic brand names, which do not always match those in use when a listed player was active. Player Pos. Team Gamesplayed Career start Career end FTM FTA FT%Ref. F North Carolina 142 2005 2009 982 1,241 79.1 C Wake Forest 104 1951 1955 905 1,359 66.6 * G LSU 83 1967 1970 893 1,152 77.5 * G/F Cincinnati 88 1957 1960 869 1,114 78.0 F Oral Roberts 128 2003 2007 852 1,134 75.1 C Indiana 94 1951 1955 826 1,076 76.8 G Boston College 122 1999 2003 810 933 86.8 * F/G Princeton 83 1962 1965 791 903 87.6 F South Dakota State 136 2015 2019 786 927 84.8 C G Ohio /Alabama 169 2020 2025 773 901 85.8 * C Georgetown 120 1988 1992 771 1,003 75.4 F Missouri 130 1984 1988 764 963 79.3 G Vermont 104 1992 1996 739 891 82.9 G Campbell 130 2015 2019 733 860 85.2 G UTEP 125 2005 2009 726 945 76.8 G BYU 139 2009 2015 724 820 88.3 * G McNeese 116 1981 1985 723 917 78.8 G Virginia Tech 136 2007 2011 721 853 84.5 G George Washington 118 1999 2003 719 955 75.3 F George Washington (2) 104 1952 1956 714 961 74.3 G/F Purdue 70 1959 1962 713 871 81.9 F/C Duke 148 1988 1992 713 885 80.6 G/F Middle Tennessee /Alabama State 113 1988 1992 713 955 74.7 F/C UCLA 127 1988 1992 711 827 86.0 G Drexel 115 1984 1988 705 958 73.6

References General

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