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. From the 1986–87 season through the 2007–08 season, the three-point perimeter was marked at for both men's and women's college basketball. 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 ; 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. On June 5, 2019, the NCAA men's rules committee voted to extend the men's three-point line to the FIBA distance of , effective in 2019–20 in Division I and 2020–21 in lower NCAA divisions. The women's line remained at 20 ft 9 in until being moved to the FIBA distance in 2021–22.
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 22nd all-time.
Key
Pos. G F C 3PM 3PA 3P% Ref. Position Guard Forward Center 3-pointers made 3-pointers attempted 3-point field goal % References
^ Player still competing in NCAA Division I* Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Denotes the number of times a player from that team appears on the list ‡ C
Top 25 3-point field goal leaders
PlayerPos. Team Gamesplayed Career start Career end 3PM 3PA 3P%Ref. C G Detroit Mercy 144 2018 2023 588 1,566 37.5 C G Liberty 168 2018 2023 528 1,375 38.4 C G Oral Roberts /Texas 157 2019 2024 512 1,337 38.3 G Wofford 134 2015 2019 509 1,169 43.5 G Oakland 137 2010 2014 504 1,246 40.5 C G VMI /Marshall 155 2019 2024 463 1,218 38.0 C G Idaho /Houston /Seattle 146 2018 2024 460 1,198 38.3 G Duke 139 2002 2006 457 1,126 40.6 ‡C G Iowa 179 2016 2022 455 1,147 39.6 G Chicago State 119 2005 2009 450 1,147 39.2 G Campbell 130 2015 2019 444 1,224 36.3 G Saint Peter's 118 2002 2006 435 1,192 36.5 G Marquette 128 2016 2020 434 1,017 42.7 G NJIT 118 2013 2017 434 1,225 35.4 ‡ G Santa Clara 133 2008 2013 431 1,184 36.4 G Montana State 126 2015 2019 431 1,077 40.0 G Tennessee 128 2004 2008 431 1,021 42.2 ‡C G Kansas State /Miami (Florida) /Oklahoma (2) 157 2020 2026 429 1,036 41.4 ‡C G North Texas /Oklahoma /DePaul 161 2017 2023 428 1,071 40.0 ‡C G Saint Louis 166 2019 2025 422 1,091 38.7 ‡C G Stetson /Florida Gulf Coast /High Point 166 2020 2026 418 1,047 39.9 G Rhode Island /East Carolina 139 2009 2014 416 1,082 38.4 G Davidson 104 2006 2009 414 1,004 41.2 G Virginia 122 1994 1998 413 1,079 G Coastal Carolina 117 2004 2008 411 1,009 40.7
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