Top Long-Distance Shooters

SI Staff | Jan 29, 2007

Top Long-Distance Shooters /

Top Long-Distance Shooters

Blake Ahearn

Ahearn led the nation in free-throw shooting in each of his first three seasons with the Bears (he currently trails only Butler's A.J. Graves this year). Mo' State's veteran leader is no slouch from the three-point line, either; he's knocked down 60 of 123 long-range attempts this year.

Jarrius Jackson

Jackson is the Red Raiders' best shooter (he's hit 50 of 100 three-point attempts) and also their workhorse in the backcourt. He played all 40 minutes in Texas Tech's upsets over Kansas and Texas A&M this month.

Adrian Banks

Banks is the second-best "anonymous" three-point shooter in the country (the first is at No. 4 on this list). In his first year with the Indians, Banks has connected on 68 of 131 three-pointers, including nine in a loss to Troy on Jan. 13.

Shaun Green

Green, whom Utes coach Ray Giacoletti calls the team's "most complete player," is also currently the nation's most accurate marksman. He has hit 51 of 89 treys -- that's an incredible 57.3 percent.

Dan Nwaelele

Nwaelele is one of the main reasons the Falcons' modified-Princeton, three-point-heavy offense works; he's hitting 50.5 percent of his attempts from long distance and averaging 15.0 points per game. A product of Nigerian-born parents who reside in Bothell, Wash., Nwaelele says Ray Allen is his favorite NBA shooter.

A.J. Abrams

Since moving to his more natural position -- two-guard -- after D.J. Augustin's arrival, Abrams has flourished in the Longhorns' wide-open offense. He's fifth in the nation in three-pointers made with 74, and has consistently stretched opposing defenses that try to key on freshman phenom Kevin Durant.

Keddric Mays

The best three-point shooter you've never heard of is Mays. He's hit 12 treys in his past two games to bring his season total to a nation's-best 86; and he's accurate, shooting 45.3 percent from beyond the arc. A juco transfer from Kansas' Cloud County Community College, Mays' full name -- Keddric D'Wayne Che' Jarmel Mays -- is as long as his range.

Stephen Sir

Sir, a Minnesotan playing in the Big Sky Conference, has hit at least five treys in nine of the Lumberjacks' 19 games. For a high-volume gunner (he already has 152 attempts) Sir shoots a stellar 50.7 percent from beyond the arc. The nation's defending three-point accuracy champ is also one of its most seasoned veterans, having been granted a sixth year of eligibility by the NCAA.

Lee Humphrey

Humphrey, or "Humpty," to his teammates, served as the dagger guy on the Gators' national championship team last season, and could play the same role in a repeat title run. As the main recipient of Joakim Noah's and Al Horford's inside-out feeds, Humphrey has connected on 52 of 112 trey attempts this year.

Chris Lofton

Considered the best clutch long-range shooter in all of college basketball -- as well as one of the game's top overall scorers -- Lofton has already hit 70 three-pointers this season. Despite being the focus of every opponent's defensive strategy, the pride of Maysville, Ky., has managed to fire at a 46.1 percent clip while averaging 21.5 points per game. He's doubtful for Sunday's game at Kentucky due to a sprained ankle, but isn't expected to be out long-term.

Published Jan 29, 2007

SI STAFF