With ‘March Madness’ In Full Swing, Let’s Take A Look At College Basketball’s Most Exciting Player Ever

'Pistol'.

That's all you had to know.  'Pistol'.

In the late 1960's, if you were talking 'Pistol', you were talking Pete Maravich.

The most prolific scorer in the history of Major College Basketball, Pete Maravich was, well, magic before 'Magic'.  Playing for his Dad at Louisiana State University, 'Pistol' Pete thrilled crowds with his play, if not with victories.  Nope, 'Pistol' never played on an NCAA championship team.  In fact, his team never even made it to the tournament.  LSU was pretty much a .500 or so team in the Maravich years, give or take.  So were they a failure?  Consider this: The year before 'Pistol' arrived, they were 3-20.

Oh, and by the way, his all-time collegiate scoring record?  He set it before the advent of the 3-point line.  And Pete was a 'little' guy, if 6'5" can be considered little (and it can in college and NBA).

Pete went on to the NBA and had an amazing career, named one of the NBA's 50 all-time greatest players.  In fact, Hall of Famer John Havlicek called him 'the best ball-handler of all time'.

And please remember this: Pete was working his wizardry before anyone else!  When you see the dazzling 'street ball play' in college or the NBA now...well, if you like it, thank Pete Maravich.  If you don't, well, it's Pistol Pete's fault.

And a final, and sad, note.

'Pistol' Pete Maravich died on January 5, 1988 of a heart attach.  He was just 40 years old.

He was playing basketball at a church gym in Pasadena, California.

See the 'Magic' of Pistol Pete below.