Basketball

Wofford's Fletcher Magee sets career 3-point record in school's first NCAA Tournament win

By Joshua Pease Mar 22, 2019
Wofford guard Fletcher Magee (AP Photo/Stephen B. Morton)

Thursday was a night of firsts for the relatively unknown Wofford Terriers. The school won its first ever Division-I NCAA Tournament game, an 84-68 victory over Seton Hall. And their star senior, Fletcher Magee, drained seven 3-pointers, giving him an all-time NCAA record of 509 career threes (topping the previous mark of 504).

Magee joins Stephen Curry as the only other Southern Conference player to make at least five 3-pointers in an NCAA Tournament game. According to Wofford Coach Mike Young, Magee’s success is directly related to his work ethic.

“What you don’t have a pulse of is how uncommon he is and how hard he’s worked time and time again in that gym,” Young said after the game. “I go over often to watch film. I enjoy it. No phones. And I can’t tell you how many times I walk in that gorgeous building of ours and there’s a ball bouncing, and I know it’s him. Nine o’clock at night, 10 o’clock at night, and he’s not messing around. He’s going at it, getting better.”

Magee also calls himself a Christian and was a member of FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes) in high school, when he went on three missions trips to the Dominican Republic to help build homes. He was also an instructor at various sports camps for kids, all while earning a spot on his school’s academic honor roll all four years.

When Magee declared for the draft following his junior year, he gave credit to God for all his success. He ultimately pulled out of the draft and returned to Wofford, but a strong run in the tournament could go a long way toward him being chosen in this year’s NBA draft.

The Terriers will need every bit of shooting Magee can provide for their second-round game Saturday against No. 2-seeded Kentucky, a sizable favorite.

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