Dom Flora
Encyclopedia
Dominick A. "Dom" Flora (born June 12, 1935) is a former American
college basketball standout at Washington & Lee University
(W&L), located in Lexington, Virginia
. Flora played for the W&L Generals from 1954–55 to 1957–58
. Dom Flora was a native of Jersey City
, New Jersey
and played high school basketball for William L. Dickinson High School
.
A point guard
, Flora was an explosive scorer whose accurate jump shot
and crisp ball-handling ability helped him average 21 points per game for his career. He was able to score despite being double– and triple–teamed by opposing defenses, and his aggressive style of play led him to become one of the most prolific free throw
shooters in NCAA Division I history. As of the conclusion of the 2009–10 season
, Flora's 696 free throws made are still in the top 25 all-time in Division I history. He shot 696-for-954 (73.0%) in 109 career games played. As a senior
in 1957–58, Flora was named the Southern Conference Player of the Year
, the Virginia Big Six Player of the Year, and a First Team All-America selection by the Helms Foundation. He also earned his second straight First Team All-Southern Conference
selection. When his career ended, Flora finished with 2,310 points, which at the time was the fifth–highest total in NCAA history. He also played baseball all four years while at W&L.
Bill Brill, a sports writer for The Roanoke Times & World News, once wrote about Flora:
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
college basketball standout at Washington & Lee University
Washington and Lee University
Washington and Lee University is a private liberal arts college in Lexington, Virginia, United States.The classical school from which Washington and Lee descended was established in 1749 as Augusta Academy, about north of its present location. In 1776 it was renamed Liberty Hall in a burst of...
(W&L), located in Lexington, Virginia
Lexington, Virginia
Lexington is an independent city within the confines of Rockbridge County in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The population was 7,042 in 2010. Lexington is about 55 minutes east of the West Virginia border and is about 50 miles north of Roanoke, Virginia. It was first settled in 1777.It is home to...
. Flora played for the W&L Generals from 1954–55 to 1957–58
1957–58 NCAA University Division men's basketball season
-Season headlines:* Adolph Rupp won his fourth championship as he led the Kentucky Wildcats to an 84–72 win over the Seattle Chieftains and their star, Elgin Baylor. The starting unit was nicknamed the "Fiddlin' Five," after a quip by Rupp that his team were fiddlers when he really needed violinists...
. Dom Flora was a native of Jersey City
Jersey City, New Jersey
Jersey City is the seat of Hudson County, New Jersey, United States.Part of the New York metropolitan area, Jersey City lies between the Hudson River and Upper New York Bay across from Lower Manhattan and the Hackensack River and Newark Bay...
, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
and played high school basketball for William L. Dickinson High School
William L. Dickinson High School
William L. Dickinson High School is a four-year public high school located in Jersey City, New Jersey, as part of the Jersey City Public Schools...
.
A point guard
Point guard
Point guard , also called the play maker or "the ball-handler", is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. A point guard has perhaps the most specialized role of any position – essentially, he is expected to run the team's offense by controlling the ball and making sure that...
, Flora was an explosive scorer whose accurate jump shot
Jump shot
In basketball , a jump shot is an attempt to score a basket by jumping, usually straight up, and in mid-jump, propelling the ball in an arc into the basket. It is accomplished by the player bringing his or her elbow up until it is aligned with the hoop, then sent towards the hoop in a high arc. It...
and crisp ball-handling ability helped him average 21 points per game for his career. He was able to score despite being double– and triple–teamed by opposing defenses, and his aggressive style of play led him to become one of the most prolific free throw
Free throw
In basketball, free throws or foul shots are unopposed attempts to score points from a restricted area on the court , and are generally awarded after a foul on the shooter by the opposing team...
shooters in NCAA Division I history. As of the conclusion of the 2009–10 season
2009–10 NCAA Division I men's basketball season
The 2009–10 NCAA Division I men's basketball season began on November 9, 2009, and ended with the 2010 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament's championship game on April 5, 2010 on the Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. The opening round occurred on Tuesday, March 16, 2010, followed by first...
, Flora's 696 free throws made are still in the top 25 all-time in Division I history. He shot 696-for-954 (73.0%) in 109 career games played. As a senior
Senior (education)
Senior is a term used in the United States to describe a student in the 4th year of study .-High school:...
in 1957–58, Flora was named the Southern Conference Player of the Year
Southern Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Year
The Southern Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Year is a basketball award given to the Southern Conference's most outstanding player. The award was first given following the 1951–52 season. Fred Hetzel of Davidson is the only player to have won the award three times...
, the Virginia Big Six Player of the Year, and a First Team All-America selection by the Helms Foundation. He also earned his second straight First Team All-Southern Conference
Southern Conference
The Southern Conference is a Division I college athletic conference affiliated with the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Southern Conference football teams compete in the Football Championship Subdivision . Member institutions are located in the states of Alabama, Georgia, North...
selection. When his career ended, Flora finished with 2,310 points, which at the time was the fifth–highest total in NCAA history. He also played baseball all four years while at W&L.
Bill Brill, a sports writer for The Roanoke Times & World News, once wrote about Flora:
"Flora left the fans gasping with one bit of razzle-dazzle, on which he dribbled with his left hand, jumped into the air, switched the ball behind his back to his right hand, and made a jump shot. It was worth the price of admission."
See also
- List of NCAA Division I men's basketball career free throw scoring leaders
- Jay HandlanJay HandlanJohn Bernard "Jay" Handlan was an American former college basketball star at Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia from 1948 to 1952. He was born in Wheeling, West Virginia...
– a former Washington and Lee basketball standout from 1948 to 1952