Clyde Mayes
Men's Basketball
Furman (1972-75)
Bio
Furman's Clyde Mayes, who competed for the Paladins from 1972-75, was a three-time first-team All-SoCon pick. He was the league’s player of the year in 1973-74 and 1974-75 and was a first-team All-American and the SoCon Male Athlete of the Year in 1974-75.
In 89 varsity games over three years, the Greenville, South Carolina, native scored 1,589 points, which was sixth in school history at the conclusion of his career and now ranks 14th. Nearly 50 years after donning the purple and white for the final time, he still ranks third in Furman history with 1,118 career rebounds, while his average of 12.6 per game ranks fourth.
Mayes led the SoCon in rebounding twice, pacing the league with 13.0 in 1973-74 and 13.5 in 1974-75. He was a six-time SoCon Player of the Week in his career.
The dominant frontcourt presence led Furman in rebounding and field-goal percentage each year of his career, with his 402 total boards in 1974-75 still ranking second in a season in program history. Mayes, who has three of Furman’s top 12 seasons for total rebounds and posted a career-high 25 rebounds against NC State in 1974-75, also led the Paladins in blocked shots in 1973-74, swatting 2.4 per contest.
Mayes helped Furman to an overall 64-25 record in his three seasons, including a 34-3 SoCon mark as the Paladins won a pair of regular-season league titles and three tournament titles. Mayes earned All-Tournament first-team distinction all three times, taking Tournament MVP honors in 1973 and 1975. He helped Furman make a run to the Sweet Sixteen in 1973-74 and was named the South Carolina Player of the Year in 1974 by the S.C. Sportswriters.
At the conclusion of his collegiate career, Mayes was selected by the Milwaukee Bucks with the fourth pick of the second round of the NBA Draft (22nd overall pick). He played in 74 NBA games over two seasons for the Bucks, the Indiana Pacers, the Buffalo Braves and the Portland Trailblazers.
Mayes becomes the seventh Furman Paladin to earn a spot in the SoCon Hall of Fame and the second men’s basketball player, joining Frank Selvy, who was a member of the inaugural class in 2009. Mayes, who was named to the SoCon’s 100th Anniversary Team in 2021, was inducted into the Furman Athletic Hall of Fame in 1983 and the South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame in 2013. He is one of six players in Furman history to have his number (34) retired.
Mayes says:
“I’m very, very appreciative and thank God for being inducted into the Southern Conference Hall of Fame.”
Gallery: (5-20-2022) Clyde Mayes HOF Gallery