Michael Jordan, often considered the greatest basketball player of all-time, never accomplished this feat. Neither did Karl Malone, Kevin Durant, Shaquille O'Neal or Steph Curry or a host of other all-time leading scorers. Ervin Stepp of Kentucky, however, did it 30 times.
The feat in question is scored 50 or more points in a high school basketball game. Like the NBA, it's a scoring achievement that catches your attention. And when it comes to scoring 50 points in a game, no one did it better than Stepp, a 6-foot-2 guard with a 36-inch vertical leap from the hills of Kentucky who set a state record with a 53.7 scoring average in 1979-80.
Stepp heads the MaxPreps list of high school basketball players with the most 50-point games in their career. The list includes current NBA all-stars, past NBA stars and current high school players. Players are listed with their school, the years they played and their point totals with duplicates marked in parenthesis.
Stepp built his No. 1 total thanks to a national scoring battle between him and another player over 800 miles away in Louisiana. During the 1979-80 season, Stepp was averaging over 50 points a game at tiny Phelps high school, located in the easternmost part of Kentucky near the Virginia border. Meanwhile, Bobby Joe Douglas was doing the same at the small school of Marion, located near Lake Charles in Southwestern Louisiana.
Douglas ended up winning the national scoring title at 54.0 points per game, thanks in part to a 93-point outing. Stepp's highest game was 75 points, but he ended up with 30 games of 50 or more points over his career compared to 20 for Douglas.
Douglas is tied with Tommy Murr of Lindsay Lane Christian Academy (Athens, Ala.) for fifth place on the list. Stepp comes in ahead of Joseph Girard III of Glens Falls (N.Y.), with 26; Greg Procell of Ebarb (Noble, La.) with 24; and Steve Farquhar of Calvary Baptist (Md.) with 22.
For Girard III, 50-point games was a family affair. His father, Joe Girard Jr., who was also his coach at Glens Falls, had three 50-point games in his career at St. Mary's (Glens Falls) in the late 1980s.
Other notable players on the list include Tony Clark of Christian (El Cajon, Calif.). He has the most 50-point games of any California player, but he went on to a 15-year Major League Baseball career. Past NBA standouts on the list include Al Jefferson of Prentiss (Miss.), Monta Ellis of Lanier (Jackson, Miss.), Tom McMillen of Mansfield (Pa.) and Bill Cartwright of Elk Grove (Calif.). Current NBA players include Trae Young of Norman North (Okla.).
Current high school players on the list include the 2023 national scoring leader Vinnie Cugini of Aquinas Academy (Pa.) and Markus Robinson, who played at Blue Ridge this year but had his 50-point games while playing at Finney (Penfield, N.Y.).
The source of MaxPreps list is Paul S. Luchter's website
luckyshow.org. His site lists over 10,500 high school players who have scored 50 or more points in a single game.
Former Glens Falls player Joe Girard III is second all-time with 26 50-point games in his high school career. (Photo: Jim Redman)
1. Ervin Stepp, 30
School: Phelps (Ky.)Years: 1978-80
50s: 50 (5), 51 (3), 52 (2), 53, 54 (3), 55, 56, 57, 58 (2), 59
60s: 60, 63, 65 (2), 66, 68, 69 (2)
70s: 75
2. Joseph Girard III, 26
School: Glens Falls (N.Y.)Years: 2015-19
50s: 50 (6), 52 (4), 53 (2), 54, 55, 56 (3), 57 (2), 58 (2), 59 (2)
60s: 60 (2), 69
3. Greg Procell, 24
School: Ebarb (Noble, La.)Years: 1967-70
50s: 50 (2), 51 (2), 52 (5), 53 (2), 55, 56 (2), 57
60s: 60 (2), 61, 62, 65, 66, 68
70s: 72
100s: 100
4. Steve Farquhar, 22
School: Calvary Baptist (Dundalk, Md.)Years: 1983-85
50s: 50 (3), 51 (2), 52 (2), 53, 54 (3), 55 (3), 56 (3),
60s: 61, 63, 64, 65, 68
5. (tie) Tommy Murr, 20
School: Lindsay Lane Christian Academy (Athens, Ala.)Years: 2017-20
50s: 50, 51 (2), 52 (2), 53 (3), 54 (2), 55 (3), 56 (2), 57, 59 (2)
60s: 60, 61
5. (tie) Bobby Joe Douglas, 20
School: Marion (Marion, La.)Years: 1978-80
50s: 50 (2), 51, 52 (2), 53, 54, 57, 58
60s: 65 (2), 69
70s: 70 (2), 71 (3), 72, 77
90s: 93
7. Steve Blehm, 19
School: Devils Lake/North Dakota School for the Deaf (Devils Lake, N.D.)Years: 1970-72
50s: 50, 51 (3), 52 (3), 53 (3), 55 (2), 56, 57
60s: 61, 62 (2)
70s: 70
80s: 85
8. (tie) Kent Hyde, 18
School: Onida, now called
Sully Buttes (Onida, S.D.)Years: 1953-54
50s: 50, 51 (2), 52, 53, 54 (2), 55 (2), 56 (2), 59 (2)
60s: 60, 61, 63, 66 (2)
8. (tie) Bjorn Broman, 18
School: Lakeview Christian Academy (Duluth, Minn.)Years: 2013-15
50s: 50 (2), 51, 53, 54, 55, 58, 59
60s: 60 (4), 61 (3), 63, 65
70s: 74
10. Tom McMillen, 17
School: Mansfield (Pa.)Years: 1968-70
50s: 50, 51, 52, 53 (4), 57, 59 (2)
60s: 61 (3), 64 (2), 67
11. Mickey Crowe, 16
School: John F. Kennedy Prep (St. Nazianz, Wis.)
Years: 1973-75
50s: 50 (2), 51 (5), 52, 54 (3), 56 (2)
60s: 61, 64
70s: 72
12. Allan Hornyak, 15
School: St. John Central (Bellaire, Ohio)Years: 1967-69
50s: 50 (2), 51 (3), 52, 53 (2), 54 (2), 56, 58
60s: 60, 61 (2), 66
70s: 70, 73
13. Kevin Walls, 14
School: Camden (N.J.)Years: 1983-84
50s: 50 (2), 52 (2), 53, 55 (3), 58
60s: 60, 61, 62
70s: 70
80s: 81
14. (tie) Jeremy Monceaux, 13
School: Parkway Christian Academy (Birmingham, Ala.)Years: 1998-2002
50s: 50, 55 (2), 56 (3), 57, 58
60s: 65, 66 (3), 68
14. (tie) Anders Broman, 13
School: Lakeview Christian Academy (Duluth, Minn.)
Years: 2011-13
50s: 50 (3), 51, 52, 55, 56, 57, 58
60s: 60, 61
70s: 70, 71
16. (tie) Dajuan Wagner, 12
School: Camden (N.J.)
Years: 1999-2001
50s: 50 (2), 52 (2), 53, 54, 55 (3), 57
80s: 80
100s: 100
16. (tie) Monta Ellis, 12
School: Lanier (Jackson, Miss.)Years: 2002-04
50s: 50 (2), 51 (5), 54 (2)
60s: 62, 65
16. (tie) "King" Kelly Coleman, 12
School: Wayland (Ky.)
Years: 1954-1956
50s: 50 (3), 52, 53 (2), 54, 57
60s: 61, 63, 68
70s: 75
16. (tie) Travis Tuttle, 12
School: Argyle (Wis.)Years: 1990-92
50s: 50, 51 (3), 52, 54, 55, 58
60s: 61, 63
70s: 70, 71
20. (tie) Troy House, 11
School: Leakey (Texas) and
Ingram Moore (Ingram, Texas)Years: 1987-90
50s: 50, 51 (2), 54, 59
60s: 60, 62, 64, 67, 68
70s: 70
20. (tie) Tony Clark, 11
School: Christian (El Cajon, Calif.)Years: 1988-90
50s: 50, 52 (2), 54 (3), 55 (2), 58 (2)
60s: 64
20. (tie) Qwan Jackson, 11
School: Milwaukee Lifelong Learning (Wis.)Years: 2017-19
50s: 53, 54 (2), 55, 56, 57, 58
60s: 60, 67, 69
70s: 70
20. (tie) Bennie Fuller, 11
School: Arkansas School for the Deaf (Little Rock, Ark.)Years: 1968-70
50s: 50, 51 (3), 52, 55
60s: 65 (2)
70s: 77
90s: 98
100s: 102
20. (tie) Rich Hendrick, 11
School: Bristow (Ky.)
Years: 1963-65
50s: 50 (2), 51 (2), 52 (2), 53, 54, 55, 56
60s: 65
25. (tie) Mike Fisher, 10
School: Southwestern Academy (San Marino, Calif.)Years: 1990-91
50s: 50, 51, 52 (2), 53, 56
60s: 61 (2)
70s: 73
25. (tie) Kacen Gantt, 10
School: Mount Olive Christian (Athens, La.)Years: 2019-21
50s: 51, 53, 54, 55, 56 (2), 58, 59
60s: 63 (2)
25. (tie) David Campbell, 10
School: Ebarb (Noble, La.)
Years: 1989-90
50s: 50 (2), 51 (2), 53, 54, 57 (2)
60s: 64, 66
25. (tie) Darryl Wilson, 10
School: South Lamar (Millport, Ala.)Years: 1991-92
50s: 51 (3), 52, 55, 57 (2), 59 (2)
60s: 65
25. (tie) Al Jefferson, 10
School: Prentiss (Miss.)Years: 2002-04
50s: 50, 52, 54, 56 (3), 57
60s: 62, 66, 67
25. (tie) Patrick Minniefield, 10
School: Shongaloo (La.)
Years: 1988-90
50s: 52, 53 (3), 55, 56
60s: 61, 62, 63, 67
25. (tie) Greg Goorjian, 10School: Crescenta Valley (La Crescenta, Calif.)Years: 1976-78
50s: 50, 51 (2), 52, 53, 54
60s: 62, 63, 64 (2)
32. (tie) Larry Huston, 9
School: Savannah (Ohio)
Years: 1954-55
50s: 52, 53, 54, 55, 5 7
60s: 64, 68, 69
80s: 81
32. (tie) Kevin Noreen, 9
School: Minnesota Transitions (Minneapolis, Minn.)Years: 2007-10
50s: 50, 51 (2), 53 (2), 54, 55, 58 (2)
32. (tie) Jeremy Moore, 9
School: Decatur East Park (Ill.)
Years: 1987-88
50s: 50, 51 (2), 53, 54 (3), 59
60s: 62
32. (tie) Jay Burson, 9
School: John Glenn (New Concord, Ohio)Years: 1982-84
50s: 51, 52 (2), 53 (2), 54 (2), 59
60s: 61
32. (tie) Markus Robinson, 9
School: Finney (Penfield, N.Y.)Years: 2019-21
50s: 50 (2), 51, 53, 54 (3), 56
60s: 65
37. (tie) Tony Terrell, 8
School: East Central (San Antonio)Years: 1987-88
50s: 51, 54, 55, 56, 58, 59
60s: 60, 62
37. (tie) Tommy Jones, 8
School: Crane (Texas)Years: 1968-69
50s: 50, 51, 52 (2), 56, 57h
60s: 60, 65
37. (tie) Dale White, 8
School: Irving (Ill.)
Years: 1944-46
50s: 50 (2), 53, 59
60s: 60, 62, 64, 68
37. (tie) Chris Harrison, 8
School: Tollesboro (Ky.)
Years: 1989-90
50s: 51 (3), 52 (2), 54, 59
70s: 73
37. (tie) B.J. Burries, 8
School: Globe (Ariz.)Years: 2017-19
50s: 51 (2), 52, 54, 55 (2), 58
60s: 68
41. (tie) Vinnie Cugini, 7
School: Aquinas Academy (Gibsonia, Pa.)Years: 2021-23
50s: 51 (2), 52 (2), 55 (2), 57
41. (tie) Trae Young, 7
School: Norman North (Norman, Okla.)Years: 2016-17
50s: 50, 51, 52 (2), 53
60s: 60, 62
41. (tie) Roosevelt Fuller, 7
School: Valencia (La.)
Years: 1968-70
50s: 51 (2), 53
60s: 60, 61, 62, 64
41. (tie) Rotnei Clarke, 7
School: Verdigris (Claremore, Okla.)Years: 2007-08
50s: 53, 54, 55, 56, 57
60s: 60, 65
41. (tie) Ochiel Swaby, 7
School: North Miami (North Miami, Fla.)Years: 1990-91
50s: 53, 56 (2), 58
60s: 63 (2), 64
41. (tie) Larry Davis, 7
School: Denmark-Olar (Denmark, S.C.)Years: 1990-91
50s: 51, 52 (3), 53, 57
60s: 64
41. (tie) Nomo Williams, 7
School: River City (West Sacramento, Calif.)Years: 1984-85
50s: 51, 53, 55, 56 (4)
41. (tie) John Castorena, 7
School: Harrold (Texas)Years: 2006-07
50s: 50, 52 (3), 54, 58
60s: 62
41. (tie) John Somogyi, 7
School: St. Peter (New Brunswick, N.J.)Years: 1966-68
50s: 51 (3), 55
60s: 66, 68
70s: 71
41. (tie) Keiton Page, 7
School: Pawnee (Okla.)Years: 2007-08
50s: 51 (2), 53, 54 (2), 55
60s: 61
41. (tie) Jordan Franklin, 7
School: Trinity Prep (Napa, Calif.)Years: 2012-14
50s: 50 (2), 51, 52, 53 (3)
41. (tie) Jason Rosenberg, 7
School: North Shore Country Day (Winnetka, Ill.)Years: 1988-89
50s: 50 (2), 51, 53, 59
60s: 63, 69
41. (tie) Dontaie Allen, 7
School: Pendleton County (Falmouth, Ky.)Years: 2018-19
50s: 51 (2), 52 (2), 53 (2), 57
41. (tie) Cannon Whitby, 7
School: Obion County (Troy, Tenn.)Years: 1985-86
50s: 50, 51, 53 (3), 57
60s: 65
70s: 70
41. (tie) Brian Heublein, 7
School: Polytechnic (Pasadena, Calif.)Years: 1969-70
50s: 50 (2), 52, 54 (2), 57, 58
41. (tie) Bill Cartwright, 7
School: Elk Grove (Calif.)Years: 1974-76
50s: 50, 53, 55 (2), 57
60s: 62, 66
41. (tie) Teddy DuPay, 7
School: Mariner (Cape Coral, Fla.)Years: 1997-99
50s: 52, 54 (2), 55, 56, 58
70s: 70
41. (tie) LiAngelo Ball, 7
School: Chino Hills (Calif.)Years: 2014-17
50s: 52 (2), 53, 56
60s: 60, 65
70s: 72
