Maryland Record Breakers: Len Elmore

Len Elmore is the greatest rebounder in Maryland men’s basketball history. Period.

A debate could be had for the best player at every statistical category in the program’s history. But not rebounding. Elmore takes the cake. And it’s been that way since 1974 - a span of more than 45 years.

Before digging deeper into Elmore’s incredible rebounding marks, this is a great time to remind everyone that the former big man from New York City only played three seasons of Division I. It was not until midway through Elmore’s collegiate career that freshmen were eligible to play varsity.

Three seasons!

Consider this: Elmore is the only player in Maryland men’s basketball history to record 1,000 rebounds, finishing his career with 1,053 in 86 games. He reigns king as the only Terrapin in the 1000/1000 club when it comes to rebounds and points.

The great Lonny Baxter, who would lead Maryland to the 2002 National Championship to cap a spectacular four-year career, ranks second in career rebounds with 998 over the course of 138 games. That’s 52 more games than Elmore!

In total, only five other players have reached 900 career rebounds at Maryland, with Baxter being the last to reach the mark. James Gist (2004-08), who finished with 783 rebounds, has recorded the most since Baxter.

Of all his records, Elmore considers this record the toughest to break.

“Guys who are capable of breaking that record aren’t sticking around,” said Elmore with a chuckle on the Hear The Turtle podcast. “If somebody wants to reach 1,000 rebounds, they’ll really have to focus and be that guy in the middle that’s able to command the board on both ends.”

OK fine, some of the best Terrapin big men have left for the pros early. What about career rebounding average? Elmore (12.2 rebounds/g) still dominates the category over future NBA pros Buck Williams (10.9) and Joe Smith (10.7). Keep in mind, Buck twice led the ACC in rebounding.

Elmore also pieced together the greatest single-season of rebounding in program history, totaling 412 rebounds as a senior in 1973-74 for an average mark of 14.7/g.

First putting into context the single-season average, Elmore’s 14.7 rebounds/g stands head and shoulders above the rest. Only three players in program history have reached 12.0/g, with each playing in the 1950’s and 1960’s. Modernly speaking, only one player since 1982 has even reached 10.8 rebounds/g: Jordan Williams, who averaged 11.8 in 2010-11.

Elmore’s 412 rebounds in 1973-74 have also stood the test of time, though of all his records this may have the greatest chance to be broken (you can make what you will of those chances since the record has stood for nearly half a century). Williams came the closest in 2010-11 with 388 rebounds, becoming the first player since Joe Smith to record at least 360. Two seasons ago, Bruno Fernando finished with 362 rebounds.

“[I’m most proud of] probably the single-season total and average my senior year because I was able to average 14 points as a third option behind [Tom] McMillen and [John] Lucas,” Elmore said. “A lot of my points came from me going to get it - offensive rebounds, put-backs, things like that. To me, the real test of a rebounder is who can offensive rebound and I’m proud to have excelled there.”

Elmore’s rebounding prowess culminated on one special day at Wake Forest in February of 1974 when he hauled in his program-record 26 rebounds. The total broke Will Hetzel’s record of 24 set in 1968. Derrick Lewis’ 23 rebounds against James Madison in 1987 (part of the first triple-double in program history) is the closest and Terp has come to the mark.

After being selected 13th overall by the Washington Bullets in 1974, Elmore would go on to play 10 seasons in the NBA and two in the ABA. Following his playing career, Elmore earned his J.D. from Harvard Law School and began his law career as a prosecutor, while also serving as one of the top basketball television analysts. He continues to call games to this day.

He still credits Maryland for much of his success after college, and attends his fair share of games as both an analyst and a fan (but never at the same time!).

“Maryland will always be a prominent factor in the success that I’ve had,” Elmore said. “There used to be a poster of me that said 'choosing Maryland was the best decision I've ever made.' I have friendships that have lasted 50 years and I met my wife on campus. Equally as important, from an academic standpoint, it gave me the basis to do some of the things I've been able to do professionally."