# Houston Cougars men's basketball statistical leaders

The Houston Cougars men's basketball statistical leaders are individual statistical leaders of the Houston Cougars men's basketball program in various categories, including points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks. Within those areas, the lists identify single-game, single-season, and career leaders. The Cougars represent the University of Houston in the NCAA Division I Big 12 Conference.
Houston began competing in intercollegiate basketball in 1945. However, the school's record book does not generally list records from before the 1950s, as records from before this period are often incomplete and inconsistent. Since scoring was much lower in this era, and teams played much fewer games during a typical season, it is likely that few or no players from this era would appear on these lists anyway.
The NCAA did not officially record assists as a stat until the 1983–84 season, and blocks and steals until the 1985–86 season, but Houston's record books includes players in these stats before these seasons. These lists are updated through the end of the 2023–24 season.

## Scoring

Career :
| Rank | Player | Points | Seasons |
| 1 | Elvin Hayes | 2,884 | 1965–66 1966–67 1967–68 |
| 2 | Otis Birdsong | 2,832 | 1973–74 1974–75 1975–76 1976–77 |
| 3 | Michael Young | 2,043 | 1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 |
| 4 | Craig Upchurch | 1,880 | 1987–88 1988–89 1989–90 1991–92 |
| 5 | Rob Williams | 1,838 | 1979–80 1980–81 1981–82 |
| 6 | Louis Dunbar | 1,765 | 1972–73 1973–74 1974–75 |
| 7 | Dwight Davis | 1,741 | 1969–70 1970–71 1971–72 |
| 8 | Rob Gray | 1,710 | 2015–16 2016–17 2017–18 |
| 9 | Alvin Franklin | 1,684 | 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 |
| 10 | Greg Anderson | 1,662 | 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 |
Season :
| Rank | Player | Points | Season |
| 1 | Elvin Hayes | 1,214 | 1967–68 |
| 2 | Otis Birdsong | 1,090 | 1976–77 |
| 3 | Aubrey Coleman | 895 | 2009–10 |
| 4 | Elvin Hayes | 881 | 1966–67 |
| 5 | Robert McKiver | 801 | 2007–08 |
| 6 | Elvin Hayes | 789 | 1965–66 |
| 7 | Rob Williams | 749 | 1980–81 |
| 8 | Michael Young | 734 | 1983–84 |
| 9 | Ollie Taylor | 733 | 1969–70 |
| 10 | Otis Birdsong | 730 | 1975–76 |
Single Game :
| Rank | Player | Points | Season | Opponent |
| 1 | Elvin Hayes | 62 | 1967–68 | Valparaiso |
| 2 | Elvin Hayes | 55 | 1965–66 | Southwestern |
| 3 | Robert McKiver | 52 | 2007–08 | Southern Miss |
| 4 | Elvin Hayes | 51 | 1967–68 | Virginia Tech |
| 5 | Elvin Hayes | 50 | 1967–68 | Centenary (LA) |
| | Lyle Harger | 50 | 1962–63 | Trinity (TX) |
| | Don Boldebuck | 50 | 1954–55 | Sam Houston State |
| 8 | Elvin Hayes | 49 | 1967–68 | Loyola (IL) |
| 9 | Elvin Hayes | 48 | 1967–68 | Fairfield |
| 10 | Elvin Hayes | 45 | 1967–68 | Marquette |
| | Elvin Hayes | 45 | 1967–68 | Montana State |

## Rebounds

Career :
| Rank | Player | Rebounds | Seasons |
| 1 | Elvin Hayes | 1,602 | 1965–66 1966–67 1967–68 |
| 2 | Akeem Olajuwon | 1,067 | 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 |
| 3 | Greg Anderson | 1,045 | 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 |
| 4 | Rickie Winslow | 969 | 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 |
| 5 | Dwight Davis | 961 | 1969–70 1970–71 1971–72 |
| 6 | Clyde Drexler | 948 | 1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 |
| 7 | Don Boldebuck | 863 | 1954–55 1955–56 |
| 8 | Ken Spain | 859 | 1966–67 1967–68 1968–69 |
| 9 | TaShawn Thomas | 833 | 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 |
| 10 | J'Wan Roberts | 812 | 2020–21 2021–22 2022–23 2023–24 |
Season :
| Rank | Player | Rebounds | Season |
| 1 | Elvin Hayes | 624 | 1967–68 |
| 2 | Akeem Olajuwon | 500 | 1983–84 |
| 3 | Elvin Hayes | 490 | 1965–66 |
| 4 | Elvin Hayes | 488 | 1966–67 |
| 5 | Don Boldebuck | 453 | 1954–55 |
| 6 | Ken Spain | 422 | 1967–68 |
| 7 | Don Boldebuck | 410 | 1955–56 |
| 8 | Akeem Olajuwon | 388 | 1982–83 |
| 9 | Dwight Jones | 380 | 1972–73 |
| 10 | Mike Schultz | 362 | 1976–77 |
Single Game :
| Rank | Player | Rebounds | Season | Opponent |
| 1 | Elvin Hayes | 37 | 1967–68 | Centenary (LA) |
| 2 | Elvin Hayes | 30 | 1965–66 | Southwestern |
| 3 | Lyle Harger | 29 | 1962–63 | Texas Wesleyan |
| 4 | Elvin Hayes | 28 | 1965–66 | Pacific |
| | Elvin Hayes | 28 | 1965–66 | Centenary (LA) |
| 6 | Elvin Hayes | 27 | 1967–68 | Loyola (IL) |
| | Elvin Hayes | 27 | 1967–68 | Virginia Tech |
| | Elvin Hayes | 27 | 1967–68 | Valparaiso |
| | Elvin Hayes | 27 | 1965–66 | TCU |
| | Don Boldebuck | 27 | 1954–55 | Missouri |
| | Don Boldebuck | 27 | 1955–56 | Trinity (TX) |

## Assists

Career :
| Rank | Player | Assists | Seasons |
| 1 | Reid Gettys | 740 | 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 |
| 2 | Derrick Daniels | 711 | 1988–89 1989–90 1990–91 1991–92 |
| 3 | Jamal Shead | 693 | 2020–21 2021–22 2022–23 2023–24 |
| 4 | Ken Ciolli | 629 | 1975–76 1976–77 1977–78 1978–79 |
| 5 | Galen Robinson Jr. | 578 | 2015–16 2016–17 2017–18 2018–19 |
| 6 | Alvin Franklin | 502 | 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 |
| | Lanny Smith | 502 | 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 |
| 8 | Rob Williams | 407 | 1979–80 1980–81 1981–82 |
| 9 | Otis Birdsong | 365 | 1973–74 1974–75 1975–76 1976–77 |
| 10 | Joe Hamood | 346 | 1963–64 1964–65 1965–66 |
Season :
| Rank | Player | Assists | Season |
| 1 | Reid Gettys | 309 | 1983–84 |
| 2 | Jamal Shead | 233 | 2023–24 |
| 3 | Jamal Shead | 221 | 2021–22 |
| 4 | Reid Gettys | 209 | 1982–83 |
| 5 | Reid Gettys | 208 | 1984–85 |
| 6 | Ken Ciolli | 201 | 1976–77 |
| 7 | Jamal Shead | 200 | 2022–23 |
| 8 | Derrick Daniels | 196 | 1989–90 |
| 9 | Joe Hamood | 190 | 1965–66 |
| 10 | Galen Robinson Jr. | 183 | 2018–19 |
Single Game :
| Rank | Player | Assists | Season | Opponent |
| 1 | Reid Gettys | 17 | 1984–85 | Rice |
| 2 | Derrick Daniels | 16 | 1989–90 | Rice |
| 3 | Randy Brown | 15 | 1987–88 | Fordham |
| | Reid Gettys | 15 | 1983–84 | Kansas |
| | Poo Welch | 15 | 1969–70 | Loyola (LA) |
| | George Reynolds | 15 | 1967–68 | Valparaiso |
| 7 | Derrick Daniels | 14 | 1989–90 | Texas A&M |
| | Gerry McGee | 14 | 1985–86 | Texas Wesleyan |
| | Poo Welch | 14 | 1969–70 | South Alabama |
| | Vern Lewis | 14 | 1967–68 | Ohio State |

## Steals

Career :
| Rank | Player | Steals | Seasons |
| 1 | Clyde Drexler | 268 | 1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 |
| 2 | Ken Ciolli | 237 | 1975–76 1976–77 1977–78 1978–79 |
| 3 | Jamal Shead | 226 | 2020–21 2021–22 2022–23 2023–24 |
| 4 | Otis Birdsong | 217 | 1973–74 1974–75 1975–76 1976–77 |
| 5 | Michael Young | 215 | 1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 |
| 6 | Kenneth Williams | 209 | 1976–77 1977–78 1978–79 1979–80 |
| 7 | Rickie Winslow | 207 | 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 |
| 8 | Oliver Lafayette | 183 | 2005–06 2006–07 |
| 9 | Aubrey Coleman | 168 | 2008–09 2009–10 |
| 10 | Craig Upchurch | 158 | 1987–88 1988–89 1989–90 1991–92 |
Season :
| Rank | Player | Steals | Season |
| 1 | Clyde Drexler | 113 | 1982–83 |
| 2 | Oliver Lafayette | 105 | 2005–06 |
| 3 | Clyde Drexler | 97 | 1981–82 |
| 4 | Aubrey Coleman | 93 | 2009–10 |
| 5 | Brian Latham | 84 | 2004–05 |
| 6 | Jamal Shead | 80 | 2023–24 |
| 7 | Ken Ciolli | 78 | 1977–78 |
| | Oliver Lafayette | 78 | 2006–07 |
| 9 | Randy Brown | 77 | 1987–88 |
| 10 | Ken Ciolli | 75 | 1978–79 |
| | Aubrey Coleman | 75 | 2008–09 |
Single Game :
| Rank | Player | Steals | Season | Opponent |
| 1 | Clyde Drexler | 11 | 1982–83 | Syracuse |
| 2 | Jamal Shead | 8 | 2020–21 | Our Lady of the Lake |
| | Oliver Lafayette | 8 | 2005–06 | BYU |
| | Dominic Smith | 8 | 2000–01 | Charlotte |
| | Ken Ciolli | 8 | 1976–77 | Illinois State |
| | Ken Ciolli | 8 | 1977–78 | Texas Lutheran |
| | Ken Ciolli | 8 | 1977–78 | Xavier |
| | Cecile Rose | 8 | 1975–76 | Houston Baptist |
| 9 | Aubrey Coleman | 7 | 2009–10 | Tulsa |
| | Aubrey Coleman | 7 | 2009–10 | San Diego |
| | Aubrey Coleman | 7 | 2008–09 | Toledo |
| | Brian Latham | 7 | 2004–05 | South Florida |
| | Bernard Smith | 7 | 1999–00 | Southern Miss |
| | Rickie Winslow | 7 | 1985–86 | UTSA |
| | Eric Dickens | 7 | 1984–85 | TCU |
| | Michael Young | 7 | 1983–84 | Arkansas |
| | Clyde Drexler | 7 | 1982–83 | TCU |
| | Clyde Drexler | 7 | 1981–82 | UC Santa Barbara |

## Blocks

Career :
| Rank | Player | Blocks | Seasons |
| 1 | Akeem Olajuwon | 454 | 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 |
| 2 | Dwight Davis | 231 | 1969–70 1970–71 1971–72 |
| 3 | Greg Anderson | 227 | 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 |
| 4 | Bo Outlaw | 211 | 1991–92 1992–93 |
| 5 | TaShawn Thomas | 209 | 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 |
| 6 | Anwar Ferguson | 160 | 2002–03 2003–04 |
| 7 | Dwight Jones | 155 | 1970–71 1971–72 1972–73 |
| 8 | Danrad Knowles | 137 | 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16 2016–17 |
| 9 | Maurice Presley | 135 | 1972–73 1973–74 1974–75 |
| 10 | Tim Moore | 133 | 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 |
Season :
| Rank | Player | Blocks | Season |
| 1 | Akeem Olajuwon | 207 | 1983–84 |
| 2 | Akeem Olajuwon | 175 | 1982–83 |
| 3 | Dwight Davis | 125 | 1970–71 |
| 4 | Bo Outlaw | 114 | 1992–93 |
| 5 | Anwar Ferguson | 111 | 2003–04 |
| 6 | Dwight Davis | 106 | 1971–72 |
| 7 | Dwight Jones | 97 | 1972–73 |
| | Bo Outlaw | 97 | 1991–92 |
| 9 | TaShawn Thomas | 90 | 2013–14 |
| 10 | Tim Moore | 83 | 1994–95 |
Single Game :
| Rank | Player | Blocks | Season | Opponent |
| 1 | Akeem Olajuwon | 16 | 1983–84 | Biscayne |
| 2 | Dwight Jones | 14 | 1972–73 | Houston Baptist |
| 3 | Akeem Olajuwon | 11 | 1982–83 | Southwestern Louisiana |
| | Akeem Olajuwon | 11 | 1982–83 | Arkansas |
| | Akeem Olajuwon | 11 | 1982–83 | NC State |
| | Akeem Olajuwon | 11 | 1983–84 | Texas |
| 7 | Bo Outlaw | 10 | 1992–93 | Texas A&M |
| | Akeem Olajuwon | 10 | 1983–84 | Arkansas |
| | Akeem Olajuwon | 10 | 1983–84 | Rice |
| | Akeem Olajuwon | 10 | 1983–84 | Texas A&M |
| | Akeem Olajuwon | 10 | 1983–84 | Texas Tech |
| | Akeem Olajuwon | 10 | 1983–84 | Louisville |
| | Akeem Olajuwon | 10 | 1982–83 | Texas |