Bo Lamar, the prolific scorer who became a three-time All-American at the University of Southwestern Louisiana before playing in both the ABA and NBA, died Feb. 16, 2026. He was 74.
Lamar emerged as one of the most dominant offensive forces in college basketball history during the early 1970s. A native of Columbus, Ohio, he averaged 31.2 points per game over his four-year career, finishing with 3,493 total points. Under coach Beryl Shipley, he led the Ragin' Cajuns to a 90–23 record. His scoring prowess earned him First-team All-America honors in 1972 and 1973, sharing the stage with peers like Bill Walton and David Thompson.
Known for his long-range accuracy, Lamar was often cited by contemporaries as a player whose statistics would have been significantly higher with a modern three-point line. After being selected as the top overall pick in the 1973 American Basketball Association Draft, he began his career with the San Diego Conquistadors. He later played for the Indiana Pacers and the Los Angeles Lakers. During his tenure as a basketball player, he earned a reputation for his pure shooting mechanics.
Lamar stayed connected to the sport and his alma mater in his later years, appearing at university events and remaining a fixture in the Louisiana sports community until the end of his life. His career scoring totals remain among the highest in the history of the NCAA.