Danny Heater
From Hoopedia
Danny Heater of Burnsville (West Virginia) High School holds the U.S. high school record for points scored in a game. On January 26, 1960, Heater scored 135 points in a game against Widen High School. Heater made 53 of 70 field goal attempts, 29 of 41 free throws, pulled down 32 rebounds, and still had time to dish out seven assists. (Burnsville won, 173-43.)
His coach, Jack Stalnaker, urged Heater to break the record in hopes that it would get him and his team some publicity, which might result in college scholarship offers. Heater's father, an unemployed coal miner, could not afford to send his son to college. Unfortunately, Heater did not receive any offers of athletic scholarships.
A local benefactor did provide him with the means to enroll at the University of Richmond, but Heater, who had never been away from home before, grew terribly homesick and dropped out.
His story does have a happy ending, however. Heater eventually went to work for an airline, married and has a large and loving family. He still does wonder about what might have been, even if just a little bit.
