WICHITA, Kan. — Cleo Littleton, the leading scorer in Wichita State men’s basketball history, has died. He was 93.
Littleton’s son, Barry Littleton, announced his father’s death on social media.
“My father, the legendary Shocker Cleo Littleton, joined my beloved mother last night,” Barry Littleton wrote. “He fought extremely hard the last 4 years, especially the last 3 months. Today I feel very broken.”
Littleton became one of the most accomplished players in Wichita State history after joining the program in 1951 following a standout career at Wichita East High School.
He scored 2,164 points during his four seasons with the Shockers, a school record that still stands. Xavier McDaniel ranks second with 2,152 points. Littleton and McDaniel are the only two players in program history to surpass 2,000 career points.
Littleton was also the first player in Missouri Valley Conference history to earn first-team all-conference honors in four consecutive seasons.
He averaged 18.5 points per game as a freshman, 18.3 as a sophomore, 18.2 as a junior and 21.2 during his senior season.
Littleton played for coach Ralph Miller throughout his Wichita State career and helped the Shockers finish 27-4 during the 1953-54 season.
He remained active in the Wichita community later in life and regularly attended Wichita State basketball games. His No. 13 jersey has been retired and hangs in the rafters at Koch Arena.