Harry Hollines is widely regarded as one of Colorado’s greatest basketball players. A standout at Manual High School, he earned All-American honors in 1964 after graduating with eight Denver Prep League scoring records. Among them were single-season marks for league play points (353) and total season points (468).
Recruited by colleges across the country, Hollines chose to remain close to home and attend the University of Denver on an Ellison Ketchum Memorial Scholarship.
“I selected to go to DU and stay home,” Hollines said. “It worked out really well for me. It was just a fit. I never regretted it.”
Though he received an offer from Ohio State and interest from several major programs, family played the biggest role in his decision.
“I wanted to stay close to my Mom and Dad,” he added.
At Denver, Hollines played during an era when freshmen were ineligible and the three-point shot did not yet exist. Even so, he remains the University of Denver’s all-time leading scorer with 1,879 career points, averaging 25.1 points per game across 75 contests.
He also still holds school career records for:
- Field goals attempted (1,597)
- Free throws attempted (579)
- Free throws made (457)
Hollines shot 44.5% from the field and 78.1% from the free-throw line. He earned Helms Foundation All-American honors following the 1966–67 and 1967–68 seasons.
One of his most memorable performances came during his junior season in a 100–80 victory over Air Force, when he scored a career-high 41 points — tying a DU single-game record — while shooting 15-of-23 from the field and 11-of-14 from the free-throw line.
Nationally, Hollines ranked among the NCAA’s top scorers:
- 24.8 points per game as a junior (11th nationally)
- 25.3 points per game as a sophomore
- 25.0 points per game as a senior
In 1996, Hollines was inducted into the University of Denver Athletics Hall of Fame as part of its inaugural class. He was also named to the school’s All-Century Team.
Beyond basketball, many Colorado sports figures — including former USC and Chatfield running back LenDale White, East High coach Rudy Carey, and legendary coach Bob Caton — have praised Hollines for his impact off the court.
While at DU, Hollines notably roomed with teammate Rick Callahan, who was white, during a period when Black and white athletes were typically segregated in campus housing. Their friendship quietly challenged social norms of the era.
Hollines was later drafted by both the ABA and NBA, including by the Denver Rockets and the Phoenix Suns.
After basketball, he dedicated nearly four decades to serving Denver’s youth through Denver Parks & Recreation. He eventually became director of the Skyland Recreation Center — now the Hiawatha Davis Jr. Recreation Center — where he mentored and positively influenced thousands of children.
“I worked for 38 years,” Hollines said. “I got along well with those kids.”
In recognition of his lifelong service and leadership, Hollines received the 2024 Namon Mack Leadership and Legacy Award.
By Jim Benton, retired Rocky Mountain News columnist
