Alex Littlejohn knew he was on the verge of surpassing Gary Cassel's seven-decades old career-scoring record, but he wasn't precisely sure how close.
His father, Gary, let him know loud and clear the moment it happened. Alex's record-breaking points came on a 12-foot shot to the right of the lane with 6:18 left in the first half of Kansas Wesleyan's game against Avila on Jan. 11 in Kansas City, Mo.
"I wasn't aware of it at the moment," said Littlejohn, a senior forward and four-year starter. "I heard my dad in the stands just scream really loud and cheer, so I assumed that was probably the point that I got it."
The field goal gave Littlejohn 1,545 points, topping Cassel's previous record of 1,544 set in 1955.
Littlejohn was pleased to get the record - to a degree.
"It was actually really cool, so I'm proud of myself for a good achievement," he said. "I think a lot of people were really excited to see it happen, but I just try to focus on our games, because all I care about is winning and trying to do the best for my team."
Littlejohn finished with 24 points in the Coyotes' 73-70 loss, which put a damper on the night.
"Playing in the course of the games, you don't think about that," he said. "I've got to get the ball through the basket.
"At the end of the day, records are made, but we're trying to win basketball games, and that's all I care about right now. I would give up all records just to win the league or have a great season."
Winning is something Littlejohn has helped KWU do plenty of since his arrival before the 2021-22 season from Wichita's Bishop Carroll High School - 81 victories through Jan. 15, to be precise.
Littlejohn has played a pivotal role each season.
"I know the really good players don't go into their career thinking, 'I want to be the school's all-time scoring-record holder, rebounding-record holder,' and all this stuff," coach Anthony Monson said. "He came in just wanting to win, and I think what makes it really cool is the fact that he wasn't trying to do it."
For Littlejohn, it was a matter of doing what he was told and working relentlessly to improve his craft.
"They had a lot of confidence in what they thought I was going to be able to do and how I was able to play," he said, even from the beginning. "I was fortunate that I was in a spot where I could come in and play a lot as a freshman. I kept growing confidence, and they kept growing confidence in my ability to play and help the team win. One thing led to another."
Littlejohn is quick to credit those who have assisted him.
"I've played with a lot of great people over the years who gave me the ball to help me score, so it's as much as on my teammates and coaches as it is on me," he said.
Littlejohn's career progression coincided with his improved ability to score from the perimeter.
"They wanted me to be more aggressive when I came in, so I kind of went back to being the inside presence and doing that, but also trying to get my shot right and have that presence on the outside," he said. "If you're able to play on the 3-point line, that opens up the lanes and the drives not only for myself to be successful, but my teammates, too."
Breaking the record had added meaning after Littlejohn and Cassel talked this past summer.
"It was really cool to meet him and hear from him what it was like back in the day," he said. "He was talking about how different it was, because we play basketball pretty much your round and he would go play another sport (after basketball season ended). The fact that he was so successful in basketball while doing other things is pretty cool."
Monson points to Littlejohn's work ethic and said his path to success began at home with his parents, Gary and Lisa.
"Coaches are always going to push their players to be great and everything else, but I give a lot of credit to his family for what they've done for him," he said. "I think Gary will never let Alex live any bad moment, and that's why Alex has been great. We got him as an almost-finished product, and our job was to put that last touch on."
Littlejohn, a Business Management major who wants to be a firefighter after graduation in May, is fast approaching another KWU milestone - the career rebounding mark. He had 1,118 rebounds after grabbing 12 against McPherson on Jan. 15 and is just 31 shy of Charles Fiffe's record of 1,149 set in 1950.
"That's the one I really want, because it's always been what I do," he said. "I was never really a scorer in high school. I would get points and stuff, but rebounding has always been what the team looks to me to do. I know the scoring record is a big deal, but the rebounding one is kind of cool for me.
"It's harder to get 20 rebounds in a game than it is to get 20 points. There are five people on the other team who are going for them, as well as your teammates."
Monson said Littlejohn's impact goes far beyond what he does on the court and will continue after he departs.