Methodist University Athletics

Jim Darden, class of 1969, served as the cornerstone of the Methodist men's basketball program that began in 1963-64 when Methodist entered intercollegiate athletics competition. Darden played for current Hall of Famer Gene Clayton from 1965-69 and was a Dixie Intercollegiate Athletic Conference first team All-Conference selection all four seasons. He ranks fourth on the Methodist all-time scoring list with 1,644 career points and holds five school records, including the highest single-season scoring average with 23.0 points per game in the 1968-69 season when he led the Monarchs to the DIAC championship. Darden, who was honored at the 2001 DIAC conference tournament as one of MC's top-10 all-time players, still holds three DIAC tournament records.