Dale Ellis was one of the most versatile players Tennessee ever produced. That was true on both ends of the court, Ellis told the Big Orange TipOff Club on Wednesday.
The two-time SEC player of the year (1982-83) is best known for making the transformation for All-American in the paint in college to prolific 3-point shooter in the NBA.
But Ellis said he could guard a variety of opponents in his college days, from towers of power to high-scoring guards.
"(Coach) Don DeVoe had a lot of confidence in me as a defender,'' Ellis said. "Most games are won or lost in the last two minutes and that's when I really locked down.''
Ellis said he guarded 7-footers such as Kentucky's Sam Bowie, but also took on guards like Jeff Malone of Mississippi State.
However, it was Ellis' unexpected prowess as a 3-point shooter that allowed him to play from 1984-2001 in the NBA. Nearly 10 years after his retirement he still ranks third in all-time 3-point baskets with 1,719.
"I was always a decent shooter,'' Ellis said. "I was forced to play the center position as a youngster because I was taller than my teammates.
"It's not where I wanted to play. I wanted to be outside. In pickup games, that's all I did. You couldn't find me under the basket.''
He played under the basket for DeVoe, whom he called the "toughest" coach he ever played for. The 3-point shot didn't come to the college game until after Ellis was gone.
As a freshman out of Marietta, Ga., Ellis said he looked up to senior Reggie Johnson to show him the ropes at UT. Johnson, who was in the audience Wednesday, ranks fifth on Tennessee's all-time scoring chart, one spot ahead of Ellis.
"I would have loved to play four years alongside Reggie,'' Ellis said. "We could have done something special here.''
Ellis did plenty special, in fact. He is one of a few (Steve Ray is another) Vols who can claim playing on UT squads that won first-round NCAA tournament games four consecutive years.
He is the last Vol to win consensus first-team All-America honors, in 1982-83, one year after he helped UT to an SEC title.
"My four years spent here at the University of Tennessee was the best time of my life,'' Ellis said.
Ellis, 49, moved from Seattle back to Atlanta to help care for his mother. He would like to get involved in basketball again, but admits he often chooses a good movie over a basketball game.
He has one new enterprise on the horizon: he and fiancee Daphne are expectant parents.
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Comments » 22
OrangeAndWhite4Life writes:
A great Vol and one of my all time favorites to boot !!
GO VOLS!!
jman33163 writes:
Man could flat out play! Incredible release on his 3s.
DE rockin the fade back in the day :)
Go Big Orange!!!!
mocsandvolsfan writes:
I've said it before! Best all time Vol. B. King May have been better going to the basket...? In my opinion his knees slowed him in the pros.
mocsandvolsfan writes:
Uhh I meant to say Ellis all time best.
BIVOLAR_BEAR writes:
This guy is so under the radar as a wonderful talent..Loved to watch Dale play in College as well as in the NBA..HBTV!!!
eduardo writes:
Incredible quickness and toughness. To this day I can still see him dunking over John Tudor and Hi C Carter of LSU!!! That was an original in your face dunk!!! Oh man I almost forgot about the alley oop pass he got from Ed Littleton in the first round game against VCU!! That was special!! Al Mcquire on the NBC telecast went crazy!!!
huntined#565710 writes:
Great player man we sure would like to have a player like him on this team..
UTVOLSRROCKN writes:
A great Vol, man, and basketball player! One of my all-time favorites too! Loved watching him stroke the trey in the NBA...smooth as silk!
BillVol writes:
InTENNcity!
Ayershall writes:
Since Dale's time at UT, only Lofton comes close.
Best battle: Dale versus Georgia and Dominique Wilkins.
BillVol writes:
InTENNsity!
RoyaltyVol#280778 writes:
One of my great memories from high school was I played BB and our coach took us to a UT practice and I got to meet Don Devoe and watch Dale Ellis and the Vols practice down on the court. Dale is one of my all time favorite Vols! Seems like I remember Tyrone Beaman and Tony White on that team, don't remember too good, its been a long time ago.
cliffjumper50#205931 writes:
I thoroughly enjoyed watching basketball during the Dale Ellis/Don Devoe years. Dale always had his game face on. He never lolly-gagged. I would bet his calm demeanor helped him stroke those three pointers.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
I think Ellis did play with Beaman, but I think Tony White was after his time. Yep, just checked my UT BB Media Guide. Dale played the 1979-83 seasons and Tony played 1983-7. Before anybody says that could mean they overlapped, Ellis' seasons were 1979-80, 80-81, 81-2, and 82-3. White's seasons were 1983-4, 84-5, 85-6, and 86-7. You were close, though, and yes it HAS been a long time! Sure could use either one of those guys now, couldn't we?
RoyaltyVol#280778 writes:
Thanks for the info! Yea, its been a while. 2 players I remember real well because of John Ward, was Steve Ray and Howard Wood. Remember John Ward would say, " Ray in the way" and when Wood hit a shot Ward would say "Good by Wood", ahh, the good ole days!
theoldbear writes:
Do you realize that Dale Ellis played his entire college career out of position, and still was a concensus All American!
If they had had the three point basket in college hoops back then, what a difference it might have made in his career.
Don Devoe was indeed a tough coach, and maybe a better coach than anybody realized at the time.
Thanks, Dale, for the memories!
Ayres_Hall writes:
Bernard King found a niche game and worked long hours perfecting that game. A young Reggie Johnson watched King and used King's game and work ethic to his benefit. A young Ellis watched Johnson and used Johnson's/King's game and work ethic to his benefit. All three were great college basketball players. A young Howard Wood tried to pay the same game but didn't have the talent to reach the same level of play.
But it was a very nice streak of players in the 6'7" - 6'9" range who excell and play both the inside and the outside game.
coachmull writes:
What was his uniform number at UT?
TheDudeAbides writes:
I was in school at the same time as 'Sweet D'. Coach DeVoe wore him out at practice in a taskmaster way.
Dale really did guard everyone from Malone (future NBA guard) to Bowie and Ralph Sampson. I also lived in denver while he was w/ nuggets.
It was a great time to be a Vol Bball fan while D was there. All the best to him
keepitreal4vols writes:
I am 36 years old and Dale Ellis was the 1st Vol BBall player I can remember idolizing. He was awesome and when I went outside to shoot on the 8ft goal, It was Dale Ellis I imitated. When he left it was Michael Brooks. Then I started imitating a Fred Jenkins steal and a pass to Tony White for a jumper. When I got a little older and could dunk and dominate the 8ft goal, I imitated Dyrone Nix and Doug Roth. Good memories.
volgrog#210164 writes:
Dale was arguably the best Vol since he was so versatile. He played literally every position for the Vols. I remember he played against Ralph Sampson as the Center for UT at 6'9" in the NCAA tournament.
ClassicVol writes:
Probably my all time favorite vol. It was a time when i attended a lot of games and Mr. Smooth Ellis was the one i kept my eyes on the most.
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