Boo Ellis

Not to be confused withBo Ellis,a professional basketball player in the 1970s.

Boo Ellis

Personal information
Born	(1936-02-11)February 11, 1936
Died	May 6, 2010(2010-05-06)(aged 74) Indianapolis, Indiana,U.S.
Nationality	American
Listed height	6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Listed weight	185 lb (84 kg)
Career information
High school	Hamilton(Hamilton, Ohio)
College	Niagara(1955–1958)
NBA draft	1958:3rd round, 16th overall pick
Selected by theMinneapolis Lakers
Playing career	1958–1966
Position	Power forward
Number	23, 12, 30
Career history
1958–1960	Minneapolis Lakers
1960–1962	Wilkes-Barre Barons
1962–1963	Allentown Jets
1963–1966	Wilmington Blue Bombers
Career highlights and awards
EBA Most Valuable Player(1961) NCAA season rebounds leader(1958) No. 3retired by Niagara Purple Eagles
Career NBA statistics
Points	607 (5.1 ppg)
Rebounds	616 (5.2 rpg)
Assists	86 (0.7 apg)
Statsat NBA.com
Statsat Basketball-Reference.com

Alex"Boo"Ellis(February 11, 1936 – May 6, 2010) was an American professional basketball player for theMinneapolis Lakersof theNational Basketball Association(NBA).Ellis played in the league for just the1958–59and1959–60seasons and averaged 5.1 points and 5.2 rebounds per game.

Ellis grew up inHamilton, Ohio,and attendedHamilton High School.He led the school to 25–3 record and a 1954 state championship as asenior,garnering first team all-state and state tournament MVP honors that year.Ellis then went on to play college basketball forNiagara University.

A 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m), 185 lb.forward/center,he quickly became a dominant force in both scoring and rebounding.Since the rules back then did not allowfreshmento play varsity sports, Ellis had to wait until hissophomoreyear in 1955–56 to suit up officially for thePurple Eagles.In his three seasons, he accumulated 1,656 points and a still-standing school record 1,533 rebounds.In his first season of eligibility, Ellis grabbed a school single season record 485 rebounds, only to break his own record the next two consecutive years with 522 and 526, respectively.During a game againstKent Statein hisjunioryear, he recorded a 31-point, 31-rebound effort.In Ellis' final season, heled NCAA Division I in reboundingand was named the Western New York Athlete of the Year.He also guided the Purple Eagles to twoNational Invitation Tournament(NIT) berths in his three-year career.

Following his standout collegiate career, the Minneapolis Lakers selected him as the first pick in the third round (16th overall) in the1958 NBA draft.After two NBA seasons, Ellis played six seasons in the Continental League and three with the Marcus Haynes Fabulous Magicians, a traveling professional team.In his later life, Ellis worked as a security guard in his hometown of Hamilton.He spent two and a half years of his life living with his daughter inIndianapolis,before succumbing the effects of a heart attack he had suffered two weeks earlier.Ellis died on May 6, 2010, at age 74.

Career statistics

Legend

GP	Games played	GS	Games started	MPG	Minutes per game
FG%	Field goalpercentage	3P%	3-point field goalpercentage	FT%	Free throwpercentage
RPG	Reboundsper game	APG	Assistsper game	SPG	Stealsper game
BPG	Blocksper game	PPG	Points per game	Bold	Career high
*	Led the league

NBA

Source

Regular season

Year	Team	GP	MPG	FG%	FT%	RPG	APG	PPG
1958–59	Minneapolis	72*	16.7	.430	.708	5.3	.8	5.9
1959–60	Minneapolis	46	14.6	.346	.671	5.1	.6	3.9
Career		118	15.9	.402	.695	5.2	.7	5.1

Playoffs

Year	Team	GP	MPG	FG%	FT%	RPG	APG	PPG
1959	Minneapolis	13*	19.6	.438	.581	7.2	1.2	6.8
1960	Minneapolis	3	12.0	.200	.500	4.0	.07	2.7
Career		16	18.2	.411	.564	6.6	1.1	6.0

See also

• List of NCAA Division I men's basketball season rebounding leaders