March 8, 2004

VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS | 2004 SEC LEGENDS

Dale Ellis, who distinguished himself as a collegian and later in a long and successful NBA career, will represent the University of Tennessee as the school's legend at the SEC Tournament this week in Atlanta.

Ellis was, during his college career, "Mr. Inside," pouring in the points from the paint to become the fifth leading scorer in Vol history. He was the premier recruit signed during the Don DeVoe era, and didn't disappoint anybody with his play on the court. Not in the least.

Ellis came to Tennessee from Marietta, Ga., in 1980. He was a two-time All-America selection (1982, 1983), a three-time All-SEC performer (1981, 1982 and 1983), and was selected SEC Player of the Year (1982 and 1983).

Ellis, who led Tennessee to the 1982 SEC championship, is one of only five Tennessee players to score more than 2000 points. His SEC-leading field goal percentage of 65.4 percent in 1981-82 is still the Vols'' record. It was the nation's best mark by a forward.

He had the game-wining shot March 15, 1981, against Virginia Commonwealth in the East Regional in the NCAA Tourney. He had similar game-winning shots during his career against Vanderbilt in the 1981 SEC Tournament and a dunk for the game-winner against Georgia. The list goes on and on.

He was a composed, poised player who was the focal point of opposing defenses but got the ball in the basket nevertheless. He hit for 20 points or more on 23 occasions his senior year, and 30 or more seven times. He averaged 21.2 points as a junior and 22.6 as a senior. As a senior, he led the team and ranked No. 2 in the SEC in scoring. Sports Illustrated called him a "formidable forward," after the Vols had spoiled the opening game at the Roundhouse in Chattanooga. The Vols won and UTC forward Stanford Strickland said of Ellis: "I did what I could, but I've never been up a against a player like that."

He finished as UT's third-leading scorer all-time and only with the advent of Tony White and Allan Houston did he drop to fifth. That's quite a tribute.

In the NBA, he became "Mr. Outside," arguably the best 3-point shooter in NBA history. Ellis played a remarkable 19 seasons for nine different teams after starting with the Dallas Mavericks. He led the league in 3-point shooting percentage in 1997-98 with 46.4-percent mark from the 3-point stripe.

He played in 1209 NBA games, starting 589. He shot 47.9 percent from the floor, 40.3 percent from 3-point range and 78.4 from the charity stripe. He averaged 15.7 points per game.

Ellis, who now lives in his native Marietta, might have presaged his 3-point prowess in the pros, saying, "when I have the ball low, I have to make that shot. I can shoot from 15 to 18 feet. I can shoot from further out than that, but here at Tennessee if I took that shot and didn't make it I'd be sitting," said Ellis. He didn't sit much, at Tennessee or in the pros. He was that good.

Tom Mattingly