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OLD GOLD FREE PRESS
Purdue Men's Basketball Recruiting

Melvin Ely

	School and Year (1996-97)	Thornton HS, Illinois 
	Height and Weight		6'10  205lbs
	Position			Center 
	Ratings				#13 (PS), #19 (MR), #19 (TSN)
	Academically Eligible		no
	Status				Fresno State

Player Summary · Player News · Game Stats · Season Stats · Honors

Player Summary

Melvin Ely is touted as the best center prospect in the state of Illinois. He is an aggressive shot-blocker, good rebounder, and has a consistent shot around the basket. Ely's limitations are no outside shot, and a thin frame. He needs to put on some weight to become a force on the next level. A greater limitation on Ely is his academic status. Some think he has no chance of making the grades or scores to play in Division 1, and see him going straight to JUCO. Ely is athletic and runs the floor well for a big man. In the 1994-95 season, Ely (center) averaged 11.9 points and 8.1 rebounds for the season, shooting 64 percent from the field and 53 percent from the line. Thornton finished 31-1, the team's only loss coming in the state AA finals against Peoria Manual. He also averaged 6 blocks per game. Ely was named first team all-state in Illinois. Although a likely JUCO candidate, if Ely qualifies Kentucky, Illinois, Bradley, DePaul along with many others are in the hunt, with Purdue and Wisconsin rumored to be leading.

Current Player News

11-9-96...Melvin Ely has verballed to Fresno State after a hard push over the past couple of months from Tark and company. Now all Ely has to do is qualify, and he will be the second top30 player Tark has gotten a verbal from this fall (the other, Kenny Brunner). 10-29-96...According to the Chicago Tribune, Ely has narrowed his list to three schools including Fresno State, Ball State and Missouri. Reports from Missouri say the school has stopped recruiting him due to academics. He recently visited Fresno State unofficially and met with Tark and reportedly came just short of verballing during the visit. An official announcement is expected soon. 9-3-96...The Chicago Tribune reported this weekend that Melvin Ely has decided to return to Thornton HS in Illinois for his senior season, contrary to reports he might move on to prep school in North Carolina. 8-08-96...The Basketball Times is reporting that Ely has narrowed his list to four schools. Although he is considering Missouri, Fresno State, Alabama, and Ball State, the Cardinals may have an advantage. Ball State coach Ray McCallum recruited Melvin's brother Louis when he was an assistant at Wisconsin. "He's real close to my family," Ely said of McCallum. "He's a friend. It's a shame I can't talk to him now because he's a coach, because I know he'll be hard on me and push, but also be fair." 8-02-96...Melvin Ely has reportedly transferred down to Mt. Zion Christian Academy down in Durham, North Carolina to focus on academics and try to avoid being a prop 48. Mt. Zion now has six top 100 seniors on the team, and one of the nations top juniors. 7-16-96...Ely emerged from ABCD as the top center in attendance and rave reviews from recruiters. Prep Stars listed him as the number one big man, and Hoop Scoop called him and fellow Illinois player Marcus Griffin "two of the best big men here". Both players benefitted from the added exposure primarily due to the fact that many of the high profile big men in the country opted for the Nike Camp this year. Other Illinois players that were impressive were 6'7 Sean Lampley from St. Francis, 6'5 Brian Wardle of Hinsdale Central and 6'5 Mark Treadwell of Fenwick. Ely still has the "academic casualty" label put on him in almost every mention. Rumor has it that he will not make admissions into Purdue, so a prop48 situation is unlikely. Ely has hinted he would consider the NBA if he didn't qualify. 7-2-96...Melvin Ely is scheduled to attend the ABCD camp this summer.

Single Game Statistics

DATE FG FGA FT FTA 3PM 3PA RB A S B PTS ---------------------------------------------------- 03-15-96 7 11 4 7 0 0 9 1 1 7 18 Won 51- Rock Isl. 34 03-16-96 6 16 1 5 0 0 9 2 2 7 13 Won 69- Westing.. 54 03-16-96 6 9 2 6 0 0 5 0 1 2 14 Lost 57- Manual 51

Season to Date Statistics

Season thru PPG FG% FT% 3P% RPG APG BPG RECORD RANK ---------------------------------------------------------------- 94-95 season 11.2 5.0 --- -- 95-96 season 11.9 .636 .527 .000 8.1 1.1 6.0 31-1 #2 (IL)

Awards and Honors

95-96 season Illinois First Team All-State

As news organizations move their stories to an archive, some of the links listed above may become inactive

OldGoldFreePress COLUMNISTS
OGFP_Staff -Career Blocked Shots Rankings
Bob_Richards -Women's Recruiting Update: Liza Clemons No. 1
Steve -Opponent #11: University of Wisconsin
MDC -NCAA: (5 seed) Purdue 76 - (4 seed) Washington 74
Capri_Small -Purdue 76, Western Illinois 44
Jimmy_D - Gazing into the Crystal Bubble, Part III: SEC / Big Ten / PAC 10
Brad_Jewell -Introducing Purdue Sports News via Facebook
Bob_Sienicki -Nike Camp: Elena Delle Donne Interview
Bob_Sternvogel -Nike Camp Report #1 (Sparks and Monarchs)
Guest_Columnist -Gazing into the Crystal Bubble, Part III: The SEC/Big Ten/PAC 10
Others -Purdue Sports Info
 
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