Forward
Three-time First Team All-WCAC, 1964, 1965 1966
Two-time All-Northern California, 1967, 1968
Northern California Player of the Year - 1966
All-American Honorable Mention - 1966
"Legend of the Hilltop"
USF Career Years: 1963-66
Born: May 3, 1944
Hometown: Oakland, CA
High School: McClymonds High School
Joe Ellis was born on May 3, 1944 in Oakland, CA. He attended McClymonds High School, and was a member of the three Tournament of Champions teams from 1960 to 1962. Ellis made the All-Tournament Team in both his varsity years, and was named All Tournament MVP. He also played on the All-City Teams and was named Northern California Player of the year in 1962.
At 6’ 6” and 175 lbs., Ellis played basketball for the Dons 1963 to 1966. He earned a place on the First Team All-Conference each of his three years. Ellis was named Northern California Player of the Year, and received All-American Honorable Mention. He was one of four juniors chosen to represent the United States in the World University Games, and scored 1120 points for USF in his career. In 2006, he was named one of 75 Legends of the Hilltop, and his jersey (#31) was retired in 2020.
Ellis was drafted in Round 2 (13th pick overall) by the San Francisco Warriors in 1966, and played for them until 1974. With the Warriors, he posted 4825 points, averaging 8.6 PPG and 5.0 RPG. He held the double-scoring average in three successive seasons, including an average of 15.8 PPG in the 1969-1970 season. In 1975, he moved to the Belgium Lions in the European Professional Basketball League.
After one year in Belgium, Ellis returned the United States and worked for 17.5 years for IBM. In 1993, he took an early retirement from IBM and worked for the San Francisco Parks and Recreation Department coaching youth teams in basketball and in table tennis. His son Kevin played basketball for USF from 1986 to 1990.
