Inside Hotlanta and The SIAC
September 20, 2001

FORMER MOREHOUSE GREAT HAROLD ELLIS ASSISANT FOR NBDL'S ROANOKE DAZZLE

Harold Ellis, Atlanta's native son who made an unqualified success of himself at the collegiate and professional level, has achieved one of his biggest dreams. He was recently named assistant coach of the Roanoke Dazzle of the National Basketball Development League.

Ellis, who contacted this writer from his office in Roanoke, said he and Head Coach Kent Davison will have the sole responsibility of coaching and developing talent for the parent league which presents both with a unique opportunity for intense one-on-one work with each player. It also represents an opportunity for Ellis to get hands-on experience with running a professional level program and a chance for the NBA to observe and evaluate him. "I'm being watched closely by several NBA teams including the Hawks, " said Ellis.

The 30 year old Ellis took a circuitous journey through the minors and the CBA after his Morehouse years before landing spots with both the Los Angeles Clippers and the Denver Nuggets. He and his new boss, Davison, are no strangers either. Both were assistants for rival teams in the CBA in 1998-99. "Harold has a solid background as both a player and coach and can only help players realize their full potential," he said.

While at the 'House, Ellis scored a school record 2881 points, helped the Maroon Tigers compile a 90-30 record which included a trip to the NCAA Division II playoffs, a feat that has been performed by barely a fistful of HBCU programs. He also became only the fifth player from an HBCU to have his jersey retired by his school.

Ellis said the developmental league may also be the road to success for many young men with hardwood talent. He said the Dazzle will soon come to Atlanta to conduct a tryout camp with a draft of players to follow.

• Tuskegee head coach and Athletic Director Rick Comegy says that plans are already on the drawing board to completely overhaul their stadium complex. Following their opening season win over Winston-Salem, Comegy spoke with us about plans for lights, a new playing field, better press box and expanded stands. It can't come soon enough. Tuskegee is a first rate program that frankly deserves better digs than the present. They deserve facilities truly worthy of this country's national black college football champs.
• Tuskegee All American linebacker Kelvin Powell has his own fan club. His family and close friends attend each game with bright yellow sweat shirts with his number, name and words of support in bright red. "We're proud of Kelvin's accomplishments and we want him to know it, " many of them said.
• This weekend's Atlanta Football Classic may achieve what's only been done twice in its 13 years - a sell out. In 1989 and 1990, the 100 Black Men of Atlanta which annually sponsors the gridiron "do", filled every seat of Georgia Tech's Grant Field. After two additional years there that didn't sell out, the game moved to the Georgia Dome where it drew big crowds but far short of capacity.
  Last year, with the addition of Georgia Power as their first anchor sponsor, the club came close when 62,444 fans turned out to see FAMU paste TSU, 31-6.
  This year, several factors should fill every nook and cranny of the Dome.
  First, and for the first time in 13 years, both teams enter the fray undefeated. Secondly, both had major classic games cancelled last week and football-hungry fans from both schools and a significant smattering of local interest ready to resume the gridiron war should greatly enhance ticket sales.
  The club has worked overtime locally on promotion, hiring PR guru Deborah Speights and her local firm, the" Write Words" and enlisting the cooperation of just about every major radio station in the city via ticket giveaways. The club also plans a major parade through downtown Atlanta Saturday morn featuring a plethora of local high school bands and both the TSU and FAMU marching contingents. The game is also being broadcast live for the first time via SportsSouth cable.

"Got an item or comment?
Contact Hal at lamar95@bellsouth.net

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