METRO LEAGUE

2019-20 Season Tip Off

December 9, 2019

SBS Top Games Opening Night

Sealth @ O'Dea 7:30 PM

Cleveland @ Garfield 8:30 PM

Seattle Prep @ Rainier Beach 8:30 PM

Bill Elleby, born and raised in Seattle, Washington, is known as the “Guru” of HS Basketball in the NW. Bill has developed as a master scout of HS/NWAC talent with over 40 years of experience scouting, coaching, recruiting, and providing player representation and player development for youth, high school, college and pro athletes.

Bill was raised by his uncle, the late Carl Ervin, who was easily the best PG of the best Washington State HS team from the last century, the Cleveland Eagles of 1976. Carl was All Conference WCC at Seattle University and drafted by the Seattle Sonics in the 1980 NBA Draft. Bill developed a keen eye for talent and supreme basketball IQ growing up with Carl Ervin.

Bill established a strong basketball foundation by being coached and mentored by his uncle and many others among the very best coaches in state history. As a youth, Bill attended and then became a Junior Counselor at Lenny Wilkens’ week-long Basketball Camp in Issaquah; played AAU basketball BCI 2 years for Coach Ed Pepple at Mercer Island HS who has the most high school wins in State history (952 in 49 years, with a .75% winning percentage and 4 state titles); and played at Bellevue High School under former NBA players John Johnson and Phil Lumpkin, who would later win 4 state titles with O’Dea HS in the 1990s.

But, Bill’s time at Garfield High School was where he made his name as a Metro Athlete. Bill transferred to state powerhouse Garfield HS as a sophomore. There he was coached by basketball Legend Al Hairston, a former Seattle Sonic who won 5 state titles between 1980 and 1991, and by Seattle University/WSU/Metro Hall of Fame Coach Frank Ahern. These legends trained Bill in Basketball and Track, teaching him fundamentals and attention to detail.

While at Garfield HS, Bill lettered in basketball, tennis and track, with many athletic honors. Bill was part of back to back state champion teams in 1986 and 1987. Garfield lost just one game in-state in two years, and ranked in the Top 25 Nation USA Today two years in a row. In 1987 Bill was named All Metro leading Garfield in scoring. 1988 Bill Elleby led Garfield back to state tourney losing in semifinals. Bill set the Metro Scoring record (280pts in 10 metro games, Metro League MVP, 1988 Boys Washington State HS Player of the year according  to Naismith and USA Today) Bill was set to sign with UCLA Coach Walt Hazzard, but a coaching change at UCLA prompted Bill to choose Cal-Berkeley, coached by Lou Campanelli. Coach Campanelli was big on discipline and emphasized good character. He preached academics and professional conduct off the court.

Bill had a good career at Cal, lettering all 4 years and starting 2 and half years for the Golden Bears. He averaged double figures during his last 2 and half years and helped lead Cal to two NIT appearances and 1 NCAA appearance in 4 years. In 1990, Bill helped Cal go to the NCAA Tourney for the 1st time in 30 years, and that summer he played on the Pac 10 European (Germany, France, Belgium and Holland) All-Star Touring team. Bill had some great coaching mentors at Cal. Bill was taught by current Texas A & M Men’s Basketball coach Billy Kennedy and assisted Current Kansas Assistant Men’s Basketball Coach Kurtis Townsend.

Bill left Cal as one of the most prolific 3pt shooters in school history. He was the 2nd All Time Scorer in Cal History in 3pt shots made, attempted and percentage. Through the first 20 games of his senior season he shot 56% at the 3pt line, 4th in the NCAA DI. He made 64 3pt shots in 1992, the 2nd most in a single season at the time in school history. Basketball hall of fame announcer Dick Vitale said “Bill Elleby is one of best shooters on the west coast and a solid all-around player.”

After a brief stint from 1992-93 playing for the CBA Yakima Sun Kings, Bill returned to Cal to finish his BA in Legal Studies. He served as the Student Assistant Coach to Cal Head Coach Todd Bozeman, was head of the film exchange, assisted in recruiting and scouting, and served as Cal camp coordinator. During that time, Bill was instrumental in developing NBA players at Cal including Jason Kidd, Lamond Murray, Michael “Yogi” Stewart and Sean Marks.

Bill returned home to serve as JV Head Coach/Varsity assistant coach for Roosevelt High School in 1994. He led the team to a 15-4 record, and they were recognized as one of the best JV teams in Metro. In 1995 Bill was named Varsity Head Coach. For the next 5 years Bill would turn Roosevelt’s struggling program into a playoff contender. Roosevelt won the Metro championship, making playoffs every year. Bill was WAC Coach of the year and sent numerous players off to college athletics, including stars Chad Kodama (all metro basketball/all metro football, who signed to University of Idaho Football), Greg Anderson (walk-on/signed to WSU Basketball), Chase Young DIII Basketball Player (AAU Seattle Select High Academic Basketball founder), Chris Wight DIII Basketball,Avi Meyerson NAIA College Player.

Bill has developed a NW grassroots database of players, including over 700 youth and AAU Coaches from the Pacific NW, Canada and beyond. Bill has developed relationships with coaches from colleges around the United States in order to help NW youth athletes get more exposure to play college basketball on all levels.

 

Fred Brown, Jr. was born and raised in Seattle, Washington. He attended prestigious Mercer Island High School, where he graduated in 1992 with many accomplishments.

Brown spent one year at the University of Iowa, where he thrived, earning the starting shooting guard position after his first year. During summer vacation and rigorous training, he sustained a serious injury that required surgery to repair his right foot that would not heal, along with academic struggles that held him from returning to Iowa to pursue his passion of a college diploma and NBA dream. The decision to not return presented Brown with many challenges. He channeled his love for playing the game into developing the game as a business for himself and student athletes.

Brown has developed a national grassroots database and relationship with talented student athletes and coaches from across the country. Fred's basketball network extends all over the United States and Canada. He has spent the past 40 years of his life learning about the game of basketball. Growing up in Seattle and being the son of a famous NBA player has helped Brown create one of the largest networks of junior high, high school, college, and professional contacts around the world. Brown is grateful to his father for teaching him about the game, player development techniques and the operation of basketball camps, clinics, tournaments and leagues as a business.

Brown specializes in events coordinating, recruiting, scouting, tutoring and player development work for youth, high school, college and professional athletes. He is dedicated to helping student athletes learn the importance of having an exceptional work ethic, good grades and a positive attitude to be successful in today’s society.

Brown has been coaching basketball for seventeen years. He was an assistant varsity coach for Mercer Island's 2000 - 2001 team that won a Kingco Championship and finished third in State. With Coach Brown's help the next year, the 2001 - 2002 team finished with a Kingco Championship and a second place finish at State, losing in the state championship game to powerhouse Rainier Beach High School. Coach Brown also spent two seasons as the head varsity basketball coach at Eastside Catholic High School, and three seasons as the head men’s basketball coach at Edmonds College.  He has also coached with the National Adidas Team Phenom USA and is a regional director for Adidas Junior Phenom.

Brown is currently an NCAA certified coach and is the "guru" of player development, event coordinating and the recruitment of talented players.

Brown believes, “Opportunities do not go away, they go to someone else!”

Brown can be reached by phone at (360) 640-4207.