1975 Cleveland Eagles
Bill Elleby featured in Seattle P-I article
1976 Cleveland Eagles
All Metro 1976
1985 - Bill Elleby and NBA Hall of Fame player/coach Lenny Wilkens at Lenny Wilkens Basketball Camp in Issaquah, Washington. Bill spent many summers as a youth at Lenny Wilkens Basketball Camp and went on to become a counselor there in high school.
Bill Elleby at University of California at Berkely
Carl Ervin bio
Clint Richardson, O'Dea HS 1974, 33.4 ppg, Seattle University star 1975-1979, NBA Championship 1983 with Dr. J and Moses Malone.
Lenny Wilkens and Downtown Fred Brown hoisting 1979 NBA Championship Trophy
"Downtown Freddie" Brown, best Shooter in Seattle SuperSonics History, according to Bill Elleby and the majority of local fans. Brown averaged 27.6 ppg at University of Iowa before being drafted #6 overall in the 1971 NBA Draft by Seattle SuperSonics. In 1974, Brown scored 58 points in one game with no three-point line, 45 points in one playoff game (a record shared with Ray Allen), and ten steals in one game (a record shared with Gus Williams) -- all Sonics records. The 1976 NBA All Star finished 5th in NBA scoring and free-throw percentage, went to two NBA Finals in a row, and was Captain of 1978-79 NBA Championship Team. Brown retired in 1984 as the Supersonics All-Time Leader in games played (963), points scored (14,018), field goals(6,006),and free throws (1,896). Brown's #32 SuperSonics jersey was retired Novenmber 6, 1986 in honor of his career with the SuperSonics.
Mike Bethea, Head Boys Basketball Coach, Rainier Beach HS, #3 Ranked in Nation 2013-2014 Season. Mike Bethea has won seven State HS Championships: 1998, 2002, 2003,2008, 2012, 2013, and 2014 -- the most in Washington's history. Bethea played for Coach Dave Belmonte (a great coach, who today still coaches with Bethea) at Franklin HS in the mid 1970s. Mike was considered one of the best defenders in Metro and the State. Coach Bethea brings that same intensity and Championship mindset coaching the kids today at Rainier Beach HS along with Assistants David King (member of 1998 State Championship team), Harold "Ice" Wright who played at WSU, Ricky Frazier(member of 1998 State Championship team), Robert Delgardo (longtime assistant), and Gary Ladd II(former Rainier Beach Player mid 1990s). Bethea goes for "four-peat" this year (2014-15)for the best run in Seattle HS Basketball history.
Donald Earl "Slick" Watts signed with the Seattle Supersonics in 1973-74 after playing at Xavier University in Louisiana. In 1976, Watts led the NBA in total assists, assists per game,total steals, and steals per game, and made NBA All-Defense 1st team. In 1976, he also received the J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award for his outstanding community service. Slick inspired Bill Elleby as a child in the 70s with that headband, quickness, passing, ball handling and great leadership as well as that huge personality. Other upcoming Seattle players, like Jason Terry who made the NBA, would wear headbands, emulating Slick Watts in tribute to him. Bill Elleby had the pleasure of playing with Slick Watts's son Reggie at Bellevue HS one semester in 1984, and working out with Tony Watts at the 1992 Seattle Sonics NBA Summer/Fall camps. Donald Watts, Jr. became a star at Lake Washington HS in 1995 and the University of Washington, taking his team to NCAA Sweet 16 (losing to UCONN) in 1999.
Lorenzo Romar, the player in 1979 for UW. Lorenzo would give me his wristbands after the game. The rival to my Uncle Carl Ervin, SU Hoop legend. The SU vs UW rivalry was special and will be special again. Lorenzo Romar is currently coach of the University of Washington Huskies.
Bill Elleby Guarding UCLA's Pooh Richardson in 1988, his freshman year at CAL.
James Edwards is the best center ever to have played at UW )(1973-1977) and Roosevelt HS. James played 19 years in the NBA, winning two NBA rings with the Detroit Pistons and one ring with the Chicago Bulls. James Edwards, nicknamed "Buddha," has won more NBA rings than other player born in Washington State.
James "Buddha" Edwards in HS for Roosevelt in early 70s. Best Center ever from the Metro league and Washington State.
Quinn Synder went undefeated at Mercer Island HS in 1984 and went on to win a state championship with Legendary Coach Ed Pepple. Pictured with Coach K at Duke where they participated in three Final Fours together in 1986, 1988 and 1989. The best player from the Eastside in the 1980s and arguably one of best guards ever from Washington State.
Coach Frank Ahern (RIP), the best coach I ever had. Coach Ahern coached me in basketball and gym class at Garfield HS, 1984 to 1988. Way ahead of his time, he videotaped every game and broke down every player's statistics in the 1970s and 1980s. Thanks, Coach Ahern, for teaching me about the fundamentals and statistics of the game, as well the countless hours you spent teaching me how to properly shoot the ball.
Al Hairston coached Garfield HS to 5 State Championships from 1980-1991. Bill Elleby was part of the 1986 and 1987 back to back state Championship teams.
Garfield HS 1986 State Champs - Garfield was undefeated in State in 1986 and lost to #1 Team in nation by six points. Chris Fogerson, counted among the to 50 players nationwide and 1986 Washington State Player of the Year, pictured holding the 1986 State Championship Trophy.
Seattle University legends from mid- to late-1970s: stars Clint Richardson, O'Dea HS; Jawann Oldham, Clevland HS; Keith Harrell, Garfield HS; and Carl Ervin, Cleveland HS
Doug Christie, Rainier Beach HS - first NBA player to come out of high school in 1988. Bill Elleby played against Doug Christie in the Seattle City Championship in the 7th and 8th grade and in high school before finally playing together in the 1988 Washington State HS All Star Game.
Doug Christie, Rainier Beach HS 1988 and Pepperdine University legend, shakes hands with NBA Commissioner David Stern after being selected 17th pick in the first round by the Seattle SuperSonics in 1992.
1988 Seattle Star Times Boys Basketball Team and Coach. Peter Dukes, Roosevelt HS, Doug Christie,Rainier Beach HS; Coach Al Hairston, Garfield HS; Tim Goodman, Chief Sealth HS; Bill Elleby, Garfield HS; and Anthony Williams, Kentrdige HS (pictured in the center, holding the basketball).
Carl Ervin, 1976 AAU team picture. Point guard Carl Ervin led his team to a 1976 AAU National HS Championship win in Cincinatti, Ohio.
Congrats to Rainier Beach HS, 2013-14 3A State Champs for a third consecutive year -- first ever "three-peat" in Washington State HS Boys Basketball History. Congrats to Coach Mike Bethea, coaching staff and players. One of the greatest teams and programs in Washington State History, Rainier Beach HS is ranked #8 Nation 2013-14 Season.
Jamal Crawford led Rainier Beach HS to the State 3A Boys Basketball Title 1998. Jamal's number #23 is retired and the court at Rainier Beach is named Jamal Crawford Court.
Jamal Crawford from Rainier Beach HS now plays for the NBA Los Angeles Clippers. Jamal is one of the most exciting players ever to play basketball from the State of Washington.
Jamal Crawford (Rainier Beach HS, University of Michigan) has the best crossover in the NBA.
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An assortment of notable items from the history of high school and college basketball in Seattle.
Seattle Basketball Services | Contact: Bill Elleby | 253.951.6653 | seattlebasketballservices@gmail.com
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