Great Moments In Perry Ellis History At Kansas

Perry Ellis has been at Kansas longer than most of you have been alive, and tomorrow we will see him one last time as part of his farewell tour in his final season as a Jayhawk. As the NBA says goodbye to Kobe Bryant in each arena this season, college basketball is doing the same for Ellis, because it has truly been a long and remarkable ride for the veteran forward, one full of decades of memories. Today I would like to pay tribute to Ellis for everything he has given the sport throughout his illustrious career. I'm no Kansas basketball fan by any means, but I respect the game's greats and admire the longevity of Ellis' run, though we may never know how he was able to remain a student-athlete for so long.

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Let's start in the beginning, on the day Perry Ellis announced his commitment to Kansas. The switchboard operator, a Jayhawks fan, was so excited to get Dr. Forrest "Phog" Allen on the line so Ellis could give him the good news. That very next fall, Ellis suited up as a member of the Kansas junior varsity squad. He scored four points with three rebounds in a 38-36 win over Southern Methodist.   Not many people know this, but Ellis and Wilt Chamberlain once combined for 43 rebounds in a single game. Chamberlain went on to become a two-time NBA champion, four-time NBA MVP, and 13-time NBA All-Star, while Ellis is set to finally graduate from KU this spring. With Chamberlain out of the picture, it would be years before Ellis found another dominant post partner, until Danny Manning arrived on campus. Ellis hosted Manning on his visit and mentored him during his four seasons in Lawrence. Manning credits Ellis with helping him become a two-time first-team All-American and Naismith award winner.   One of the toughest moments in Perry Ellis' career came in 2003, when then head coach Roy Williams announced he was leaving for North Carolina. Ellis was by Williams' side during the press conference. Williams' departure opened the door for Bill Self, Ellis' current head coach at Kansas. It was Self who told Ellis that, after over five decades in the Jayhawk basketball program, it is time to move on to the next chapter of life. Legend.