NCAA Basketball: Top 10 Players to Play for 40-Year Head Coach Cliff Ellis

3. Marquis Daniels – Auburn Tigers (2000-2003)

Career stats: 13.8 ppg 5.6 rpg 2.6 apg

Most of the guys on this list have better overall numbers than Daniels, but they also had at least one other All-ACC player on the roster to assist them. This Tiger didn’t have much help over his four years but still managed to make them competitive, leading the team in scoring three of them.

Daniels had a huge senior season, averaging 18.4 ppg and 6.2 rpg, earning All-SEC honors. He had a big NCAA Tournament effort as well, averaging 23.3 ppg and 7.0 rpg to lead the way. Before this past season, it was the last time Auburn even made it to the Big Dance.

2. Terry Catledge – South Alabama Jaguars (1983-1985)

Career stats: 21.7 ppg 10.8 rpg 0.7 apg

In the last season at South Alabama, Ellis went 22-8 as a coach with the Jaguars. The key player was Catledge, who averaged 19.9 ppg and 11.1 rpg that season. Who knows what would’ve happened to Ellis’ career had South Alabama not had as good of seasons before Clemson came calling.

Catledge averaged a ridiculous 25.6 ppg and 11.5 ppg his final year in college. However, it was under another coach, which prevents him from grabbing the top spot.

1. Horace Grant – Clemson Tigers (1984-1987)

Career stats: 13.9 ppg 6.6 rpg 1.7 apg

It was a meteoric rise for Grant, who once Ellis came to his school at Clemson became a star. He had two more seasons of double-figure scoring before having one of the best individual seasons in school history.

Grant averaged 21.0 ppg and 9.6 rpg, both ranking first in the ACC. Of course, he was awarded the ACC Player of the Year, as well as being a Second-Team All-American. He went on to have a great NBA career, winning multiple championships as a pro.

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There were a few more players in the 70’s and 80’s that could have also made the cut. One thing is for sure though – Coach Ellis was an outstanding developer of big men. The kind that is rarely seen today in college basketball. It would be fun to see him have one last crack in today’s game with power-five talent.