Louisville Basketball: Top 15 players to ever play for legend coach Denny Crum
By Joey Loose
2. Pervis Ellison
This 6’9 center from Savannah, Georgia didn’t get the nicknamed “Never Nervous Pervis” on accident. Ellison was a major factor at Louisville and remains one of the best in this program’s history. He got to Louisville in 1985, played a significant role in their national championship run a year later and did a whole lot of good for the program and himself in his four years.
Ellison averaged 13.1 points and 8.2 rebounds per game as a freshman and led Louisville to the national championship, with his 25-point, 11-rebound performance in the title game against Duke gaining him Most Outstanding Player honors. He got the Cardinals to a pair of Sweet Sixteens later in his career, all the while putting up dominant numbers. He was quite possibly the sport’s best frontcourt weapon, averaging 17.6 points in both his junior and senior season with sensational rebound and block numbers. He was a First Team All-American as a senior and stood out in the Metro Conference his entire career.
I am heartbroken and saddened by the passing of Coach Denny Crum, a true Louisville and coaching icon. Growing up a Cardinal fan, he was a role model for us all in how he carried himself and elevated our basketball program to unprecedented heights.
— Jeff Brohm (@JeffBrohm) May 9, 2023
Louisville alone didn’t recognize his greatness, as Ellison was selected 1st overall by the Sacramento Kings in the 1989 NBA Draft. An 11-year professional career was plagued by injuries and inconsistency, but Ellison’s place in Louisville lore remains steady. He’s the all-time leader in blocks (by a significant margin), and sits 3rd in both points and rebounds in a career as well. Ellison’s #42 was retired by the Cardinals after his playing career, solidifying his place in their history.