Mel Davis Inducted in 1998
Mel Davis
Melvyn Jerome Davis a New York City native played at Boys High in Brooklyn. How did such a mild-mannered, many-faceted fellow like Mel Davis ever earn the nickname, "the killer”? Travel back to the Brooklyn hardwoods of the late 1960's and watch this athletic 6-7 dynamo terrorize his PSAL foes for three years and it's easy to understand. Davis and his cohorts won back-to-back Public School championships for Coach Howie Johes at Boys High and earned the mantle as one of the greatest high school performers in Big Apple history. And inch-for inch one of the best high school and college rebounders of all time!
The next stop for Davis was St. John's Univ under NYC "Hall of Fame" mentor Davis was voted into the St. John's "Hall of Fame" in 1990 Mel was a first-round draft choice of the N.Y. Knicks in 1973 and spent four years in the NBA with the Knicks and Nets. He played five years in the European Professional League dividing his time between France, Italy, and Switzerland.
Davis played just two years at St. Johns before foregoing his senior year for a change at the NBA but in that short span established himself as one of the great names in the Red Storm's storied past. In his 1970-71 sophomore campaign, Mel grabbed 436 boards (5th nationally) and the most ever garnered by a St. John's player to this day.
His 20.8 ppg and 16 rebounds per contest earned him ECAC "Player of the Week" five times and the Haggerty Award emblematic of the Metropolitan Area's top collegiate performer. In his junior year, Davis’s numbers were almost identical to his prior campaign, and currently ranks sixth on St. John's all-time rebounding list with 845 career rebounds. He was named to several All-American and all-tournament teams and was elected to the St. John's "Hall of Fame" in 1990.
With his "killer" days behind him Mel had a short tour of duty with the NBA before spending the next eight years with PepsiCo where he managed and supervised several Pizza Hut restaurants. In 1991 Davis rejoined the NBA with titles. As Director of Player Programs Mel designs and implements ways to help veterans and rookies alike take advantage of their unique status as professional athletes. He oversees the respective Rookie and Veteran Transition Programs, the Player Job Internship Program, and the NBA Legends Program.
To add to his busy schedule Mel actively participates in community organizations such as the Police Athletic Lg, Public Schools Athletic Lg., and the Boy Scouts. In addition to hoop clinics and his vital message to youngsters on the importance of staying in school and working hard to attend college. Davis is a board member for the Maurice Stokes Foundation, Brooklyn Sports Foundation, and the Los Angeles Sports Academy. In 1997 he instituted the Mel Davis Foundation to address current concerns for the youth of today. Mel earned his Master’s degree in Psychology and Counseling from Fordham University
The next stop for Davis was St. John's Univ under NYC "Hall of Fame" mentor Davis was voted into the St. John's "Hall of Fame" in 1990 Mel was a first-round draft choice of the N.Y. Knicks in 1973 and spent four years in the NBA with the Knicks and Nets. He played five years in the European Professional League dividing his time between France, Italy, and Switzerland.
Davis played just two years at St. Johns before foregoing his senior year for a change at the NBA but in that short span established himself as one of the great names in the Red Storm's storied past. In his 1970-71 sophomore campaign, Mel grabbed 436 boards (5th nationally) and the most ever garnered by a St. John's player to this day.
His 20.8 ppg and 16 rebounds per contest earned him ECAC "Player of the Week" five times and the Haggerty Award emblematic of the Metropolitan Area's top collegiate performer. In his junior year, Davis’s numbers were almost identical to his prior campaign, and currently ranks sixth on St. John's all-time rebounding list with 845 career rebounds. He was named to several All-American and all-tournament teams and was elected to the St. John's "Hall of Fame" in 1990.
With his "killer" days behind him Mel had a short tour of duty with the NBA before spending the next eight years with PepsiCo where he managed and supervised several Pizza Hut restaurants. In 1991 Davis rejoined the NBA with titles. As Director of Player Programs Mel designs and implements ways to help veterans and rookies alike take advantage of their unique status as professional athletes. He oversees the respective Rookie and Veteran Transition Programs, the Player Job Internship Program, and the NBA Legends Program.
To add to his busy schedule Mel actively participates in community organizations such as the Police Athletic Lg, Public Schools Athletic Lg., and the Boy Scouts. In addition to hoop clinics and his vital message to youngsters on the importance of staying in school and working hard to attend college. Davis is a board member for the Maurice Stokes Foundation, Brooklyn Sports Foundation, and the Los Angeles Sports Academy. In 1997 he instituted the Mel Davis Foundation to address current concerns for the youth of today. Mel earned his Master’s degree in Psychology and Counseling from Fordham University