[3] Since the rules back then did not allow freshmen to play varsity sports, Ellis had to wait until his sophomore year in 1955–56 to suit up officially for the Purple Eagles.

[4] In Ellis' final season, he led NCAA Division I in rebounding and was named the Western New York Athlete of the Year.

[5] He also guided the Purple Eagles to two National Invitation Tournament (NIT) berths in his three-year career.

[4] Following his standout collegiate career, the Minneapolis Lakers selected him as the first pick in the third round (16th overall) in the 1958 NBA draft.

[3] He spent two and a half years of his life living with his daughter in Indianapolis, before succumbing the effects of a heart attack he had suffered two weeks earlier.