Mel Nowell

Mel Nowell
Personal information
Born	December 27, 1939 (age 84); Columbus, Ohio
Nationality	American
Listed height	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Listed weight	170 lb (77 kg)
Career information
High school	East (Columbus, Ohio)
College	Ohio State (1959–1962)
NBA draft	1962: 12th round, 90th overall pick
	Selected by the Chicago Zephyrs
Playing career	1962–1968
Position	Guard
Number	20, 27
Career history
1962–1963	Chicago Zephyrs
1963–1964	Wilkes-Barre Barons
1966–1967	Columbus Comets (NABL)
1967–1968	New Jersey Americans
Career highlights and awards
	NCAA champion (1960);
Career NBA and ABA statistics
Points	963 (8.4 ppg)
Rebounds	260 (2.3 rpg)
Assists	239 (2.1 apg)
	Stats at NBA.com
	Stats at Basketball Reference

Melvyn P. "Mel" Nowell (born December 27, 1939) is an American former basketball player.

Born in Columbus, Ohio, Nowell played for the Ohio State Buckeyes basketball team that won the 1960 NCAA championship. He played with three Hall of Famers and Hall of Fame Coach Fred Taylor. He later played in the NBA for the Chicago Zephyrs and in the American Basketball Association.

A 6'1 guard, Nowell was a high school star at Columbus East 1957–1958. His outside shooting and one-on-one skills were enough to rate him the #2 player in Ohio after Jerry Lucas. Fielding numerous scholarship offers, Nowell decided to follow Lucas to Ohio State in a historic recruiting class that later also included John Havlicek and Bobby Knight. Starting with fellow sophomores Lucas and Havlicek, Nowell's shooting was a key element in Ohio State's run to the 1960 NCAA title. He was named to the 1960 All-Tournament Team.

Ohio State's 1960–61 team went undefeated until the NCAA Final. Ohio State's 1961–62 also reached the NCAA Final.

Nowell did participate in the 1960 US Olympic Trials but was never seriously considered for a spot on the team. Only three blacks were named to that team, and more attention was paid to Nowell's white Ohio State teammates, a factor he considered in his remaining basketball career.

Nowell's shooting ability was such that he could have been a big scorer at another school, a fact that could have led to a bigger pro career. Instead, he played with or for four future Hall of Famers, went to three straight NCAA Finals, winning one in 1960. All three years, the Ohio State Buckeyes were undefeated at home at St. John Arena.

External links

NBA and ABA statistics