Deron Washington AD Vassallo Coach Seth Greenberg - HokieSports

ACE CUSTIS
THE NEWEST INDUCTEE INTO TECH’S SPORTS HALL OF FAME
Ace Custis continues to rank as one of the most popular athletes in
Virginia Tech history. Custis finished his Hokie basketball career with 1,706
points and 1,777 rebounds, joining current Tech Hall of Fame members
Chris Smith and Bill Matthews as the only players in school history to
reach or surpass the 1,000 mark in both points and rebounds. That feat
helped Custis become just the third Tech men’s basketball player to have
his number retired when his career ended in 1997.
Shortly after Custis arrived in Blacksburg from tiny Eastville on the
Eastern Shore of Virginia, it looked like his Tech career might never get
off the ground. When it appeared Custis had won a starting position as a
freshman in the fall of 1992, he suffered a serious knee injury in preseason
workouts. Surgery followed, and Custis was sidelined for the entire 1992-
93 season.
After being granted a medical hardship ruling from the NCAA,
Custis started anew in 1993-94 with four years of eligibility. The 6-foot-7
forward reclaimed his starting position and became the first Tech player
in more than 33 years to open a season with four consecutive doublefigure
rebounding games. Custis went on to earn a spot on the Metro
Conference All-Freshman team after starting every game. He led the
Tech squad in rebounding (9.1 rpg) and set a school freshman mark for
rebounds in a season with 255. Custis averaged 10.9 points per game and
carried a team-high 52.3 field goal percentage.
The following year, Custis helped the Hokies to a 25-10 season and
the 1994 NIT Championship, averaging 15.8 points and a team-high 10.5
rebounds per game. He was named first-team All-Metro Conference and
finished second by three votes in the balloting for the Metro Player of the
Year. Custis became the first Hokie to average double-figure rebounds
in a season in over 20 years and was the first to post 100 or more (135)
offensive rebounds in a season since Tech started keeping the stat in 1978.
Custis led the Hokies in practically every major offensive category
in 1995-96, as they posted a 23-6 record and made their first NCAA
Tournament appearance in 10 years. His performances helped him to firstteam
honors in Tech’s new conference, the Atlantic 10.
Custis repeated on the A-10 first team as a senior in 1996-97 after
leading the team in scoring (14.7), rebounding (9.0), steals (53) and
blocked shots (22). He was a finalist in the voting for the Boost/Naismith
Award, which goes to the National Player of the Year.
Over his Tech career, Custis started 123 consecutive games. He
finished No. 3 in career rebounds, No. 5 in career rebounding average, tied
for No. 6 in field goals made and was No. 7 in scoring. He still holds the
same ranking in each of the first three categories and is No. 8 in scoring.
Custis also ranks eighth in career steals and 11th in career blocked shots.
After graduating from Tech, Custis played on NBA Summer League
teams before beginning a highly successful professional career playing in
Japan. He resides in Suffolk, Va., during the offseason.
Allan Bristow
Dell Curry
Hunter Carpenter
Alfred Casey
Carrol Dale
Karl Esleeck
Frank Loria
HOKIES IN THE VIRGINIA SPORTS HALL OF FAME
Virginia Tech Basketball
in the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame
Other Hokies in the Hall
Mac McEver
C.P. “Sally” Miles
Frank Moseley
Johnny Oates
Frank Peake
Bucky Keller
Charles Moir
George Preas
George “Gummy” Proctor
Charlie “Rosie” Thomas
Charles “Dink” Vail
William “Monk” Younger
2 0 0 7 - 2 0 0 8 V I R G I N I A T E C H M E N’ S B A S K E T B A L L
ACE CUSTIS / SPORTS HALL OF FAME
125