Red Storm Standout Mel Davis ’75CBA Still Scores for St. John’s

Red Storm Standout Mel Davis '75CBA Still Scores for St. John's 

From 1970 to 1972, one of the stars of St. John's basketball was Melvyn Davis '75CBA.

The intimidating 6-6 forward led the Red Storm in both scoring and rebounding, culminating in a successful professional career playing for the NBA's New York Knicks, the ABA's New York Nets and various teams in Europe.

"I can truly say that I lived my dream," the St. John's legend recalled. "Not many people can say that. Growing up in Brooklyn, every kid dreams about playing in Madison Square Garden with the Knicks. Lo and behold, St. John's gave me the stage and the opportunity I needed to make it there."

Four decades later, Davis is once again an important face on campus. He returned to the University in 2008 to serve as Director of Development for Basketball Alumni, a job that he thoroughly enjoys. 

"I reach out to our basketball alumni living domestically and internationally and I explain to them what St. John's is like today," Davis said. "I hope to get them to come back to campus so they can see the University's major transformation with their own eyes. They can see St. Thomas More Church, the new D'Angelo Center, the renovations to Carnesecca Arena, and I explain how competitive and diverse we are as an academic institution. At the end of the day, it's all about getting our alumni reconnected."

Davis can relate to basketball players on a number of different levels, whether they've played in the United States or abroad, whether they're still playing or are retired. 

With the Knicks, Davis learned what it's like to live on the road and grind through a grueling NBA season. He also had the opportunity to play with and befriend many of the franchise's most legendary players, including Willis Reed, Walt "Clyde" Frazier, Phil Jackson and former senator Bill Bradley.

"Those gentlemen are still dear friends of mine," Davis explained. "I speak with Willis Reed probably once a week and I keep in touch with all the guys."

But his years playing professionally in Europe shaped Davis's outlook even more significantly, educating him as much off the court as on.

"My scope and view of life broadened, and I blossomed as an individual," he said. "You learn new languages, new cultures, new customs. For example, I spoke Italian fluently and my daughter attended a United Nations school and was speaking seven different languages. My family and I simply had a wonderful experience traveling throughout Europe and seeing history."

After his professional career, Davis worked in the marketing department of PepsiCo, overseeing Pizza Hut, Kentucky Fried Chicken and Taco Bell franchises, in addition to other successful chains. He later returned to basketball, taking on a position in the NBA League Office working for Commissioner David Stern.

But one of Davis's proudest accomplishments came when he served as Executive Director and President of the NBA Retired Players Association. 

"That was a very rewarding position," Davis recalled. "We developed programs to help rookies adjust to the NBA, in addition to assisting players with their post-playing careers. That program is now the blueprint for other major American sports leagues, including the NFL, MLB and NHL." 

Davis's experience as a college star, a professional player, an international player, an NBA executive and an influential leader of the Retired Players Association makes him an ideal candidate to reach out to basketball alumni. And with the men's basketball team coming off one of its most exciting seasons in recent memory, Davis expects to be busy. 

"This past season was fantastic," Davis noted. "Fans, alumni and friends felt good about St. John's, they were talking about St. John's, and alumni more than ever want to reconnect. I expect a lot of people will want to come back this upcoming year, so that will certainly be a tough task. But it's a task I'm greatly looking forward to."