Elmer Austin
Elmer M. Austin Jr. (December 11, 1949 – December 28, 2023) was an American basketball player from Greensboro, North Carolina. He attended James B. Dudley High School, where he switched from football to basketball and became a standout, averaging more than 20 points per game. He drew interest from about ten colleges and chose North Carolina A&T State University on a basketball scholarship.
At NC A&T, Austin quickly became a starter after a strong preseason scrimmage. He scored 24 points in his debut against Akron and went on to lead the team with 19.1 points and 12.7 rebounds per game as a junior, earning All-CIAA honors.
When the Aggies joined the MEAC in the 1971–72 season, Austin led the team to the conference’s first championship, averaging 21.3 points and 10.4 rebounds and earning the MEAC Player of the Year award—the MEAC’s inaugural recipient.
He graduated with a degree in physical education and tried out for professional teams and the U.S. national team after the 1972 NBA draft, though he did not play in the NBA.
Austin and his wife had three children. He died in Greensboro on December 28, 2023, at age 74.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 14:53 (CET).