Ace Custis

{{Short description|American basketball player and coach}} {{Use mdy dates|date=August 2024}} {{Infobox basketball biography | name = Ace Custis | image = Adrian custis.jpg | caption = Adrian Custis, 2009 | height_ft = 6 | height_in = 7 | weight_lb = 220 | position = Special Assistant to the Head Coach | league = Atlantic Coast Conference | team = Virginia Tech Hokies | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1974|5|24}} | birth_place = Eastville, Virginia | nationality = American | death_date = | death_place = | highschool = Northampton (Eastville, Virginia) | college = Virginia Tech (1993–1997) | draft_year = 1997 | career_start = 1997 | career_end = 2012 | career_number = | coach_start = 2013 | career_position = Forward | years1 = 1999–2000 | team1 = Grand Rapids Hoops | years2 = 2005 | team2 = San Miguel Beermen | cyears1 = 2013–2014 | cteam1 = Virginia State (assistant) | cyears2 = 2014–2019 | cteam2 = Maryland Eastern Shore (assistant) | cyears3 = 2019–present | cteam3 = Virginia Tech (staff) | highlights = * PBA champion (2005 Fiesta) * 2× First-team All-Atlantic 10 (1996, 1997) * First-team All-Metro Conference (1995) * No. 20 retired by Virginia Tech Hokies }} '''Adrian''' "'''Ace'''" '''Custis''' (born May 24, 1974) is an American basketball coach and former professional basketball player. He last played in Japan with the Wakayama Trians. After a severe knee injury while trying out for the Dallas Mavericks, Ace became known as one of the best power forwards throughout Asia playing in such countries as Lebanon, Japan, Qatar, Indonesia, Syria and the Philippines. Ace made a further name for himself in prestigious clubs such as Al Riyadi where he won a championship. Ace graduated from Virginia Tech and won the 1995 NIT championship. In 1997, Ace was an NCAA All-American.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20201028153122/https://www.delmarvanow.com/story/sports/college/2015/02/20/umes-coach-profile-ace-custis/23771905/ |Ace In the Fold]</ref> In 2007, Ace was inducted into the Virginia Tech Sports Hall of Fame; his #20 jersey was retired and hangs alongside the NBA shooting great Dell Curry. Techhoops, a basketball publication, named Ace Custis one of the 10 greatest players ever in Virginia Tech history.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20110511180803/http://techhoops.com/2011/04/29/7-ace-custis-10-greatest-vt-players-of-all-time-includes-an-interview-with-ace/ Ace Custis 10 Greatest VT Players of All Time]</ref>

Custis was an assistant coach with the Maryland Eastern Shore Hawks men's basketball team from 2014 to 2019. He is a native of Eastville, Virginia and resides in Fruitland, Maryland.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.easternshorehawks.com/sports/m-baskbl/mtt/adrian_custis_918864.html |title=Adrian Custis Bio - Maryland Eastern Shore Athletics |website=www.easternshorehawks.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170426164755/http://www.easternshorehawks.com/sports/m-baskbl/mtt/adrian_custis_918864.html |archive-date=2017-04-26}}</ref>

In 2019 he was hired as the coordinator of basketball relations at Virginia Tech. In 2020 he was promoted to special assistant to the head coach.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://hoopdirt.com/custis-tabbed-special-assistant-to-the-head-coach-at-virginia-tech/|title = Custis tabbed special assistant to the head coach at Virginia Tech|date = 2 September 2020}}</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Custis, Ace}} Category:1974 births Category:Living people Category:Al Riyadi Club Beirut basketball players Category:American expatriate basketball people in Japan Category:American expatriate basketball people in Lebanon Category:American expatriate basketball people in the Philippines Category:American expatriate basketball people in Qatar Category:American expatriate sportspeople in Indonesia Category:American men's basketball players Category:Basketball coaches from Virginia Category:Basketball players from Virginia Category:Grand Rapids Hoops players Category:Maryland Eastern Shore Hawks men's basketball coaches Category:People from Eastville, Virginia Category:Sportspeople from Wicomico County, Maryland Category:Philippine Basketball Association imports Category:Power forwards Category:San Miguel Beermen players Category:Virginia State Trojans men's basketball coaches Category:Virginia Tech Hokies men's basketball players Category:Wakayama Trians players Category:20th-century American sportsmen