Born in 1952, Len attended Power Memorial Academy in New York City, leading its basketball team to the City championship and the "Number 1 Team in the Nation" in 1970. He went to college at the University of Maryland and became a three-time All-ACC player and a 2nd team All-American in 1974. He is Maryland's all-time leading rebounder, in both total rebounds and rebounding average. In 2002, Len was selected to the ACC 50th Anniversary men's basketball team, honoring him as one of the 50 greatest players in ACC history.
Len was selected in the 1st round of the NBA draft by the Washington Bullets, but chose to play for the ABA's Indiana Pacers. After a ten year career in the ABA and NBA, Len became a lawyer, receiving his J.D. from Harvard Law School in 1987. He began his law career as a prosecutor, serving as an Assistant District Attorney in Brooklyn, New York.
Elmore is also a college basketball analyst for ESPN and for CBS Sports' coverage of the NCAA Tournament.