By ADAM ZAGORIA
Louisville transfer El Ellis committed to Arkansas on Monday.
The 6-foot-3 guard from Durham, N.C. averaged 17.7 points, 4.4 assists and 2.6 rebounds last season as a senior on a Louisville team that finished 4-28. He shot 41% from the field and 32% from deep.
“I’m taking my talents to the University Of Arkansas,” he told ZAGSBLOG. “I built a great relationship with the staff and they told me they needed a veteran point guard to run the show and once I built that relationship it was a no-brainer.
“I will bring my play-making ability for sure, the way I can score the ball and leadership.”
His father, Elbert Ellis, Jr., was a multi-sport athlete in football and track at the University of Pittsburgh and later played in the NFL for the Carolina Panthers and Green Bay Packers.
“He’s an elite scorer who’s transformed into a play-making point guard,” former Tallahassee coach Zach Settembre said when he chose Louisville in 2021. “We won our league for the first time since 2001 and got to the NJCAA National tournament for the first time since 2011 because we had a deep and talented roster, but El was the straw that stirred the drink.” He added: “El Ellis is the hardest worker I’ve ever coached. He has an uncommon hunger that separates him from many other talented players. He is not afraid of the spotlight, not afraid to miss the big shot, and certainly not afraid to fail and get back up to try again. “His character and willingness to accept hard coaching makes him special. He can score at all 3 levels, has elite quickness in transition, finishes well around the rim with both hands, and knows how to play the point guard position. He’s come a long way since he first stepped on campus in Tallahassee in June of 2019. He’s developed into a college-ready play-maker who feels when to push the pace, when to get his team into an offensive set, and when a certain player needs a touch. His defense has improved and will continue to improve as he adds strength to his frame.” Arkansas coach Eric Musselman has done very well with transfers and now adds a new batch with Ellis, Tramon Mark (Houston), Khalif Battle (Temple), Keyon Menifield (Washington) and Jeremiah Davenport (Cincinnati). “Muss and the staff have done a great job already Follow Adam Zagoria on Twitter Follow ZAGSBLOGHoops on Instagram And Like ZAGS on FacebookTransfer Portal Breakdown
— ᗩᑎT ᗯᖇIGᕼT (@itsAntWright) April 16, 2023
El Ellis – 6’3” combo guard transfer out of Louisville, 17 points 4 assists, 42% unguarded 3’s #transferportal pic.twitter.com/bJzQibXH4S
