Louisville basketball: Class of 2021 recruiting big board 1.0

Point guard

El Ellis

Tallahassee CC

6’3″ 175

Could Louisville land the top junior college guard in the nation two years in a row? It seems likely at this point. This time, the Cards are all-in on JUCO point guard El Ellis, who is a guy with the complete package out of North Carolina.

Ellis isn’t as explosive an athlete as 2020 commit Jay Scrubb, but he is a player with tremendous upside, who is going to excel wherever he goes because of his ability to score on all three levels.

He was a player that was certainly overlooked coming out of high school, but has turned a ton of heads in his first year as a JUCO player.

The Cards appear to be the leader in the clubhouse for Ellis, but they will have to fend off NC State until the end. The Wolfpack are the local team vying for his services, and if Johnson is back for his junior season, that could be seen as a deterrent for Ellis.

Hunter Sallis

Omaha, Nebraska

Hunter Sallis is a player who has consistently made jumps in the recruiting rankings since his sophomore season, and now sits as a fringe five-star player. The 6’3,” 165-pound guard is from Omaha, which may explain why he hasn’t had as many eyes on him until recently (there are only two ranked players in the state).

Sallis is a player who can score efficiently at every level, and he does so seemingly effortlessly. He doesn’t press much to get his shot but instead takes what the opponent gives him. He thrives getting to the basket. but showcases the ability to hit the outside shot and pull up from midrange.

Perhaps the most underrated part about Sallis’ game is his defensive presence, and his ability to create extra possessions would be a huge asset for the Cardinals.

Louisville will have tough competition in Gonzaga, Nebraska, and Kansas for his services, but Sallis would be a starter from day one.