Louisville basketball: 3 things to like about new commit El Ellis
By Jacob Lane
El Ellis brings guard versatility to Louisville basketball
One of the most important things that new Louisville basketball commit El Ellis brings to the table is positional versatility. In a lot of classes, you see coaches get players who they know will specifically play one position or one role on a team, such as David Johnson being a “point guard” or Aidan Igiehon strictly being a “five.”
In the case of Ellis, he comes to Louisville knowing that Bobby Pettiford Jr. is already in the fold and that the two will play in tandem rather than compete for one role. At 6’3, 175-pounds, Ellis can be classified as a “bigger guard” and because of it, he’s able to play both on and off the ball. He’s also a dynamic offensive player who has the potential to develop into an elite scorer and is more than capable of shutting down both guard spots on the other side of the ball.
6’1 and 6’3 isn’t a giant backcourt by any means, but as I expect we’ll see this season with Johnson and graduate transfer Carlik Jones (who like Pettiford Jr. is 6’1), it allows for unique lineups that should give Louisville certain advantages.
The same will be true with Ellis and Pettiford who will be able to both play on and off the ball, giving Louisville a Peyton Siva and Russ Smith-like combination of athleticism, speed, playmaking, and scoring.
Ellis spoke to Jody Demling leading up to his official commitment and talked about the pitch from Coach Mack, saying:
"“Coach Mack said they need a guard and he said if David Johnson is still around that I could come in and we could both play on or off the ball. I think I’m versatile enough to play both (on and off the ball).”"
There’s a very strong possibility that Johnson will depart from Louisville for the NBA at the end of the 2020-21 season, and if that’s the case, Ellis will have to step into a starting role where a lot will be expected of him playing alongside Pettiford Jr. and rising sophomore Josh Nickleberry.
He’ll bring a new level of toughness to the Louisville program at the guard spot, and with that will come a fearless to attack downhill and try and get to the rim at all costs. Ellis is developing into an elite scorer, while also becoming more of a playmaker, who is able to get his shot just about whenever he wants to. He’s got a great first step that allows him to get past defenders and from there he’s just as lethal pulling up as he is once he gets to the cup.
In his freshman season at TCC, Ellis averaged 14.3 ppg, 4.7 apg, while shooting 48 percent from the field and an incredible 40 percent from deep. Mack has prioritized a few things during the 2021 recruiting cycle but none of them bigger than scoring and Ellis is the real deal.
With Ellis and Pettiford Jr., Louisville now has a dynamic and versatile backcourt that should be able to carry them to a lot of success in the ACC.