The Louisville Cardinals have had a tough basketball season so far in 2022-2023, and despite the struggle, one of the players who has played a key role this year is junior guard El Ellis. Let’s take a closer look at his impressive stats and what they mean for the team.
Ellis has started in all 28 games for the Cardinals this season, demonstrating his importance to the team as a consistent contributor. He has averaged an impressive 35.8 minutes per game, indicating that he is a crucial part of Louisville’s game plan. Over the course of the season, he has scored a total of 506 points, an average of 18.1 points per game.
One of Ellis’ biggest strengths has been his shooting ability. He has attempted 162 three-pointers this season and has made 55 of them, a solid shooting percentage of 34.0%. Additionally, he has made 168 out of 402 field goal attempts, a shooting percentage of 41.8%.
Ellis has also been effective at getting to the free throw line, where he has made 115 of 142 attempts, a free throw shooting percentage of 81.0%. This indicates that he is not only an accurate shooter from the field, but also a player who can draw fouls and take advantage of opportunities to score points from the charity stripe.
In addition to his scoring ability, Ellis has contributed in other areas of the game as well. He has recorded 78 rebounds this season, averaging 2.8 rebounds per game, and has also recorded 69 assists, averaging 2.5 assists per game. He has also been a solid defender, with 9 steals and 44 blocks on the season.
Overall, Ellis has been a key player for the Cardinals this season, providing scoring, playmaking ability, and defense while also contributing on the boards. His shooting has been particularly impressive, with strong percentages from both three-point range and the free throw line. With his consistent contributions, Ellis will likely continue to be an important player for Louisville as they push for success in the remainder of the season.
The Backstory:
Louisville’s 2021-2022 basketball season featured a notable player in junior guard El Ellis. Ellis, who played for Tallahassee Community College before transferring to Louisville, quickly proved himself as a valuable asset to the team. He played in 32 games during his junior year, averaging 20.5 minutes per game and coming in third on the team for assists with 51 total.
Ellis started nine games for the Cardinals, including six of the last nine, and was a double-digit scorer in seven of the last 12 games. His performance in the Feb. 1 game against North Carolina was particularly impressive, with Ellis scoring a career-high 25 points. Over the last 18 games of the season, Ellis averaged 10.2 points per game and was the top scorer for the Cardinals. He also had a solid record for three-pointers, hitting 30 of 82 (.366) in that same stretch.
Although Ellis mostly played as a reserve during the season, he still managed to make an impact on the court. In 23 games as a bench player, he averaged 8.6 points per game and scored in double figures in ten of those games. This performance earned him the runner-up position in the ACC Sixth Man of the Year voting.
Ellis was also a strong performer in several games throughout the season. In addition to his career-high against North Carolina, he scored 18 points against Duke and 18 points off the bench against Pitt in Louisville, followed by 14 points at Florida State. He even managed to score 22 points off the bench at Michigan State, despite scoring only 27 points in his first six games of the season.
Ellis began his college basketball career at Tallahassee Community College, where he was named a first-team 2021 All-American by the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA). During his sophomore year, his team’s schedule was delayed due to the pandemic, but Ellis still managed to lead Tallahassee to a 19-3 record while averaging 17.7 points, 4.3 assists, and 3.4 rebounds per game. He was also named the 2021 Panhandle Conference Player of the Year, becoming the first repeat winner from Tallahassee.
Ellis’s basketball career began long before college, however. He scored 2,382 career points at Quality Education Academy in Winston-Salem, N.C. before moving on to junior college. He was also heavily influenced by his father, Elbert Ellis Jr., who played football and track at the University of Pittsburgh before joining the Carolina Panthers and Green Bay Packers.
Off the court, Ellis enjoys roller skating and bowling in his spare time. He chose to attend Louisville because he wanted to play for one of the best programs in the ACC, and his personal goal for the team is “getting Louisville back to that winning culture.” Despite his successes on the court, he remains humble and is most proud of his little brother.
Overall, Ellis is a talented athlete with an impressive record both on and off the court. His determination and work ethic have helped him succeed in basketball and beyond, and he continues to make a name for himself in the sport.
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