Octavius Ellis

Octavius Elis (born March 10, 1993) is an American professional basketball player for Olympiacos of the EuroLeague. He plays at the center position.

Octavius Ellis
No. 32 – Olympiacos
PositionCenter
LeagueEuroLeague
Personal information
Born (1993-03-10) March 10, 1993
Memphis, Tennessee
NationalityAmerican
Listed height6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
Listed weight235 lb (107 kg)
Career information
High schoolWhitehaven
(Memphis, Tennessee)
College
NBA draft2016 / Undrafted
Playing career2016–present
Career history
2016–2017Mornar Bar
2017Enisey
2017–2020Promitheas Patras
2020–presentOlympiacos
Career highlights and awards
  • Greek All Star Game Slam Dunk Champion (2019)
  • Second-team All-AAC (2015)

High school career

Ellis played high school basketball at Whitehaven High School, in Memphis, Tennessee.

College career

Ellis began his collegiate career at the University of Cincinnati during the 2011–12 season. He was dismissed from the team that off season for an altercation at a nightclub.[1] He then played two seasons at Trinity Valley Community College in Athens, Texas. There, he averaged 14.8 points, 9.7 rebounds and 3.2 blocked shots as a red-shirt sophomore during the 2013–14 season, while being named First Team All-America by the National Junior College Athletic Association. Ellis helped lead the Cardinals to their first NJCAA Tournament appearance since 1999, while posting a 29–7 record.

After two years at Trinity Valley, he returned to UC with two years of eligibility remaining. For that 2014–15 season, he started all 31 of the Bearcats' games, and led UC in scoring (with 10.0 points per game), in rebounding (with 7.3 per game), and in blocked shots (with 66 overall).[2] He was named to the 2014–15 All-American Athletic Conference Second Team. The next season, he again helped lead the Bearcats to the 2016 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament, where Cincinnati faced Saint Joseph's, and received a first-round elimination, in a controversial fashion, as Ellis' game-tying dunk was waved off for being 0.1 second too late.[3]

Professional career

After failing to be drafted in the 2016 NBA draft, Ellis signed his first professional contract with the Montenegrin team Mornar Bar, of the Adriatic League.[4] On March 9, 2017, he signed with the Alaska Aces, as their import for the 2017 PBA Commissioner's Cup.[5] However, on March 18, three days before the team's first game, he left the Philippines to attend to an "important family matter".[6]

On July 24, 2017, Ellis signed with Russian club Enisey.[7] On December 29, 2017, Ellis left Enisey and joined Promitheas Patras, of the Greek Basket League.[8] On June 21, 2018, Ellis renewed his contract for another year with Promitheas.[9] On May 26, 2019, Ellis agreed to a new contract with the Greek club.

On January 27, 2020, Ellis officially signed with EuroLeague club Olympiacos.[10]

Personal life

Ellis is the son of Jerrell Horne, a former basketball player at the University of Memphis. His cousin is former NBA player Monta Ellis.[11]

References
  1. http://www.sportingnews.com/us/ncaa-basketball/news/2829338-cincinnatis-octavius-ellis-kicked-off-team-for-role-in-nightclub-brawl
  2. https://gobearcats.com/news/2015/3/10/KOCH_Ellis_long_road_back_to_UC.aspx
  3. https://www.sbnation.com/college-basketball/2016/3/19/11267506/cincinnati-st-josephs-ncaa-tournament-late-dunk-no-good
  4. "Octavius Ellis inks with Mornar Bar". sportando.com. August 1, 2016. Retrieved February 4, 2017.
  5. Ramos, Gerry (March 9, 2017). "Alaska brings in untested import in Octavio Ellis for PBA Commissioner's Cup". spin.ph. Retrieved March 9, 2017.
  6. Ramos, Gerry (March 15, 2017). "Alaska in danger of debuting without import after sudden departure of Octavius Ellis". spin.ph. Retrieved March 15, 2017.
  7. "BC Enisey signs Octavius Ellis". Sportando.com. July 24, 2017. Retrieved July 24, 2017.
  8. "Promitheas Patras B.C announce the capture o Octavius Ellis". sdna.gr. December 29, 2017. Retrieved December 29, 2017.
  9. "Promitheas re-signs Octavius Ellis". sdna.gr. June 21, 2018. Archived from the original on June 21, 2018. Retrieved June 21, 2018.
  10. "Olympiacos announces Octavius Ellis". Sportando. January 27, 2020. Retrieved January 28, 2020.
  11. Sacamos, Carlo (March 15, 2017). "Unlike high-scoring cousin Monta Ellis, Alaska import out to make mark on defense". Spin.ph. Retrieved August 6, 2020.
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