Perry Ellis (basketball)

Perry Michael Ellis (born September 14, 1993) is an American professional basketball player for Fukui Blowinds of the Japanese B.League. Ellis played college basketball for the Kansas Jayhawks. Playing for coach Bill Self, Ellis averaged 12.5 points and 5.8 rebounds over 144 college games,[1] leading the Jayhawks to an 116–30 record that included 4 trips to the NCAA Tournament, including a trip to the Elite Eight during the 2015–2016 season.

Perry Ellis
Ellis playing for Kansas
No. 30 – Fukui Blowinds
PositionPower forward
LeagueB.League
Personal information
Born (1993-09-14) September 14, 1993 (age 31)
Wichita, Kansas, U.S.
Listed height6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
Listed weight218 lb (99 kg)
Career information
High schoolWichita Heights (Wichita, Kansas)
CollegeKansas (2012–2016)
NBA draft2016: undrafted
Playing career2016–present
Career history
2016–2017Greensboro Swarm
2017–2018Sydney Kings
2018Pallacanestro Cantù
2018–2019s.Oliver Würzburg
2019İstanbul BB
2019–2020Osaka Evessa
2020–2021Ehime Orange Vikings
2021–2022Osaka Evessa
2022Saga Ballooners
2022–2023Cholet Basket
2023–presentFukui Blowinds
Career highlights and awards
Stats at Basketball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Medals
Men's basketball
Representing  United States
Summer Universiade
Gold medal – first place 2015 Gwangju Team competition

Early life

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Ellis began playing basketball in first grade, and measured 6'1" in sixth grade. He attended Wichita Heights High School. He led Wichita Heights to four state titles, was named Kansas player of the year four times, and recorded a cumulative 2,231 points and 984 rebounds during his prep career. Academically, Ellis maintained a 4.0 GPA and was named valedictorian of his high school class.[2] He was selected as a McDonald's All-American after his senior season in 2012.[3]

College career

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Ellis scored a career-high 32 points on February 15, 2014 in a 95–65 victory over TCU. He contributed eight rebounds to go along with his 13-of-15 shooting.[4] He averaged 13.6 points and 6.7 rebounds per game as a sophomore. Ellis scored more than 20 points in eight games that year. In July, he participated in the LeBron James Skills Academy.[5]

In his junior season, Ellis led Kansas in scoring and rebounding with 13.8 points and 6.9 rebounds per game. He shot 45.7 percent from the field and 39.1 percent from behind the arc. Ellis was named to the First Team All-Big 12. He sprained his knee in a late-season game against West Virginia, derailing his season. Ellis considered entering the 2015 NBA draft after the season, but decided to return for his senior year after being told he would be selected in the second round.[6]

With him coming back to the Jayhawks in his senior year, he contributed with 16.9 points and 5.9 rebounds per game. He shot 53.3 percent from the field, and 44.4 percent behind the arc. He was also named to the 35-man midseason watchlist for the Naismith Trophy on February 11, 2016.[7]

During his time at Kansas, Ellis was a consensus second-team All-American pick his senior year and was Big 12 men's basketball scholar-athlete of the year for his junior and senior years.[8]

Professional career

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After going undrafted in the 2016 NBA draft, Ellis joined the Dallas Mavericks for the 2016 NBA Summer League. On September 23, 2016, he signed with the Charlotte Hornets,[9] but was waived on October 22 after appearing in one preseason game.[10] On October 31, 2016, he was acquired by the Greensboro Swarm of the NBA Development League as an affiliate player of the Hornets.[11] Ellis appeared in all 50 games for Greensboro in 2016–17, averaging 9.8 points and 4.7 rebounds per game.[12]

On May 19, 2017, Ellis signed with the Sydney Kings of the Australian National Basketball League for the 2017–18 season.[13] In July 2017, he played for the Minnesota Timberwolves during the 2017 NBA Summer League.[14] In 27 games for the Kings, he averaged 14.8 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game.

On February 25, 2018, Ellis signed with Pallacanestro Cantù of the Italian Lega Basket Serie A (LBA).[15] He inked with the German team s.Oliver Würzburg on July 17, 2018.[16]

On January 23, 2019, he signed with İstanbul BB of the Turkish Basketball Super League.[17]

In July 2019, Ellis injured his right knee while playing in The Basketball Tournament for Self Made, a team of Kansas alumni. Ellis received surgery to repair his patellar tendon and spent 2019 rehabbing with plans of resuming his professional career. During his rehab, Ellis joined Bill Self's staff at Kansas as a video coordinator.[18] He had a contract with Osaka Evessa in Japan, but because of the injury, the contract was voided.[19]

On July 8, 2020, Ellis signed with Ehime Orange Vikings in Japan.[20] Ellis averaged 18.3 points and 5.7 rebounds in 47 games for the Vikings. He hit 51.9% of his shots, including 43.7% from three-point range.[19]

On June 13, 2021, Ellis re-signed with Osaka Evessa in Japan.[19] He averaged 10.9 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game. On January 22, 2022, Ellis signed with the Saga Ballooners.[21] Appearing in 19 games for Saga, he averaged 15,3 points, 5,8 rebounds and 2,1 assists per outing.

On July 25, 2022, he signed with Cholet Basket of the French LNB Pro A.[22]

On July 18, 2023, Ellis signed with Fukui Blowinds of the Japanese B.League.[23]

National team career

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Ellis represented the United States at the 2015 World University Games. He averaged 13.3 points and 6.5 rebounds in leading Team USA to an 8–0 record and an 84–77 victory over Germany in the gold medal game.[24]

Personal life

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Ellis was engaged to be married on June 18, 2021.[19]

References

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  1. ^ "Perry Ellis College Stats". College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com.
  2. ^ "Kansas forward Perry Ellis takes long path to 1,000 points". USA Today. Associated Press. February 22, 2015. Retrieved May 31, 2015.
  3. ^ "Perry Ellis – #34". Kansas Jayhawks. University of Kansas. Retrieved December 16, 2014.
  4. ^ "Perry Ellis, Andrew Wiggins spark No. 7 Kansas' rout of TCU". ESPN. Associated Press. February 15, 2014. Retrieved December 16, 2014.
  5. ^ Hamilton, Brian (November 18, 2014). "Consistency key to making Perry Ellis a perfect fit for Kansas this year". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved December 16, 2014.
  6. ^ Kerkhoff, Blair (April 13, 2015). "Perry Ellis coming back for his senior season at Kansas". Kansas City Star. Retrieved May 7, 2015.
  7. ^ Payne, Terrence (February 11, 2016). "Naismith Trophy midseason list announced". Fox Sports. Retrieved February 19, 2016.
  8. ^ Bedore, Gary (April 15, 2016). "Ellis repeats as Big 12 scholar-athlete". Lawrence Journal-World. Lawrence, Kansas. Retrieved April 16, 2016. Following his senior season, he was named a second-team consensus All-America selection, a unanimous first-team all-Big 12 pick, one of 10 finalists for the Senior CLASS Award and one of five finalists for the Karl Malone power forward award. On Wednesday, he was named the Danny Manning Mr. Jayhawk Award winner which goes to the team MVP for the second straight season.
  9. ^ "Charlotte Hornets Announce 2016 Training Camp Roster". NBA.com. September 23, 2016. Retrieved September 23, 2016.
  10. ^ "Charlotte Hornets Waive Three Players". NBA.com. October 22, 2016. Retrieved October 22, 2016.
  11. ^ "Greensboro Swarm Announce 2016 Training Camp Roster". NBA.com. October 31, 2016. Retrieved November 20, 2016.
  12. ^ "Perry Ellis D-League Stats". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved May 19, 2017.
  13. ^ "SYDNEY KINGS SIGN DREAM RECRUIT". SydneyKings.com. May 19, 2017. Retrieved May 19, 2017.
  14. ^ Bedore, Gary (July 23, 2017). "Former KU forward Perry Ellis to play for Minnesota Timberwolves summer team". KansasCity.com. Retrieved July 8, 2017.
  15. ^ "Perry Ellis signs with Pallacanestro Cantù". sportando.basketball. February 25, 2018. Retrieved February 25, 2018.
  16. ^ "Perry Ellis inks with s.Oliver Würzburg".
  17. ^ "Perry Ellis joins IBB". Sportando. January 23, 2019. Retrieved March 18, 2019.
  18. ^ Bedore, Gary (June 15, 2019). "Former KU forward Perry Ellis able to work out again, hopes to resume pro career". Kansas City Star.
  19. ^ a b c d Bedore, Gary. Former KU forward Perry Ellis switches teams in Japan, will play overseas again in 2021–22, Kansas City Star, June 12, 2021.
  20. ^ "Perry Ellis signs with Ehime Orange Vikings". Sportando. July 8, 2020. Retrieved July 8, 2020.
  21. ^ Obradovic, Igor (January 22, 2022). "Saga Ballooners tab Perry Ellis". Asiabasket. Retrieved January 23, 2022.
  22. ^ "L'ailier-Fort Américain Perry Ellis à CB | Cholet Basket". www.cholet-basket.com (in French). Retrieved August 2, 2022.
  23. ^ "#30 ペリー・エリス選手 選手契約基本合意(新規)のお知らせ" (in Japanese). Fukui Blowinds. July 18, 2023. Retrieved August 1, 2023.
  24. ^ Adame, Tony (July 21, 2015). "Perry Ellis reflects on winning gold medal, receives honor for volunteer work". The Wichita Eagle. Retrieved August 4, 2015.
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