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Men's Basketball

Thursday, July 29, 2010

Recruit Ellis shows versatility

By Gary Bedore

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Shawnee — Wichita Heights junior sensation Perry Ellis played mostly on the perimeter, hitting mid-range jump shots and three-pointers, as well as driving layups at last spring’s Jayhawk Invitational at Haskell.

On Wednesday, the 6-foot-8, 210-pounder took his game inside.

Ellis scored 20 points, most off spin moves in the paint — and pulled down 13 rebounds — in Wichita Pray and Play Players’ 70-65 loss to the Milwaukee Spartans at the Metro Sports/KC Prep Invitational at Okun Fieldhouse.

“I mean, on this team, I really have to. I’m one of the tallest players,” said Ellis, willing to contribute inside.

“It does help me, because in college, even if I play the 3 (small forward), I might have to play some low post, too.”

Ellis hit eight of 19 shots while playing the entire game. His team fell behind 19-4 early, looking like a squad jet-lagged following a 1 a.m. Wednesday arrival from Florida and the 17 and under Super Showcase.

“I can’t use that as an excuse. I’ve got to come to play. I didn’t come to play today,” Ellis said.

Informed of his double-double, he said: “We lost, though.”

Kansas University’s Bill Self and Kansas State’s Frank Martin sat together in the bleachers behind one goal. Self actually watched the entire game; Martin arrived with time remaining in the first half, for those keeping track of such things.

“I try not to watch, (but) when I shoot a free throw, I see them, though,” Ellis said of college coaches. “It’s a good experience. It shows they really want me to come to their school. It shows a lot.”

Ellis, who has two years of high school remaining, has received scholarship offers from KU, KSU, Kentucky, Memphis, Texas A&M, Wichita State and Wake Forest. Rivals.com’s No. 26-rated player in the Class of 2012 also has heard from Louisville, Georgetown, Stanford, UCLA, Duke and Miami.

“I am just going to wait until the time is right,” Ellis said of making his college choice.

The St. Louis Eagles, who boast senior guard Ben McLemore, had travel problems and didn’t play Wednesday. They’ll have games at 9 a.m. and 12:45 p.m. today.

Selby back in action, to attend camp: KU freshman point guard Josh Selby, who broke the little finger on his left hand in early June, is back on the court with limited contact.

“He’s not 100 percent, but, yes, he’s back. He’s playing 1-on-1, 2-on-2, 3-on-3. He’s not full-tilt yet,” Self said Wednesday.

Self said Selby’s “first attempt to play serious ball” will come at the adidas Global Experience Aug. 6-9 in Chicago. Selby and four of his teammates — Marcus and Markieff Morris, Thomas Robinson and Tyshawn Taylor — will work as college counselors at the event.

Bowling for charity: KU assistant basketball coach Danny Manning is guest host of “In the Lane With Danny Manning,” a night of bowling on Sunday, Aug. 15, at Royal Crest Lanes. The event will run from 6 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. The cost of bowling is $75 per person. It includes open bowling, a photograph with Manning, an autographed item and swag bag. Information is available at dannymanning.org.

Comments

  1. kushaw (anonymous) says…

    I have to admit I am a little disappointed. I get back from Canadian vacation and KU didn't sign one kid? Man, I was expecting 2 or 3 commitments when I got back.

    (Note: Just a sarcastic statement to get back in the flow)

    Great to See Selby getting some court time

  2. slaterman (anonymous) says…

    Here is a link to a Seth Davis article on the USA Trials that (correct me if I'm wrong) Morris was participating in. Davis has a scout talk about some of the college players who scrimmaged against the pros, but doesn't mention Morris at all. More East Coast bias, or was Morris just that forgettable?

    http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010...

    1. marchphog88 (anonymous) replies…

      I'd take anything that comes from Seth Davis with a grain of salt...

  3. kushaw (anonymous) says…

    slaterman: Good Stuff!

    I like this section: "Kemba Walker, 6-1 junior guard, UConn: "He has good quickness and speed, but he just turns it over too much. He's too erratic. That was the problem with UConn's team last year was that he and [Jerome] Dyson turned it over too much and didn't value the ball enough."

    Yes, Kemba Walker has great potential and skill, but it makes you appreciate a guy like Brady Morningstar.

  4. OakvilleJHawk (anonymous) says…

    "We lost though".

    Guys and gals, I love this kid...God I hope we get him!!

    1. cklarock (anonymous) replies…

      +1. Love his attitude.

  5. KEITHMILES05 (anonymous) says…

    It's obvious Ellis thinks he's going to play the 3 in college. Self really wants the kid and evidently he's told Ellis it's ok to be playing the 3 in HS.

  6. Timmay97 (anonymous) says…

    I think Ellis is going Wichita State. :-) Talk about an extreme boost to a program.

    Seriously, I do think he's KU bound. I don't see how he would pick any other school based on the tradition at KU. I just hope he's getting on the weights NOW and not waiting until he arrives at college. Let Andrea have a year with him and he will be a beast!

  7. Jaminrawk (anonymous) says…

    Honestly, with the way recruiting is going and the "me first" culture of basketball in general these days, I wouldn't be surprised to see him opt for UK. Obviously, UK has become the "cool" place to go because Calipari appeals to teenage boys better than most. there seems to be this feeling that Calipari is going to coach them and as a result they will be a lottery pick. What a lot of them don't realize is that Rose, Wall, Cousins, Bledsoe, etc would have all been NBA players regardless of the jersey they wore in college. It was actually refreshing to see a kid like Selby opt to blaze his own trail and pick KU because he knows Bill Self will ride him hard in practice and make him a complete player. Ellis seems like a great kid and very smart too, I hope we get him but i think the "this is a business" aspect of sports is alive and well in high school now and we have to get in the ring with some real vermin (Calipari) to compete. You can even see it in the comments lately by Self where he seems a bit tired of the new era of recruiting battles.

    1. drgnslayr (anonymous) replies…

      Your comments hit the mark in describing the atmosphere around college basketball today. But I think your comments also show why Perry (and Josh) are attracted to Coach Self and KU. These future stars are dedicated to hard work; it is the hard work they've put in up to now that has got them where they are today, and will decide their futures, too. They know it, and they are not only not afraid of hard work, but are seeking an environment based on working hard while in college. Both of these players are given the "straight up" while being recruited by CS: "Come to KU if you want to work hard."

      Calipari's recruiting angle is: "Come here and enjoy all the media attention. I'll get you in to see LeBron and you'll have the fastest ride to the NBA at Kentucky."

      These guys know that no one is going to "give" them a fast path to the NBA and it will be determined by their own efforts. When players understand it in this light, CS and KU becomes an attractive package that is hard to say no to.

  8. Timmay97 (anonymous) says…

    Jaminrawk,

    Very well said! Excellent points!

  9. marchphog88 (anonymous) says…

    I don't know about his basketball skills, but I want us to nab Perry Ellis for his damn fine clothing line!

  10. honk_for_hawks (anonymous) says…

    kid can stroke it. He can definitely play the 3 in college. As for UK, I don't see him going to UK. I could see Memphis, but I don't think classy people like him play for calipari.

  11. mikendal (anonymous) says…

    If Ellis goes to UK, then that will piss off Chuck Berry---God, we don't want that to happen!!!!! LOL.