LaPhonso Ellis
Encyclopedia
LaPhonso Darnell Ellis is a retired American
basketball
player.
in a holiday tournament his senior year. Also in 1988, Ellis was named a Parade Magazine and McDonalds high school All-American. In 2007, Ellis was voted one of the "100 Legends of the IHSA
Boys Basketball Tournament," recognizing his superior performance in his appearances in the tournament.
. Ellis' Notre Dame squad qualified for the NCAA tournament his freshman and sophomore seasons and were Runner-Up in the 1992 NIT Tournament.
Ellis was one of four captains of the 1991-92 Notre Dame team. Throughout his career, he scored 1,505 career points, and averaged 15.5 points per game to earn school rankings of 12th and 22nd, respectively. He recorded 200 career blocks, a school record. He ranks third on the school's career rebounding list with 1,075, and eighth on the career rebounding average list, with 11.1 rpg. He led the '91-92 team in scoring (17.7 ppg), rebounding (11.7 rpg), field goal percentage (.631) and blocked shots (2.6 bpg). He led Notre Dame in blocked shots in each of his four seasons, the only player in school history to do so. Ellis graduated from Notre Dame on time with a degree in accounting from the undergraduate college of business.
, picked by the Denver Nuggets
, and was named to the 1992 All-Rookie first team. He subsequently played in Atlanta, Minnesota and Miami, where he retired after the 2003 season
. He played professionally in the NBA from 1992 until 2003.
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player.
Early career
He was an outstanding high school basketball player at East St. Louis Lincoln High School, where he led the Tigers to two straight Illinois Class AA boys' championships in 1987 and 1988. In a heavily hyped up matchup, Ellis outplayed Alonzo MourningAlonzo Mourning
Alonzo Harding Mourning, Jr. is a former American professional basketball player, who played most of his 15-year NBA career for the Miami Heat....
in a holiday tournament his senior year. Also in 1988, Ellis was named a Parade Magazine and McDonalds high school All-American. In 2007, Ellis was voted one of the "100 Legends of the IHSA
Illinois High School Association
The Illinois High School Association is one of 521 state high school associations in the United States, designed to regulate competition in most interscholastic sports and some interscholastic activities at the high school level. It is a charter member of the National Federation of State High...
Boys Basketball Tournament," recognizing his superior performance in his appearances in the tournament.
College career
Ellis ended up attending the University of Notre DameUniversity of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...
. Ellis' Notre Dame squad qualified for the NCAA tournament his freshman and sophomore seasons and were Runner-Up in the 1992 NIT Tournament.
Ellis was one of four captains of the 1991-92 Notre Dame team. Throughout his career, he scored 1,505 career points, and averaged 15.5 points per game to earn school rankings of 12th and 22nd, respectively. He recorded 200 career blocks, a school record. He ranks third on the school's career rebounding list with 1,075, and eighth on the career rebounding average list, with 11.1 rpg. He led the '91-92 team in scoring (17.7 ppg), rebounding (11.7 rpg), field goal percentage (.631) and blocked shots (2.6 bpg). He led Notre Dame in blocked shots in each of his four seasons, the only player in school history to do so. Ellis graduated from Notre Dame on time with a degree in accounting from the undergraduate college of business.
Professional career
He was the fifth overall selection in the 1992 NBA Draft1992 NBA Draft
The 1992 NBA Draft took place on June 24, 1992, in Portland, Oregon. At the time, the draft was considered to be one of the deepest drafts in NBA history. The top three picks were considered can't-miss prospects. O'Neal and Mourning are likely Hall of Famers...
, picked by the Denver Nuggets
Denver Nuggets
The Denver Nuggets are a professional basketball team based in Denver, Colorado. They play in the National Basketball Association . They were founded as the Denver Rockets in 1967 as a charter franchise of the American Basketball Association, and became one of that league's more successful teams...
, and was named to the 1992 All-Rookie first team. He subsequently played in Atlanta, Minnesota and Miami, where he retired after the 2003 season
2002-03 NBA season
The 2002–03 NBA season was the 57th season of the National Basketball Association. The season ended with the San Antonio Spurs beating the New Jersey Nets 4-2 in the 2003 NBA Finals.-Notable occurrences:...
. He played professionally in the NBA from 1992 until 2003.
Personal
In 2009 Ellis began his first full season as a college basketball analyst for ESPNCollege Basketball on ESPN
College Basketball on ESPN is a presentation of the college basketball television package on the ESPN family of networks. The television network broadcasts games of all the major conferences and many mid-major conferences of Division I NCAA basketball....
.
External links
- Notre Dame All Century Team
- College & NBA stats @ basketballreference.com