SA's Ellis heading to North Greenville 5/27/2009 12:17 AM
By CAM HUFFMAN Sports Editor
When South Aiken head basketball coach Kelly Nichols arrived on the scene prior to the start of the 2008-09 season, he refused to take a look back at a single film from the season before. He wanted to develop his opinions and identify his leaders based on what he saw with his own eyes.
It didn't take long, though, for the coach to realize that senior guard Jimmy Ellis was going to be something special.
Nichols' first intuition that Ellis was going to be a leader on the SAHS squad came to fruition over the course of the winter as Ellis averaged 16 points per game and knocked down 83 3-point buckets on his way to being named Region 5-AAA Player of the Year.
"Any time you can have a region player of the year and a guy who can put the ball in the basket, it really helps," said Nichols, who admitted that Ellis made his transition to the South Aiken program a little easier. "I don't think any coach ever comes in and says, 'we have to score to win.' Everybody talks about defense and toughness, but it really helps when you have a guy who can put it through the net. Jimmy took a lot of pressure off other guys, because he could score so well."
On Tuesday, Ellis scored his latest achievement when he inked his college future, signing a letter of intent to play basketball at North Greenville University. Ellis had considered Francis Marion University and Furman University, but the Patriots wanted Ellis to redshirt and Furman wanted him to come as a walk-on. After considering his options, Ellis, who posted a 3.75 GPA at SAHS, decided that North Greenville was the best place to continue his hoops career.
"I see myself as a good fit there," said Ellis. "Unlike most schools, they have their big people now, and they are looking for guards. I think I can go there and help them improve."
Ellis said Crusader head coach Chad Lister, now in his seventh season in Tigerville, has indicated that playing time should not be a problem for the freshman, who said he will come off the bench and try to work his way into a starting spot. The Crusaders finished 12-17 last season, losing in the first round of the National Christian Collegiate Athletic Association South Regional Tournament to No. 1 seed Emmanuel College.
"Hopefully we can get further than they have gone in tournaments," said Ellis. "It looks like they usually get put out in the first round, and hopefully I can help them get further than that."
"I don't know a lot about them, coming in from out of the area, but in my contact with Coach Lister, I have been overly impressed," said Nichols, who came to South Carolina from Illinois. "I know they have struggled record-wise the last couple years, but I think Jimmy can step in and contribute right away."
"I've always said that the Xs and Os aren't that different (at the college level)," Nichols continued. "The biggest difference is the intensity level. It is almost like a job, and you are banging against men every day. The daily grind can be a tough transition. Some guys thrive in that situation, and I think Jimmy will. Jimmy is a gym rat, and I think he will be great in that situation."
Nichols pointed to ball handling and defense as areas where Ellis could improve, but he quickly noted that his star shooter was advanced beyond the level of most high school athletes.
"He really understood what we were trying to do," said the Thoroughbred coach. "He was given the green light quite a bit, but he really understood good shots and bad shots. Not many 17- or 18-year-olds figure that out. Jimmy was able to do that, and he gave a consistent effort. He never really got down or too high, and that's what you need in a leader."
Ellis said he is looking toward a career as an engineer, and although North Greenville does not offer engineering as a major he plans to take math and science courses to keep himself on the right track.
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