LaPhonso Ellis' family announces daughter, Elexis, dead at 31

Elexis Ellis, the daughter of ESPN college basketball analyst LaPhonso Ellis, died earlier this year, the family announced on Thursday. She was 31.

According to a statement posted by Walter Ellis, her younger brother, the family chose to keep the death private until now due to myriad basketball obligations throughout the summer. Now, though, they’ve shared the crushing news and plans for a memorial.

“It’s been a weird mix of emotions over the last month with so many highs in the first summer of my professional basketball career, while also having gone through all of it deal with the reality of the fact I’ll never get to see my sister on this earth again,” Walter Ellis said. “I’m blessed to have great people in my life to help my keep moving forward with a smile on my face despite what my family and I have been dealing with behind the scenes.”

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— Walter Ellis (@iamwalterellis) August 9, 2023

Elexis Ellis died on July 1 of this year in her sleep, according to the statement and an obituary. No cause of death has been given.

Elexis Ellis was a Notre Dame graduate — the same alma mater as her father — and had recently completed her dissertation for a sociology PhD from Yale. She also taught courses while earning her PhD and was well-liked by her pupils. The obituary shared more on her verve for life and helping others.

“She truly was an everything girl! She was creative, compassionate, generous, musical, athletic and adventurous. Her missionary spirit led her to serve in Guatemala, Vietnam, and multiple times in Monterrey, Mexico. She also traveled throughout Europe and South Africa during two studies abroad while at Notre Dame,” it read.

Walter Ellis noted the family was now back in South Bend. There will be a visitation on Friday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. follow by a funeral service. It comes after a number of weeks packed with basketball for the Ellis family.

“We decided as a family to keep things private so that we could grieve gradually while also being able to celebrate her life thoroughly as soon as the TBT finished,” Walter Ellis said.

He also thanked everyone for thoughts, prayers and condolences for his family as they begin openly grieving for a lost sister, daughter and more.

“God’s love shows greatest through His people in times like this and we want to thank everyone for their prayers and condolences,” Walter Ellis said.