South Carolina basketball signee nominated for McDonald's All-American Game

South Carolina basketball signee Eli Ellis has been nominated for the McDonald’s All-American Game. Ellis announced the news on social media on Tuesday night.

He and the rest of the nominees will learn if they make one of the two McDonald’s All-American Game teams (24 total players) later this winter. The most prestigious high school all-star game will be at Barclays Arena in Brooklyn on April 1st. ESPN will broadcast the contest after the girls’ McDonald’s All-American Game concludes. South Carolina women’s basketball commitment Ayla McDowell also earned a McDonald’s All-American Game nomination.

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Ellis, who plays his prep ball with Overtime Elite (he was league MVP as a junior), is a 4-star prospect. On3’s industry rankings peg Ellis as the No. 69 overall prospect and the No. 3 player in North Carolina. On3 views the dynamic combo guard as a shooting guard. Other recruiting outlets rate him as a point guard.

As a prospect, Ellis is an incredibly skilled offensive player. He isn’t overly big or athletic, but he is the most dynamic scorer at Overtime Elite, a league filled with other players on their way to big-time college basketball. He has an extremely tight handle and good footwork, and his jumper is comfortable. His range lacks a limit, and he can finish with either hand near the basket, even over much larger defenders. Ellis also fights hard on the defensive end and is stronger than most other “smaller” guards.

With the ability to operate on-ball or off of it, Ellis could be an early contributor in Columbia. He is a good enough distributor to play some point guard if needed, but his catch-and-shoot ability and off-ball cutting are improving enough that he could become a good college shooting guard next to a distributing point guard.

Ellis also is a big-time personality and competitor. Fans and teammates will love him, but opponents won’t feel the same way. Those traits have translated to solid leadership ability, something that will come in handy as a potential lead guard at the college level.

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One of four South Carolina basketball signees in the class of 2025, Ellis will enroll next summer alongside Overtime Elite teammate (and South Carolina native) Hayden Assemian, Kentucky product EJ Walker, and Washington DC sharpshooter Grant Polk. Class of 2024 signee Okku Federiko, who still has not enrolled at the University of South Carolina, could join the class, as well.

South Carolina is recruiting two of Ellis’ class of 2026 teammates. His younger brother, Isaac Ellis, is a left-handed guard who shares some similarities to his older brother while still playing his own game. Athletic wing Kohl Rosario earned a scholarship offer from the Gamecocks recently, too.

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