MANILA – Filipino-American guard Boogie Ellis is among the prospects in the upcoming NBA Rookie Draft, scheduled from June 27 (first round) and 28 (second round).
The 6-foot guard earned an invite in the NBA Draft Combine held in Chicago over the weekend following his impressive showing in the NBA’s G League Elite Camp recently.
“I thank God and I appreciate it,” Ellis said in an interview with ABS-CBN News. “My family is the reason why I’m here today and I thank them as well.”
The 23-year-old Ellis had decent numbers on his final year with the University of Southern California Trojans, averaging 16.5 points on 42.7 percent field goal shooting.
Prior to these three seasons with the Trojans, Ellis spend his first two collegiate years with the Memphis Tigers, where he won an NIT championship and the ACC’s “Sixth Man of the Year” in 2021.
“I felt like I did well coming off the bench (last season),” Ellis said. “Leading the team talking, being a great teammate having good energy. Overall, we just came out with a win.”
Ellis, who traced his Filipino roots from Davao, was initially listed during the 2022 NBA Rookie Draft, but backed out to pursue his collegiate career.
Currently, there are two active Filipino-American players in the NBA, namely Jordan Clarkson of Utah Jazz and Jalen Green of Houston Rockets./PN
