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Getting to know Keon Ellis, Sacramento’s newest two-way player

Keon Ellis isn't flashy, but he's got intriguing 3&D potential.
By | 9 Comments | Jun 29, 2022

Mar 17, 2022; San Diego, CA, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide guard Keon Ellis (14) shoots the ball during practice before the first round of the 2022 NCAA Tournament at Viejas Arena. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports

After trading away picks 37 and 49 in the 2022 NBA Draft, the Sacramento Kings signed Alabama’s Keon Ellis to a two-way deal in unrestricted free agency. Many viewed Ellis as a late first or early second-round prospect throughout the season prior to him measuring in at 6’3.5″ without shoes at the NBA Combine. This contradicted the 6’6″ that Alabama had listed him at all season long and contributed to him going undrafted.

Standing at 6’4.75″ in shoes with a 6’8.5″ wingspan, Keon Ellis will still have an opportunity to carve out a role in the NBA thanks to his impactful defensive anticipation and awareness, ability to knock down shots from beyond the perimeter, and attention to detail.

Ellis, who turned 22 in January, spent the first two seasons of his college career playing at Florida SouthWestern State College. After his sophomore season, Ellis was named a Junior College Second-Team All-American before transferring to Alabama where he would finish his college career.

His head coach at FSW, Eric Murphy, spoke with The Kings Herald regarding his experiences with Ellis as both a player and a person.

“He’s a system guy, so I don’t want fans to be like ‘Ah, man, he only scored four or six points in a Summer League game’. He’s a system guy,” Coach Murphy said. “He’s always been a winner and he’s not all about shooting the basketball. He does the little things that help you win and I think winning plays is what, when people really watch him, they’ll really value out of his game.”

The Kings desperately need more complementary pieces who make their impact on the margins. De’Aaron Fox himself highlighted length and shooting as the needed additions for Sacramento this offseason, and Keon Ellis checks both of those boxes. He was an undeniably impressive shooter at Alabama where he knocked down 36.6 percent of his 5.5 three-point attempts in his senior season.

Shooting is Ellis’s primary contribution on the offensive end, with 65.8 percent of his shot attempts in his senior season coming from beyond the arc. Per Synergy Sports, Ellis finished in the 90th percentile in Spot Up situations and 91st percentile in half-court jump shots. Defenses will regret leaving Ellis open from beyond the arc.

The highlight of his senior season came against Kentucky, where Ellis caught fire from beyond the arc and converted 7/11 from three en route to a 28-point performance.

“In his senior year he shot the ball really well and I think a lot in the Kentucky game is what he can do a lot of if he’s more assertive. I’m not saying it’s the system he was in or anything, Keon is just more of a system guy and he understands how to play basketball. He’s not gonna force shots, he’s a very efficient player and when he’s asked to step up he usually steps up. And when a guy has got it going he’s not gonna force shots or try to outshine them, he’s going to keep feeding them,” Coach Ellis said. “That’s the one thing I think people misevaluate on his game because sometimes he won’t shoot as much. He’s always going to make the right play and, like I said, he’s just a very efficient player.”

As his former coach pointed out, Ellis is an ideal complementary piece on the offensive end who garners respect from opposing defenses with his efficient three-point shooting and comfort playing within himself. When needed, Ellis also showed the ability to attack closeouts or make well-timed cuts and finish at the basket (60.8 percent, per Synergy Sports).

That being said, don’t expect Ellis to initiate an offense. His handle is subpar and his vision wasn’t particularly impressive, but there’s potential for him to be an important connective piece in the right situations, especially if his defense translates to the next level.

Ellis utilized his aforementioned 6’8.5″ wingspan to average an absurd 1.9 steals per game in his final season at Alabama. It was all too easy for Sacramento’s matchup on any given night to easily go through their actions and Ellis could help muck up the game.

Him being able to keep the ball in front, I think, is the biggest thing he did at Alabama really well,” Coach Murphy said of Ellis’s defense. “His length is a lot longer than what people think. He’s got good anticipation skills. I think he does a good job of doing that, staying in front, and making people hit contested shots over top of him. He’s got good athletic ability and his wingspan and long arms makes it difficult for shorter guards to score over top of him.”

Sacramento’s need for perimeter containment was obvious last season, and that’s an area where Keon Ellis projects to make a positive impact early on. His defensive IQ, along with the length and anticipation that Coach Murphy mentioned, was on full display during his time at Alabama.

The appeal of Keon Ellis comes in the details. He hands are active and disruptive on every single defensive possession both on and off the ball. He appeared to play a role in orchestrating Alabama’s defense by often pointing and communicating during rotations with his teammates, but he’s someone who primarily lets his game do the talking.

“He’s a quiet guy but he’s got some toughness in him. He’s not gonna tell you he’s the toughest guy out there but you’ll see it in his play,” Coach Murphy said of Ellis’s personality. “A guy who’s not the biggest that goes and gets six rebounds in the SEC, goes up and challenges guards, or at the rim, tough plays, gets 50/50 balls, doing those types of things. Going through screens and stuff, switching onto bigger guys, you’ll see the toughness in his game without him actually telling people. So, I think, that’s the kind of person that he is. He’s got a quiet toughness to him.”

Don’t expect Keon Ellis to initiate an offense or make any flashy highlight plays, but he could find himself playing a role alongside Fox and Domantas Sabonis sooner rather than later if his disruptive hands, impressive anticipation, high IQ and stellar three-point shooting translate to the next level.

As Coach Eric Murphy pointed out, Keon Ellis is a system player and his success is highly dependent on him being placed in the right situation. His size may limit him to guarding opposing ones and twos at the next level, but the potential is there. Ellis is expected to suit up for the Sacramento Kings Summer League team this weekend.

 

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June 29, 2022 8:09 am

Kings fans after thee games of 7, 3, 1, 1, and 1:

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andy_sims
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June 29, 2022 8:13 am

My assumption is that DiVincenzo will be in Sacramento once camp opens, and I’ve read some talk about him perhaps being the best option to start next to Fox. I think that his shooting is going to level out now that he’s had some time to test out the post-injury ankle.

But let’s say that Ellis comes to camp and is just lights out with his shooting. With his length and defense, could he be the right guy to slot next to Fox as a starter? If your second-unit back court is DD and Davion (or Ellis, if he can’t start), I sure like the defensive intensity you’re going to be throwing at bench guys.

RAP87
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June 29, 2022 8:17 am
Reply to  andy_sims

I think just like with the other two way players before Ellis, he would be starting his career in the G-league and eventually play spot minutes if being called up to the big club.

If Ellis turns it up in the G-league or even just plays solid basketball, I believe he has a chance to convert that 2-way contract into a standard one especially if one of Davis, Holiday or Divincenzo is traded.

andy_sims
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June 29, 2022 8:24 am
Reply to  RAP87

Man, I absolutely left Davis out of the conversation, and I like what he brings, too. This is a good problem to have.

My hope is that Brown won’t feel the same need as his predecessor to start Holiday, or play him much. The roster is still thin at wing, though, and Holiday can eat some minutes if needed. Maybe he’ll remember how to make shots before the season starts.

RAP87
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June 29, 2022 8:33 am
Reply to  andy_sims

Agreed. We’ll see how free agency goes and we will have a clearer picture what the roster looks like. I believe out of the guards, Holiday is the most likely to not be a part of the roster.

If Ellis is going to play and have success with the Kings, I believe he is better guarding both guard positions and maybe a little bit in the wing position depending on matchups. Dude is light at just 174 lbs.

RikSmits
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June 29, 2022 8:46 am

I’d love to see the Kings really invest in and using their farm team intelligently, but I see little signs of that, yet.

So while other teams do find gems via their G-League and two-ways, I would be surprised if we’ll unearth one or two.

Seems like a nice kid and intelligent. I hope he’s the one.

Gojira2021
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June 29, 2022 1:03 pm

John Salmons part deux….

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June 29, 2022 3:40 pm

If the Kings can continue add players that are more likely to make less mistakes it makes the game easier for everyone. What is labelled as “the efficient player”. It is where the second team player tends to thrive and if this guy can provide enough O than even better.

Just like defense is more than being a tough on ball defender, offense is more than being a sharp shooter – which Keon Ellis appears to be (high 3FG% and he is 88% FT) – passing, ball handling, etc. Let’s hope Keon is a diamond that needs some polish.

murraytant
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June 29, 2022 3:45 pm

Ellis signed a 2 way deal. He gets some minutes in Sac. I hope he is better than DeQuan Jeffies, Kyle Guy, Justin James etc.
But….

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