Former BU recruit- Jamarcus Ellis commits to Indiana

[Da Coach]

Scout.com and Indiana message board posters have reported that Jamarcus Ellis has committed to Indiana. He will be in his 2nd year at Chipola Junior college this fall.

http://story.scout.com/a.z?s=75&p=2&c=556906

This article might be premium; here are a couple clips--
Despite initial indications that the 6-5, 200-pound wing guard from Chipola (Fla.) J.C. might not sign this fall and would instead wait until the spring, the IU staff stayed after the former Chicago Westinghouse standout. They were rewarded for that work Monday morning when Ellis verbally committed to IU.
Ellis is coming off a big debut season at Chipola, averaging 13.5 points, 9.9 rebounds, 5.2 assists, 2.5 blocks and 2.5 steals for Heiar???‚¬?„?s program. He filled a plethora of needs for Heiar???‚¬?„?s team, and his JUCO coach believes he can do the same in Bloomington.

Ellis was rated as one of the top 2 players in Illinois' class of 2004, along with Shaun Livingston. Major colleges backed off recruiting him because of grade issues, and rumors of involvement in illegal activities off the court. Bradley offered a scholarship, but he eventually signed with Texas A&M, but did not qualify. After considering several options, he enrolled at Chipola and sat out the 2004-2005 season. He played well last season, and could be one of the top juco players in the country this year.

Rivals.com has not yet reported the committment. Here is his profile--

http://jucojunction.rivals.com/viewprospect.asp?Sport=2&pr_key=12867

[bu fan 9]

I wish he was coming to Bradley.He will be a good player for IU.

[flipper]

grade problems and illegal activities off the court. thanks but no thanks on this guy.glad he is not part of bu basketball.

[chitownBUB]

I have said this before, and I know nobody is asking for it, but here's my take on Jamarcus Ellis.

OVERRATED.

He is a true 6'4" off guard/SF. And he is very athletic, so he will do OK in the Big Ten, but I think he's a DeAaron Williams waiting to happen, and at the Big Ten level of play, he will be a sub.
They list him at 6'5", but almost everywhere he's listed for the last 2 years, it's been 6'4".
Even if you do a google search for Jamarcus Ellis and 6' 5", you come up with only 3 or 4 sites that call him 6'5" and the rest say 6'4" with the term 6'5" being used elsewhere on the page.

http://www.chicagohoops.com/articles1/deandrethomas.html

And he has no outside shot, his forte at juco is rebounding and put-backs. No way in heck he will be able to battle for rebounds in the Big Ten.
He will have to come in at IU and change his game if he wants to play.
Does a Big Ten team need a 6'4" rebounder-specialist?

But the real issue is the one that doesn't show in the stats.
Can he handle it?
Remember, this is a kid who almost fell off the map a couple years ago. He committed, then decommitted a couple times, he failed to get good grades, then he ends up at a juco that has a track record of great players but troubled kids.
I offer as an example this kid who just transferred to Chipola after getting kicked out at Oklahoma State following multiple arrests and run-ins with the cops
Keith Brumbaugh

http://www.news-journalonline.com/NewsJournalOnline/Sports/Headlines/sptBKM01080106.htm

[tornado]

I am also puzzled by the discrepancy in statistics that seems to show up when kids commit.

The article in the Rivals coverage says Jamarcus averaged
13.5ppg/9.5rpg last season at Chipola.

http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/college/cs-060814colbbkellis,1,4253212.story?coll=cs-college-headlines

But the official stats from the NJCAA website (which I would tend to believe as they are supplied to NJCAA by Chipola) say he averaged 11.9ppg/9.38rpg.

This reminds me of the kid who just announced he will walk on at ISU.
Julius Moor was claimed to have averages of 9ppg/4apg as a point guard.
But the official stats on the National Junior College Athletic Assoc. website says otherwise at 6.8ppg/3.4apg.

[Bravesguy]

but I think he's a DeAaron Williams waiting to happen

So you think he should have gone upper-mid-major?

[it's boogie time]

Wasn't the uniqueness of Jamarcus Ellis his passing ability for a 6'4" guy? He made the rest of his team better and could lead the fast break as the 3 man.