{{Short description|American basketball player (born 1996)}} {{Infobox basketball biography | name = Malik Ellison | image = Malik Ellison.jpg | image_size = | caption = Ellison in 2017 | position = Shooting guard | height_ft = 6 | height_in = 6 | weight_lb = 215 | league = | team = | number = 8 | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1996|8|17}} | birth_place = Washington, D.C., U.S. | high_school = Life Center Academy<br>(Burlington, New Jersey) | college = * St. John's (2015–2017) * Pittsburgh (2018–2019) * Hartford (2019–2020) | draft_year = 2020 | career_start = 2021 | years1 = 2021–2023 | team1 = College Park Skyhawks | years2 = 2023-present | team2 = Kauhajoen Karhu | highlights = * First-team All-America East (2020) }} '''Malik Ellison''' (born August 17, 1996) is an American professional basketball player for Kauhajoen Karhu of the Korisliiga. He played college basketball for the St. John's Red Storm, the Pittsburgh Panthers, and the Hartford Hawks.
==Early life== Raised in Voorhees Township, New Jersey, Ellison was nicknamed “Missile,” and attended Life Center Academy in Burlington.<ref name="catchingup"/> He missed the beginning of his senior season with a broken tibia, not returning to the court until December 2014.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Johnson |first1=Raphielle |title=2015 shooting guard Malik Ellison commits to St. John’s |url=https://collegebasketball.nbcsports.com/2015/05/01/2015-shooting-guard-malik-ellison-commits-to-st-johns/ |access-date=October 6, 2021 |work=NBC Sports |date=May 1, 2015}}</ref> In January 2015, Ellison scored 28 points and tallied in a 60–54 win against Orangeville Prep at the Spalding Hoophall Classic.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Halley |first1=Jim |title=Son of Pervis Ellison not nervous about making a name for himself |url=https://usatodayhss.com/2015/mervis-ellison-not-nervous-about-making-a-name-for-himself |access-date=October 6, 2021 |work=USA Today |date=January 18, 2015}}</ref> As a senior, he averaged 20 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists per game. Ellison committed to playing college basketball for St. John's, choosing the Red Storm over offers from Maryland, Seton Hall, Temple, Xavier and South Carolina.<ref name="catchingup">{{cite news |title=Catching Up With.....Malik Ellison |url=https://savannahherald.net/catching-up-withmalik-ellison-p9972-93.htm |access-date=October 6, 2021 |work=Savannah Herald |date=May 4, 2016}}</ref>
==College career== Ellison started nine games as a freshman and averaged 7.3 points, 2.5 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Payne |first1=Terrence |title=St. John’s guard nails full-court shot |url=https://collegebasketball.nbcsports.com/2016/09/18/st-johns-red-storm-malik-ellison-full-court-one-handed-shot/ |access-date=October 6, 2021 |work=NBC Sports |date=September 18, 2016}}</ref> As a sophomore, Ellison averaged 7.4 points and 2.5 assists per game. He transferred to Pittsburgh after the season.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Goodman |first1=Jeff |title=St. John's guard Malik Ellison transferring to Pittsburgh |url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/19303980/st-john-guard-malik-ellison-transferring-pittsburgh |access-date=October 6, 2021 |work=ESPN |date=May 3, 2017}}</ref> Ellison made 16 starts as a junior and averaged 5.8 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Stockey |first1=Andrew |title=Pitt's Malik Ellison to Transfer |url=https://www.wtae.com/article/pitts-malik-ellison-to-transfer/27033858 |access-date=October 6, 2021 |work=WTAE |date=April 3, 2019}}</ref> He provided energetic defense on the perimeter but struggled with his shooting, hitting 44.5 percent of his attempts from the floor, and his production declined during Atlantic Coast Conference play. Following the season, he transferred to Hartford as a graduate transfer.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Meyer |first1=Craig |title=Pitt junior and team captain Malik Ellison to graduate, transfer from the university |url=https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/Pitt/2019/04/03/pitt-panthers-basketball-malik-ellison-jeff-capel-kevin-stallings-st-johns/stories/201904030173 |access-date=October 6, 2021 |work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |date=April 3, 2019}}</ref> Ellison missed the start of his senior season due to a sprained ankle.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Anthony |first1=Mike |title=Mike Anthony: Malik Ellison, son of ‘Never Nervous Pervis,’ possibly the ‘bear’ Hartford basketball needs |url=https://www.courant.com/sports/college/hc-sp-malik-ellison-hartford-basketball-column-20191105-zrqygrtrjndwzdqng6kqhfhfn4-story.html |access-date=October 6, 2021 |work=Hartford Courant |date=November 5, 2019}}</ref> On January 25, 2020, he scored a career-high 31 points and had 12 rebounds in a 62–48 win over Albany.<ref>{{cite news |title=Ellison scores 31 to lift Hartford over Albany (NY) 62-48 |url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=401170875 |access-date=October 6, 2021 |work=ESPN |agency=Associated Press |date=January 25, 2020}}</ref> As a senior, Ellison averaged 18.7 points and 9.7 rebounds per game, and scored in double figures in all but three games. He was named to the First Team All-America East as well as receiving NABC All-District 1 honors.<ref>{{cite web |title=Senior Salute: Malik Ellison |url=https://www.hartfordhawks.com/news/2020/4/14/general-senior-salute-malik-ellison.aspx?path=general |website=Hartford Hawks |access-date=October 6, 2021 |date=April 14, 2020}}</ref>
==Professional career== ===College Park Skyhawks (2021–2023)=== After going undrafted in the 2020 NBA draft, Ellison signed his first professional contract with BC Kolín of the Czech National Basketball League on September 29, 2021.<ref>{{cite web|title=Ellison Signs with Kolin, Beginning His Pro Career|url=https://www.eurobasket.com/Czech-Republic/news/706745/Ellison-Signs-with-Kolin,-Beginning-His-Pro-Career|website=EuroBasket.com|date=September 29, 2021|access-date=October 6, 2021}}</ref> However, he didn't play for them because he joined the College Park Skyhawks of the NBA G League the next month.<ref>{{cite web|title=11/05/21: Maine Celtics @ College Park Skyhawks|url=https://gleague.nba.com/games/20211105mnecps/|website=NBA.com|date=November 5, 2021|access-date=November 5, 2021}}</ref> In 14 games, he averaged 10.5 points and 4.9 rebounds in 29.7 minutes per game (.505 FG%, .423 3FG%, .640 FT%).<ref name="Atl10d">{{cite web|title=Hawks Sign Cat Barber and Malik Ellison to 10-day Contracts|url=https://www.nba.com/hawks/hawks-sign-cat-barber-and-malik-ellison-10-day-contracts|website=NBA.com|date=December 25, 2021|access-date=December 25, 2021}}</ref>
On December 25, 2021, Ellison signed a 10-day contract with the Atlanta Hawks<ref name="Atl10d" /> but did not appear in a game for the team during this stint. On January 4, 2022, Ellison was reacquired by the Skyhawks.<ref>{{cite web|title=2021-22 NBA G League transactions|url=https://gleague.nba.com/transactions/|website=NBA.com|access-date=January 4, 2022}}</ref>
On September 16, 2022, Ellison signed with Atlanta,<ref>{{cite web|title=Atlanta Hawks Sign Guard Malik Ellison|url=https://www.nba.com/hawks/news/atlanta-hawks-sign-guard-malik-ellison|website=NBA.com|date=September 16, 2022|access-date=September 17, 2022}}</ref> but was waived on October 9.<ref>{{cite tweet|author=Atlanta Hawks|title=Roster Update: We have requested waivers on guards Armoni Brooks, Malik Ellison, Tyson Etienne, and forward Chris Silva.|number=1579151087117877250|user=ATLHawks|date=October 9, 2022|access-date=October 9, 2022}}</ref> On October 22, he re-signed with College Park.<ref>{{cite web|title=College Park Skyhawks Finalize Training Camp Schedule and Roster|url=https://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/college-park-skyhawks-finalize-training-camp-schedule-and-roster/n-5892386|website=OurSportsCentral.com|date=October 22, 2022|access-date=September 17, 2023}}</ref>
===Kauhajoen Karhu (2023)=== On August 28, 2023, Ellison signed with Kauhajoen Karhu of the Korisliiga.<ref>{{cite web|title=KARHUBASKET ALOITTI HARJOITUSPELIT RUOTSISSA|url=https://www.karhubasket.fi/2023/08/28/karhubasket-aloitti-harjoituspelit-ruotsissa/|website=KarhuBasket.fi|date=August 28, 2023|access-date=September 17, 2023|language=Finnish}}</ref>
On October 30, 2023, Ellison joined the Santa Cruz Warriors,<ref>{{cite web|title=Santa Cruz Warriors Announce 2023 Training Camp Roster|url=https://santacruz.gleague.nba.com/news/santa-cruz-warriors-announce-2023-training-camp-roster|website=NBA.com|date=October 30, 2023|access-date=November 8, 2023}}</ref> but was waived on November 18 without playing for them.<ref>{{cite web|title=2023-2024 Santa Cruz Warriors Transaction History|url=https://basketball.realgm.com/dleague/teams/Santa-Cruz-Warriors/35/Transaction_History/2024|website=RealGM.com|access-date=November 20, 2023}}</ref>
==Career statistics== {{NBA player statistics legend}}
===College=== {{NBA player statistics start}} |- | style="text-align:left;"| 2015–16 | style="text-align:left;"| St. John's | 24 || 9 || 21.3 || .369 || .318 || '''.653''' || 2.5 || '''2.6''' || .4 || .1 || 7.3 |- | style="text-align:left;"| 2016–17 | style="text-align:left;"| St. John's | '''33''' || '''26''' || 24.8 || .419 || '''.341''' || .595 || 3.3 || 2.5 || '''.9''' || .2 || 7.4 |- | style="text-align:left;"| 2017–18 | style="text-align:left;"| Pittsburgh | style="text-align:center;" colspan="11"| 15px|Redshirt Redshirt |- | style="text-align:left;"| 2018–19 | style="text-align:left;"| Pittsburgh | 31 || 16 || 21.0 || .445 || .188 || .541 || 3.8 || 1.2 || .6 || .3 || 5.8 |- | style="text-align:left;"| 2019–20 | style="text-align:left;"| Hartford | 23 || 23 || '''35.0''' || '''.514''' || .154 || .630 || '''9.7''' || 1.7 || .8 || '''1.1''' || '''18.7''' |- class="sortbottom" | style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Career | 111 || 74 || 25.1 || .455 || .304 || .612 || 4.6 || 2.0 || .7 || .4 || 9.3 {{S-end}}
==Personal life== Ellison is the son of Pervis Ellison, who was the top pick in the 1989 NBA draft. His mother Timi, ran track in college. Ellison's sister Aja played basketball at Maryland and helped the team reach the Final Four. Another sister, Seattle, attended Howard University on a track scholarship.<ref name="catchingup" />
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *[https://www.hartfordhawks.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=5459 Hartford Hawks bio] *[https://pittsburghpanthers.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/malik-ellison/9766 Pittsburgh Panthers bio] *[https://redstormsports.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/malik-ellison/382 St. John's Red Storm bio]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ellison, Malik}} Category:1996 births Category:Living people Category:American expatriate basketball people in Finland Category:American men's basketball players Category:Basketball players from Camden County, New Jersey Category:College Park Skyhawks players Category:Hartford Hawks men's basketball players Category:Kauhajoen Karhu players Category:Life Center Academy alumni Category:Pittsburgh Panthers men's basketball players Category:Shooting guards Category:Sportspeople from Voorhees Township, New Jersey Category:St. John's Red Storm men's basketball players Category:United States men's national basketball team players Category:21st-century American sportsmen