Recruiting Report: Jake Ellis (2016)

<p><strong>Jake Ellis</strong> has been preparing for this role almost from the minute he stepped onto a basketball court at Castle View.</p><p>“I’ve been looking forward to my senior year ever since I was a freshman,” said Ellis, a sharp-shooting 6-foot-3 2016 guard. “This year I think I’ve got to take on a major role as far as scoring and having the ball and being able to make plays. So that’s just exciting.”</p> <p>Ellis, who averaged 7.3 points per game as a junior last season, is the leading returning scorer for a Sabercats team that graduated three double-digit scorers -- Jontrell Herman (17.0 ppg), Caedon Davis (11.3) and Jake Langfeldt (11.2).</p> <p>That leaves Ellis to shoulder more of a scoring load, a role for which Ellis’ Colorado Connect 17U coach Thomas Trotman believes the guard is more than ready to handle.</p> <p>“He’s a lights-out shooter from 3, and he has a nice pull-up and mid-range game,” Trotman said. “He makes smart decisions off pick-and-roll situations, a threat to score or find the screener. Strengths are coming off of pin-down screens for open looks. When defensive intensity matches the offensive end ... watch out!”</p> <p>Ellis played club basketball this past circuit for the first time in at least three years. He often trained hard on his own, but he knew he needed the competition the national grassroots trail provides in order to continue improving his game toward the next level.</p> <p>“My ball-handling got better, just because I had been out of club and the pressure you play against in club is a lot different than high school, obviously,” Ellis said. “So I feel like my ball-handling has gotten a lot better. This summer I worked out a ton, so my athleticism has gotten a lot better.”</p> <p>Ellis, who said he added 3-1/2 inches to his vertical leap this summer, amplified his exposure during a strong July with Connect. He is being recruited by a handful of Division-III programs, having made visits to the University of Chicago, North Park University in Chicago, Augustana (Ill.) and Northwestern (Minn.)</p> <p>There has also been D-II attention for Ellis, as well as “light interest” from the Naval Academy and the University of Denver, according to Trotman.</p> <p>“I’ll play somewhere, it just depends where,” Ellis said. “I’m definitely looking to keep my options open. I don’t want to close any doors just yet.”</p> <p>Ellis is eager to play at the next level, convinced drive has put him in position to be successful amid college competition.</p> <p>For now, he’s embracing the opportunity to guide a Castle View team that went 10-15 last year under first-year coach Patrick Simpson.</p> <p>“I think my role will different from last year to this year,” Ellis said. “A lot of it will be keeping the morale up. When games get tough, I’m going to have to take over and make sure we’re keeping our heads up. Last year we had other seniors who would do that. This year that’s going to be more my job, and I’m looking forward to it.”</p>