LaPhonso Ellis

Lore & Background

Ellis led East St. Louis Lincoln High School to Illinois Class AA boys' championships in 1987 and 1988. He was named a Parade All-American and McDonald's High School All-American in 1988. In college at Notre Dame, he set a school record with 200 career blocked shots and led the team to the quarterfinals of the 1992 NIT Tournament, where they lost to Utah. He was the fifth overall pick in the 1992 NBA draft by the Denver Nuggets and was named to the 1992–93 All-Rookie first team.

In Their Own Story

On June 24, 1992, the NBA draft arrived in Portland for the first time ever, moving away from New York to Memorial Coliseum. The night featured a trio of future Hall of Famers at the top: Shaquille O'Neal, Alonzo Mourning, and Christian Laettner. While the source focuses on the collective success of this class, it specifically lists LaPhonso Ellis among those who achieved solid careers following that draft. This era also saw Harold Miner slip to number 12 with high expectations but a brief career, contrasting with the longevity found in players like Ellis.

Reader's Guide

Ellis played for the Denver Nuggets (1992–1998), Atlanta Hawks (1998–2000), Minnesota Timberwolves (2000–2001), and Miami Heat (2001–2003). His best season was 1996–97 with Denver, averaging 21.9 points per game. He retired after the 2003 season.

Did You Know?

• Ellis was voted one of the '100 Legends of the IHSA Boys Basketball Tournament' in 2007.
• He led Notre Dame in blocked shots for four straight years (1989–90 through 1992–93), but other players like Pat Garrity have also achieved this feat.
• Ellis worked as a broadcaster for ESPN from 2009 to 2023 and now works for the Big Ten Network and Fox/FS1.