All-Pac-12 Conference first-team point guard Boogie Ellis is returning to Southern California for his fifth season of eligibility, according to multiple reports.
Ellis, 22, had indicated late in his senior season that he would be leaving school, but reports from CBS Sports and the Los Angeles Times attribute sources saying Ellis has had a change of heart. He had not made an announcement as of Monday evening.
The 6-foot-3 guard led the Trojans in scoring (17.7 points per game) and 3-pointers (83 in 215 attempts for a 38.6 percent clip, all team highs). He started all 33 games he played, averaging 3.7 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.9 turnovers.
Ellis transferred to USC in 2021 after two seasons at Memphis, where he was named the American Athletic Conference Co-Sixth Man of the Year in 2021. In 125 games (108 starts) his career averages are 12.2 points, 3.1 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.6 turnovers.
His return would be a boost for the Trojans, who finished last season 22-11 (14-6 Pac-12). As a 10th seed, they lost to seventh-seeded Michigan State 72-62 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
The Trojans are adding top recruit Isaiah Collier, a McDonald’s All-American and five-star point guard from Wheeler (Ga.) High School ranked No. 1 in the Class of 2023 by the 247Sports composite.
USC ended the season with the exit of another all-conference first-team selection in fifth-year guard Drew Peterson. Transfer portal departures include guards Reese Dixon-Waters and Malik Thomas, and 7-foot freshman Iaroslav Niagu.
–Field Level Media
