Quinn Ellis gets NCAA eligibility and St. Johns the playmaker it lacked in massive legal win
Rick Pitino smiled broadly and exhaled.A few minutes after walking out of a Queens courtroom Tuesday afternoon, the St.John’s coach received great news.
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The NCAA had ruled point guard Quinn Ellis eligible for the coming season.“We felt confident,” Pitino said.“It’s great.
It’s a relief for him and a relief for us.”Pitino was in court, alongside associate head coach Steve Masiello, to support Keyshawn Hall in his suit against the NCAA.Hall, an Auburn transfer, had his temporary restraining order upheld pending a decision on his preliminary injunction.
After that minor victory, Pitino and St.John’s scored a much bigger one.The 23-year-old Ellis, a native of Sheffield, England, comes from the acclaimed EuroLeague.
He was granted one year of eligibility.The southpaw lead guard was courted by, among others, Duke, BYU, Louisville, Houston and Kentucky.St.
John’s landed him April 14 but was waiting on the NCAA for an eligibility ruling.In May, the NCAA published updated eligibility guidance that added additional scrutiny for international players and reemphasized rules regarding compensation above “actual and necessary expenses” from professional teams overseas.Ellis gives the Johnnies an elite playmaker, something last year’s team lacked.
Ellis, returning guard Ian Jackson and Baylor transfer Tounde Yessoufou have the makings of a terrific trio on the perimeter.A European scout who works for NBA teams previously told The Post that Ellis could thrive in St.
John’s up-tempo system.He plays with pace, is unselfish and is difficult to stop in the open court.“I think at the college level he can be a top two guy at a high major, and he can be effective every night,” the scout said.
“Shooting is really his only weakness, but he [did better last year].He’s not shy at all and would be great und...