SEC Basketball 2022 NBA Draft Preview: Alabama SG Keon Ellis

If you were to look for one SEC Basketball name that has continued to rise up draft boards since the conclusion of the 2021-22 season, look no further than Alabama’s Keon Ellis.

A player who was largely projected to go undrafted, Ellis has seen his draft stock take a rise in recent weeks, with some mock drafts listing the Alabama guard as even a potential early second round pick. Could that happen, or will the talented guard be a late second round, or potentially undrafted, draft steal?

SEC Basketball 2022 NBA Draft Preview: Alabama SG Keon Ellis

A two-year player with the Crimson Tide, Ellis originally came to Alabama after two seasons at Florida SouthWestern State College. Rated as a four-star prospect, Ellis was considered as one of the top JUCO guards in the 2020 class, and would become a key role player for the 2020-21 SEC champion Crimson Tide, averaging 5.5 PPG and 4 RPG primarily in a reserve role.

Emerging as a full-time starter for the Crimson Tide this past season, Ellis would enjoy a breakout 2021-22 campaign at Alabama, one in which he averaged 12.1 PPG, 6.1 RPG, and 1.9 SPG. Earning SEC All-Defense honors, Ellis saw his NBA Draft stock continue to rise as the season went on, and is now positioned to be drafted due to his exciting overall skill-set.

Strengths

Arguably Ellis’ biggest strength on the court is his defense as the 6-foot-6 guard is a versatile defender who can guard multiple positions on the floor. Having averaged 1.5 SPG across the last two seasons, Ellis creates problems defensively for opposing guards, and has the potential to be an impact player defensively on the perimeter, as well as a strong rebounder for the position.

Offensively, Ellis is a player who can create shots for himself both at-and-away from the basket, and is a threat from deep holding a career 37.1% mark from behind the three-point line. Ellis is also a strong free throw shooter, one who ranked among SEC Basketball’s best in 2021-22 at 88.1% from the charity stripe.

How He Projects in NBA

A player with exciting tools on both ends of the floor, Ellis has all the makings of an instant-impact role player at the next level as a rookie. Likely coming as a “3-and-D” type player, the potential is there for Ellis to be one of the most-notable second round steals of the 2022 NBA Draft.

Potential Draft Fits

While there is a chance that Ellis could go undrafted, it feels likely that the Alabama guard is taken at some point within the second round. As for when that could happen, the 40-45 range could be the earliest, while after pick No. 50 you could argue is the most-likely.

Draft Prediction

Ellis will be selected in the middle of the second round, somewhere between picks 40-50.