BIO: Perry Ellis was born in Wichita, Kansas (USA), Ellis began playing basketball in first grade, and measured 6’1″ in sixth grade.

He attended Wichita Heights High School who he led Wichita Heights to four state titles. He was named Kansas player of the year four times, and recorded a cumulative 2,231 points and 984 rebounds during his prep career. Academically, Ellis maintained a 4.0 GPA and was named valedictorian of his high school class.

He was selected as a McDonald’s All-American after his senior season in 2012.

NBL EXPERIENCE

Perry Ellis made his NBL debut with the Sydney Kings at 24 years of age. He scored 13 points in his first game.

After missing the playoffs the previous season, Sydney parted ways with Greg Whittington, Josh Powell, Steve Blake, Aleks Maric, Garrett Jackson and Craig Moller (to Melbourne). Brad Newley, Kevin Lisch, Jason Cadee and Tom Garlepp returned, while head coach Andrew Gaze added Todd Blanchfield (via Melbourne), Travis Leslie, Isaac Humphries (via Kentucky), Dane Pineau (via Saint Mary’s) and Amritpal Singh (via Pune). The Kings made Perry Ellis (via Greensboro) their first import signing on May 19 after he had spent four seasons at Kansas and his first professional season with the Greensboro Swarm in the NBA Development League.

Sydney became the first NBL team to travel to the United States to face an NBA team during the preseason, where Ellis (19 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 steals) led the Kings in a 108-84 loss to the Utah Jazz on October 2.

Sydney opened the regular season against Adelaide at Qudos Bank Arena on October 7, where Ellis (13 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block) started in his NBL debut. Newley (24 points and 4 assists) and Lisch (16 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists) led Sydney, while Ramone Moore (22 points and 2 steals) helped Adelaide win 105-96.

Ellis (14.8 points and 5.8 rebounds across 27 games) became one of Sydney’s most consistent scorers, leading the Kings with 400 total points while shooting 47.8 percent from the field and 44.7 percent from three-point range.

His best game came against Illawarra on October 15, when Ellis (33 points, 2 rebounds, and 2 assists) made 11 of 15 shots from the field, four of five three-pointers and seven of eight free throws as Sydney recorded its first win of the season, defeating the Hawks 103-87. Cadee (17 points and 3 assists) provided support, while Demitrius Conger (21 points and 5 rebounds) led Illawarra. The 33 points were the most scored by a Sydney import since Josh Childress had 34 against Illawarra in 2014 and helped the Kings score 100 points for the first time under Gaze. The win was soured when Lisch (7 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals) suffered a right calf injury in the third quarter which would keep him sidelined for most of the season.

Jeremy Kendle (6.8 points across 6 games, via Brisbane) was signed as Lisch’s injury replacement on October 18, but Sydney remained at the bottom of the ladder and fell to 2-6. Leslie (12.3 points, 5 rebounds, and 1.3 steals across 8 games, released) was then cut as the Kings decided they had a greater need for a point guard and a dominant big man. Reigning NBL MVP Jerome Randle (19.8 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 5.4 assists across 19 games, via Bahcesehir) returned to the NBL after leaving Turkey and Jeremy Tyler (13.3 points and 5.8 rebounds across 11 games, via China) was added to strengthen Sydney’s rebounding and interior play.

Against Adelaide on November 18, Ellis (26 points, 8 rebounds, and 2 assists) made 11 of 14 shots from the field in his second-highest scoring game of the season. Randle (18 points, 5 assists, and 3 steals) and Humphries (17 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block) provided support, while Shannon Shorter (19 points and 6 assists) led Adelaide to a 108-93 win.

Ellis (4 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 assists) injured his shoulder early against Cairns on November 30, leaving after the opening two minutes before returning in the second quarter and trying to play through the injury. Randle (16 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists) and Cadee (16 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists) led Sydney to an 81-72 win, while Cameron Gliddon (20 points and 3 steals) led Cairns. Gaze said, “He tried to push through to his credit but he wasn’t himself.”

The shoulder injury ruled Ellis out of Sydney’s 80-71 loss to Cairns two nights later, the only game he missed during the season.

The additions of Randle and Tyler changed Sydney’s offence, with both requiring touches and Ellis no longer carrying the same offensive load he had during the opening weeks. Tyler’s stint also became another issue within the team, with concerns raised around missed training sessions and his ability to control his emotions during games, while Randle later discussed the difficulties he faced with Tyler during the season. Tyler (released) was cut on January 9 with eight games remaining, with Sydney deciding the remainder of the season would be better used developing its young frontcourt. Managing director Jeff Van Groningen described Tyler as “an undoubted talent” but said the Kings wanted to look more closely at Humphries (6.9 points and 3.7 rebounds across 26 games) and Pineau (2.9 points across 24 games).

Lisch (11.1 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 1.5 steals across 11 games) returned on January 13 after missing 17 games with two calf injuries, giving Sydney a backcourt featuring the previous two NBL MVPs in Lisch and Randle. After losing 16 of their first 21 games, the Kings began to turn the season around and won six of their final seven.

Randle became the first player since Andrew Gaze in 1989 to lead the NBL in both scoring and assists and earned All-NBL Second Team honours, while Humphries was named NBL Rookie of the Year. Ellis finished 12th in NBL MVP voting with 58 votes. Newley (11.8 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 3.1 assists across 27 games), Cadee (11.1 points and 3.3 assists across 28 games) and Blanchfield (9.1 points and 4 rebounds across 25 games) were Sydney’s other major contributors.

Following Sydney’s fifth win in six games, Ellis spoke ahead of the final game about the Kings’ improved form, his time in Sydney, his NBA Summer League aspirations and former Kansas teammate Joel Embiid.

Sydney closed the season against New Zealand at Qudos Bank Arena on February 18, where Ellis (3 points and 4 rebounds) started in his 27th appearance. Cadee (30 points and 3 assists) made six three-pointers and Blanchfield (19 points and 6 rebounds) provided support, while Jordan Ngatai (17 points) led New Zealand. Sydney overcame a 48-42 half-time deficit and outscored the Breakers 33-18 in the fourth quarter to win 101-86, its sixth victory from the final seven games, leaving the Kings seventh with an 11-17 record.

Perry Ellis played one season in the NBL. He averaged 14.8 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 1.5 assists in 27 NBL games.