Hot Prospect: Wayne Ellington

Posted by admin on June 04, 2009

North Carolina● Junior ● Guard ● 6-4 ● 200 ● 10/29/87

Highlights: Most Outstanding Player of the 2009 Final Four… Joins a list of Tar Heel Final Four MVPs that includes James Worthy (1982), Donald Williams (1993) and Sean May (2005)… Set Final Four record for highest three-point percentage… Made 8 of 10 threes in the two games… in Detroit (80 percent), breaking the previous Final Four mark of 71.4 set by UNC’s Donald Williams in 1993 (Williams made 10 of 14)… Scored in double figures 95 times in 115 games… Moved past Eric Montross and Kenny Smith in the Gonzaga game for 18th place in UNC scoring… Scored 1,694 points, an average of 14.7 per game… Made himself eligible for the 2008 NBA Draft but did not sign with an agent and chose to return to school on June 16, retaining his collegiate eligibility.

2008-09 (Junior): Co-Most Improved Player on the Tar Heels with Ed Davis… Third on the team in scoring at 15.8 points per game… Scored in double figures in 25 of the last 26 games, including a 23-game streak snapped when he scored nine points in the regional final against Oklahoma… That 23-game streak was the longest stretch of his career… Led the team with 85 three-pointers, tied for the fifth-most in UNC single-season history… Connected on two or more three-pointers in 25 of 38 games… Averaged 17.2 points in ACC regular-season play, second-most on the team… Had five or more assists seven times with a season-high and career-high tying six against UNC Asheville and Virginia (home)… Grabbed
career-high 10 rebounds at Miami… Was 42 for 83 (.506) from the floor in the last 10 games… Played 30-plus minutes in 21 of the last 25 games… Connected on 25 three-pointers in the last eight games… Third in the ACC in three-point percentage (.417), sixth in three-pointers made per game, eighth in field goal percentage (third among guards) and 13th in scoring.

2007-08 (Sophomore): Scored 647 points, the 16th highest single-season total in UNC history… Second-team All-ACC selection (eighth-leading vote-getter)… USBWA all-district selection… Two-time ACC Player of the Week selection (after Ohio State/Kentucky games and Kent State/Clemson games)… Combined with Tyler Hansbrough to score 1,529 points, the highest scoring duo in Carolina single-season history (previous mark was 1,459 by Antawn Jamison and Shammond Williams in 1997-98)… Led UNC in three-pointers with 78 and was second on the Tar Heels and seventh in the ACC in scoring at 16.6 points per game… Scored 20 or more points nine times, including 36 at Clemson, 28 vs. Clemson in double-OT home win and 24 vs. Clemson in ACC championship game… Averaged 29.3 points in three games against the Tigers… Made 36 of 84 (.429) from beyond the arc in the last 16 contests… Made three or more three-pointers 14 times… Sixth in the ACC in field goal percentage (.467)… Scored in double figures 34 times, second-most on the team… Second on the team in field goal attempts with 507 (13.0 per game)… Averaged 17.2 points on the road.

2006-07 (Freshman): Started 37 of 38 games (all but Senior Day)… Third on the team in scoring (11.7 ppg) and led the team with 66 three-point field goals… Hit at least one three-pointer in 33 of 38 games… Made two or more three-pointers 22 times, including all three ACC Tournament games and six of last 11 games… Scored in double figures 27 times with highs of 19 against Gardner-Webb and Ohio State… Had 48 assists and only 14 turnovers in regular-season ACC games… Had more assists than turnovers in 11 of the last 17 games and 19 overall… Converted 83.6 percent from the free throw line… Had a streak of 20 straight made free throws snapped in the Michigan State game… Made 34 of his last 38 free throws (.895).

Is he Jazz material?

9 Comments

Jared on June 04, 2009 said:

I think that we need more three point shooting, especially if Korver opts out.

Andrew on June 05, 2009 said:

we need a dominant defensive center at least 7′0 tall , no more shooting guards !!!!

tman11 on June 06, 2009 said:

i don’ think korver will opt out but, even if he does why do we need more 3 piont shooting any ways? the jazz were 26 in 3 point shooting last season bottom line we don’t like to shoot outside shoots so no piont in having anther 3 baller on the team. and why do we need anther center please do explain we have Kosta who jerry loves he is a great shot blocker and has a decent outside shot to spread the court, he gets rebounds to. Every thinks he is a bust because he didnt play much this season, every one know jerry hates playing rookies I think you will see him have a very productive year this year. You also have big Fezz it’s in his name BIG 7′1 300 pounds. if he comes in, in shpae he will get playing time. We don’t need anther big man. I don’t think Wayne is the best pick but, it’s not the worst the jazz can do. Maybe they get him and teach him how to play piont. He’s an exposive gaurd and if he can handle the ball then he can back up Deron and you can also use him at the two, kind of like what we did with D-fish the year he was here. like i said i don’t think it’s the best move but it wouldn’t be a bad move by any means either.

Dallan on June 07, 2009 said:

Ya I am sick of people sayin we need a center we have two of them that are over 7 feet we dont need to draft another. And we dont need Ellington. I feel if we are going to go in that direction again we might as well just resign Almond cause we know he can play.

tman11 on June 07, 2009 said:

i know right and not to mention the two 7 footers we drafted last year that might come up this year. so we got 4 guy over 7 foot okur who’s 6′11 and milsap wow big guy city. lets get a point guard for once.

Andrew on June 08, 2009 said:

ya ya we have two big men recently drafted but the cold hard facts is there just not the right stuff i mean c’mon fesenko has the size but hes sloppy and unproductive ya rookies need time to develop but how long are you willing to wait? cj miles was 4 years ! time he should have spent in the NCAA and koufus i like him hes the better of the two. i think hes got potenital but again how long ? okur just isn’t going to cut it on the defensive end , a guard for once ? his name is DERON WILLIAMS . dont forget the playoffs vs lakers we were dominated by the fact they had three rotating 7 footers with talent on both ends of the the floor

tman11 on June 08, 2009 said:

Kosta will come on this year and be productive he did great when he was in last year. So you have him comeing off the bench and milsap and, okur in the starting line. Kezz is getting better also sloppy ness can be be fixed. Look what brevin knight did last year you want that baking up Dwill next year come on you need a more productive piont guard it’s piont less to get anther big man. anther big guy wouldn’t even play this year any way. You got 3 big mean you bring in along with Fez, Tomic and that dragagic guy. Also 3 guy that will be in the rotation with Kosta milsap and okur and you want anther big guy also that’s crazy

Andrew on June 09, 2009 said:

millsap is not a big guy hes only 6′8 thats barley pushing it for him to be playing the 4 spot i do agree brevin knight is worthless and needs a replacement but okur is a great offensive player but again is not my favorite on the defensive end and thats where we need the help

tman11 on June 09, 2009 said:

okurs great he could pass the ball more but, hey i can’t change that and i guess jerry can’t either wich surprises me. but i think u will see Kosta take some time away from milsap just because of how short he is and Kosta also spreads the court more with that midrange jumper he has. Milsap is great don’t get me wrong but he isn’t a super star caliber player, like we need at power forward. it’s key in a jerry sloan system. As far as brevin goes price better take his job next season if they are both still here.

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