While the Los Angeles Lakers drafted Bronny James in the second round and gave him a guaranteed contract, undrafted guard Boogie Ellis had to work his way up to achieve his dream of playing in the NBA. Turns out, the Sacramento Kings were interested in the USC Trojans star after his stellar Summer League performance.
Ellis was a highly recruited four-star prospect coming out of high school. He initially committed to Duke University but later requested a release from his letter of intent, citing a desire to be the starting point guard. He ultimately chose to play for the Memphis Tigers, where he had a solid freshman season, earning AAC Freshman of the Week honors. He struggled with his shooting in his sophomore year and came off the bench more often.
After his sophomore season, Ellis entered the transfer portal and announced he would be joining the USC Trojans with James in the. He had a strong junior year, being named Honorable Mention All-Pac-12, and followed that up with a breakout senior season, earning First-Team All-Pac-12 honors. Despite going undrafted in the 2024 NBA Draft, Ellis signed with the Sacramento Kings shortly after.
Throughout his college career, Ellis has shown the ability to score, distribute, and defend at a high level. His journey from a highly touted recruit to an undrafted free agent signing illustrates the challenges and opportunities in the path to the NBA.
Boogie Ellis, Bronny James’ USC Teammate, Signed By Sacramento Kings to Fulfill NBA Dream
Although Ellis wasn’t selected in the 2024 Draft, his Summer League performance still drew some attention from the Kings. According to a tweet posted by NBA insider Shams Charania on X, the former USC Trojans star received a contract from Sacramento for the upcoming season.
“Undrafted USC guard Boogie Ellis has agreed on a deal with the Sacramento Kings, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. Ellis – who shot 54 percent from 3-point range in Summer League – will compete for an open roster spot in Kings training camp,” Charania tweeted.
Over the course of five Summer League games, Ellis averaged 11.2 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 1.4 steals in 17.3 minutes per contest. He also shot 51 percent from the field and 54.5 percent from beyond the arc during that period.
It remains to be seen whether Ellis’ contract is only for a limited extent or if it will translate to a spot in the main roster. In any case, fans should keep an eye out for him in the coming months.
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