MemphisRoar caught up with high school freshman phenom, Perry Ellis. Perry is a freshman at Wichita Heights High School in Wichita, Kansas. Many consider him the best player in his class. ESPN provided the following evaluation of Perry:
Perry is a young combo forward that is full of potential. He has a basketball body, long and thin, but has solid strength for his age. He is skilled enough to play the 3. He has a decent jumpshot with range to 17 feet. He can also put the ball on the floor a little but his perimeter skills are definitely in the developmental stage. He rebounds well and can block a shot. Think Shane Battier/Wilson Chandler.
It is rare for a freshman in high school to get scholarship offers. Perry has already gotten two offers from Kansas and Memphis. Some have already declared that Ellis could quite possibly end up being the best prospect to come out of the state of Kansas…ever.
“I’ve been officiating in the City League for about 20 years,” said Perry’s middle school basketball coach Josh Schepis. “And I haven’t seen a player as talented as he is.”
In this interview MemphisRoar asked questions to Fonda Ellis, Perry’s mom, Joe Auer, Perry’s high school coach and Perry himself.
Questions for Fonda Ellis:
Q: Where did your kids get their basketball skills?
A: Well, the kids would say their father. We both played basketball, but my best sport was track. I was a high school all-american in track and field so I will claim the speed and quickness and my husband was a college all-american in basketball so he can have the rest I guess.
Q:Where did Will play basketball in High School and College?
A: Will played at A.C. Flora High School in Columbia S.C. He attended Voorhees College in Denmark S.C. and then Briar Cliff College in Sioux City Iowa.
Q:Where did you compete in track in High School?
A: I went to Western Christian H.S. in Hull Iowa.
Q:What was your event?
A: I ran the 4×100 relay the 4 x 200 relay and the sprint medly relay. (the 200 meters was my best) We won state two years in a row.
Q:Are things getting crazy as far as coaches, reporters, bloggers, etc. calling and contacting you?
A: Yes, but we are trying to keep all this away from Perry and limit his contacts. We have a very close knit inner circle and we all try to make sure we are all on the same page and doing what is best for Perry is our priority.
Q:When did you know that Perry was going to be a good basketball player?
A: I think it was when he was 4 years old when we really noticed that he could be special.
Q:Do you get to go to all of Perry’s games?
A: I haven’t missed a high school game yet. I did miss summer games because he did a lot of traveling last year.
Questions for Coach Joe Auer:
Q:How long have you been coaching?
A: [This is my] 14th season.
Q:Have you ever had a young player as good as Perry?
A: Perry is having the best freshman season in the history of our school. He is averaging a double double (19 points, 13 rebounds) through 14 games on at team that is 15-1.
Q:What is the thing that you are trying to teach Perry the most?
A: To work hard every day in every way if you want to be the best. Practice with a purpose every day. You have to set goals on a daily or weekly basis related to practice and game improvement. Work hard in games, the classroom, the weight room, the summer. If you have a goal of being the best you have to have the best preparation.
Q:What is the best thing about Perry?
A: Perry lets his actions speak for themselves. He has demonstrated a tremendous amount of maturity when it comes to handling success and failure. He has a lot of confidence but he also has a tremendous amount of respect for the game and he realizes that he is part of something that is much bigger than himself. Perry has the potential to achieve any goal he sets for himself in basketball.
Questions for Perry:
Q:Who wins in one-on-one, you or Savannah? (Savannah Ellis is a basketball player on the Memphis Women’s team)
A: We haven’t played in about 4 years. She used to beat me then, but I think I got her now. She is a great shot blocker.
Q:Do you have a go to move?
A: Yes but not sure what to call it. A spin move under the basket.
Q:Many recruiting services are listing you as the top recruit in your class. Do you feel a lot of pressure to step up your game in order to maintain that ranking?
A: No, not really I just know that I have to keep working hard to get better.
Q:Which parts of your game do you need to work on the most?
A: [To] work on my dribbling skills.
Q:Do you follow college basketball and the NBA?
A: Yes both.
Q:Who are you favorite players, college and pro?
A: Blake Griffin, Lebron James, liked [Michael] Beasley too.
Q:Is there a player that you like to compare yourself to?
A: Not really yet.
Q:We have heard you listed as 6′8″, 200 lbs. Is that accurate?
A: 6′8 and 210 lbs, weighed 183 in Sept but I have been working out in the weight room and have gained 27 lbs in 5 months.
Q:What do you do in your spare time?
A: X-box Live
Q:What’s your favorite food?
A: Shrimp- all you can eat shrimp scampi.
Q:What is one thing about yourself that sets you apart that many people may not know?
A: I like to rap and make up rap songs.
Ellis’ Heights team is currently 15-1 overall (12-0 in their league) and ranked number 1 in class 6A. Last night, Heights won a back and forth contest against Southeast High School, 63-60. Ellis had 24 points while going 16 of 20 from the free throw line.
Ellis is a kid that has great family structure and support around him. His recruitment will be heavily followed by fans, but rest assured it will be handled in the right way by those around him. Recruiting updates, school lists and decision will come sooner or later. For now, enjoy watching a very talented and young man grow into his own and pulling up his team to acheive great things.
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