The Valparaiso University men’s basketball program and head coach Roger Powell Jr. have announced the signing of Devon Ellis (Schaumburg, Ill. / Conant [Maryland Eastern Shore]), who will join the program as a transfer for the 2024-25 season.

Ellis played 25 games and made 23 starts for Maryland Eastern Shore of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference in his first year of NCAA Division-I basketball in 2023-24. The 6-foot-6 guard shot 49.8 percent from the floor and 70 percent from the free-throw line while averaging 11.6 points and 4.4 rebounds per game.

“There were a number of factors that went into my decision to attend Valpo,” Ellis said. “For starters, the people and the coaching staff. Coach Powell was a big factor, and when I visited, I talked with all of the coaches and it felt like home from the second I stepped on campus. That means a lot to me. On the basketball side, we had a similar mindset regarding my goals and the team goals. I feel like Valpo is the right place for me to accomplish those goals.”

Ellis scored in double figures 16 times this season including three games where he scored 20+ points. He set a season high with 22 on Jan. 22 vs. Queens and matched that on Feb. 17 at Morgan State. He finished the season with 11 straight games of nine points or more, nine of which were double-figure scoring outputs. Ellis also reached double-figures in the rebounding department on two occasions including a season-high 12 on Jan. 8 at Coppin State.

“I’m a very versatile player both offensively and defensively,” Ellis said. “I can score; I bring a lot of energy and physicality to the game. I can play above the rim and can play any spot that Coach needs me to play at an elite level.”

Prior to his season at Maryland Eastern Shore, Ellis spent the 2022-23 campaign as a freshman at State Fair Community College in Sedalia, Miss. He enjoyed a breakout season, earning first team all-region, first team all-conference and academic all-conference honors. That came after spending the 2021-22 season at Link Year Prep in Branson, Mo., where 11 of the 14 players on his team went on to play Division-I. The 2021 Conant High School product saw his senior season shortened due to COVID-19.  

“Everybody’s journey is different, and mine is not the cookie-cutter path,” Ellis said. “I’m excited to be a Beacon and embrace Valparaiso. I live an hour away, so this is home for me.”  

Ellis still has the video of his first in-game dunk, which was a “poster” slam at age 14 at AAU nationals in Orlando. He figures to create more highlights during his time sporting the brown and gold.

“From the short time that I spent at Valpo on my visit, I can tell that this seems like a tight-knit group of guys,” Ellis said. “They were very focused during the workout; there was no lack of energy. I’m going to add to that. I plan on going to the tournament and winning games in the tournament while at Valpo. That’s the ultimate goal, and I feel like we have a great chance of accomplishing that.”

In the classroom, Ellis has studied business administration and plans to stay in the business realm. He also has an interest in marketing. In his free time, the 6-foot-6 Ellis enjoys the outdoors and is good at snowboarding – something many may not expect for someone of his stature.

“Devon is an unbelievable kid with great character,” Powell said. “He’s from the Chicagoland area. He’s another kid from Link Year Prep. He’s going to be a versatile inside-out player for us with good size and multiple years of eligibility. He was a double-digit scorer at the Division-I level, which is something we were looking for in recruiting. I’m extremely excited about his character, his faith and the impact he’s going to leave on the Beacon program.”