Keon Ellis

Keon Tyrese Ellis (born January 8, 2000) is an American professional basketball player for the Sacramento Kings of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Florida SouthWestern Buccaneers and the Alabama Crimson Tide.

High school career
Ellis played basketball for Eustis High School in his hometown of Eustis, Florida before transferring to Leesburg High School in Leesburg, Florida for his junior season. He led Leesburg to back-to-back Class 6A state titles. As a senior, Ellis averaged 12.7 points, 11 rebounds, and two assists per game, helping his team achieve a 29–1 record. He signed to play college basketball for Gardner–Webb but instead opted to join Florida SouthWestern, a junior college program, for academic reasons.

College career
As a freshman at Florida SouthWestern, Ellis averaged 8.3 points and three rebounds per game, earning Second Team All-Suncoast Conference honors. On January 4, 2020, he scored a school-record 41 points in a 92–77 win against St. Petersburg College. In his sophomore season, Ellis averaged 18.1 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 2.1 steals per game, setting program single-season records in points and steals. He was recognized as a Second Team NJCAA Division I All-American and Suncoast Player of the Year. For his junior season, Ellis moved to Alabama, choosing the Crimson Tide over Iowa State, Kansas State and Western Kentucky.

He averaged 5.5 points and four rebounds per game as a junior. Ellis was named to the SEC All-Defensive Team as a senior. He averaged 12.1 points, 6.1 rebounds and two steals per game.

Professional career
After going undrafted in the 2022 NBA draft, Ellis signed a two-way contract with the Sacramento Kings on July 2, 2022.

Ellis played in seven total games during the 2022 NBA Summer League, averaging 11.4 points on 44.1% shooting from the field and an impressive 46.9% from three, 3.6 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 2.0 steals per game.

On July 2, 2023, Ellis signed another two-way contract with Sacramento and on February 9, 2024, he signed a multi-year contract with the Kings. On April 9, Ellis scored a career–high 26 points in a loss against the Oklahoma City Thunder. On April 17, Ellis helped the Kings to a play-in tournament victory over the Golden State Warriors, with 15 points, five assists, four rebounds, three steals, and three blocks.

Personal life
Ellis' older brother, Antwon Clayton, played college basketball for Jacksonville before turning professional.