NMSU basketball adds sharp-shooting Chance Ellis for upcoming season
LAS CRUCES, N.M.–New Mexico State head men’s basketball coach Paul Weir added New Mexico Military Institute transfer Chance Ellis to the roster for the 2016-17 campaign.
Ellis joins the Aggies after spending his freshman season in Roswell, N.M., where he averaged 14.9 points while starting in 14-of-29 games for the Broncos. The 6-5 shooting guard shot 41.8-percent from the field and knocked down 110 shots from the perimeter for a .428 shooting clip. By seasons end, he averaged 3.79 triples per game, which was good for fifth most nationally.
“Chance was one of the best 3-point shooters in the country as far as made shots per game last season,” Weir said. “To add this element to our offense is absolutely critical for us going forward. Chance provides a legitimate 3-point shooting specialist that we haven’t had since Kevin Aronis. With three years of eligibility remaining, it’ll help balance out a somewhat lopsided set of classes in our roster composition. He is a terrific teammate who has completely bought-in to our standard of performance.”
Of the 29 games that he played in, Ellis was only held to single-digit scoring eight times. He reached the 20-point plateau six times – including a pair of 30-plus point performances.
The Queens, N.Y., product reached double-figures in his first five games and dropped 39 points in just his fifth game thanks to an 8-for-17 night beyond the arc against Just Hoops Prep as NMMI secure a 92-91 victory. He also netted 32 points two days earlier against Eastern Arizona on the road.
Chance attended St. Andrews High School in Rhode Island where he played under Michael Hart.
