Eli Ellis

Basketball Player

Birthday

September 17, 2005

Age

20 years old

Zodiac

♍︎ Virgo

Birthplace

HickoryNorth Carolina

Height

183 cm · 6′0″

Weight

87 kg · 192 lbs

Eli Ellis is an American basketball player and TikTok star known for winning consecutive Overtime Elite MVP awards with the YNG Dreamerz. He later played college basketball for the South Carolina Gamecocks and built a large following with game clips, dance trends, and comedy sketches on TikTok.

Family and basketball upbringing

Eli Ellis is the son of basketball coach Jeremy Ellis and Jenny Ellis. He has three younger brothers, Isaac, Abraham, and Ari, with Isaac also playing basketball.

Jeremy Ellis coached Eli at Moravian Prep and with the YNG Dreamerz in Overtime Elite. Eli began playing basketball at a young age and has described making his family proud as his proudest accomplishment as an athlete.

Overtime Elite MVP and scoring records

Ellis played for the City Reapers and the YNG Dreamerz in Overtime Elite. He became the league's all-time leading scorer and recorded multiple games with more than 50 points. In the 2023-24 season, he averaged 33.4 points, 6.1 rebounds, 5.1 assists, and 1.8 steals per game, while recording five regular-season games with at least 40 points.

He won the OTE MVP award in 2023-24 and again in 2024-25, when he averaged 32.1 points, 6.7 assists, 5.7 rebounds, and 1.7 steals per game and led the YNG Dreamerz to the OTE Championship. Ellis became the second player in OTE history to win multiple MVP awards, after Ausar Thompson.

On December 8, 2024, Ellis scored a career-high 55 points against RWE OTE. He added nine rebounds and 11 assists in the YNG Dreamerz' 119-95 victory.

South Carolina Gamecocks

Ellis was a consensus four-star prospect who was ranked No. 69 nationally by 247Sports, the No. 9 point guard in his class, and the No. 3 player in North Carolina. He was selected for the 2025 Iverson Classic All-American Game.

As a freshman with South Carolina, Ellis played in 28 games and averaged 8.6 points, 2.8 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 0.8 steals per game. He scored in double figures 12 times and recorded a career-high 20 points against Southern Miss. His 87.9 percent free-throw shooting led South Carolina and ranked first among SEC freshmen with at least 60 attempts.

A College of Charleston roster lists Ellis for the 2026-27 season after South Carolina, with Moravian Prep identified as his high school.

TikTok and social media

Ellis's TikTok account, thereal_eliellis15, features clips of his basketball games and performances, along with dance trends and comedy sketches. His account has attracted 1.3 million fans.

His Instagram content includes game promotion, university offers, and travel posts. His basketball profile has also helped him build a substantial Instagram following.

Quick facts

Eli Ellis won consecutive Overtime Elite MVP awards in 2023-24 and 2024-25.
Eli Ellis became the second player in Overtime Elite history to win multiple MVP awards, after Ausar Thompson.
Eli Ellis became Overtime Elite's all-time leading scorer and recorded multiple games with more than 50 points.
Eli Ellis led the YNG Dreamerz to the Overtime Elite Championship in 2024-25.
Eli Ellis scored a career-high 55 points against RWE OTE on December 8, 2024, while also recording nine rebounds and 11 assists.
Eli Ellis was selected for the 2025 Iverson Classic All-American Game.
Eli Ellis was ranked No. 69 nationally by 247Sports, No. 9 among point guards in his class, and No. 3 among players in North Carolina.
Eli Ellis played 28 games as a South Carolina freshman and scored in double figures 12 times.
Eli Ellis shot 87.9 percent from the free-throw line at South Carolina, the top mark among SEC freshmen with at least 60 attempts.
Eli Ellis scored a South Carolina career-high 20 points against Southern Miss.
Eli Ellis's TikTok account has attracted 1.3 million fans.
Eli Ellis has three younger brothers, Isaac, Abraham, and Ari, and Isaac also plays basketball.