Wayne Ellington, UNC Basketball’s junior starting shooting guard is a silky smooth scorer that will be instrumental to the Tar Heels’ 2009 NCAA Basketball Season. The wing player must continue to look for his shot and aggressively forge ways to affect the Game at times when his offense runs cold. Wayne Ellington is a valuable cog of a prolific Tar Heel roster that is anchored by NCAA Men’s Basketball Player of the Year candidate Tyler Hansbrough.
Wayne Ellington, Scorer
The Wynnewood, Pennsylvania native and high school teammate of Duke rival Gerald Henderson emerged as an immediate factor at Chapel Hill – starting every freshman game except for Senior Day for Carolina. The highly touted McDonald’s All-American averaged 12 points per contest during his first year and has steadily improved his game under Roy William’s system. Wayne Ellington has upped his production to 15 points per game and recently surpassed the 1,000- point mark to become the 53rd leading scorer in the fabled history of UNC Basketball.
The crafty off-guard is a threat to score from anywhere on the court with his 3-point range, smooth floaters, and effective mid-range jump shot. Last year’s January 6 2008 36-point outburst at Clemson shall serve as the perfect game film of this man’s elite talent. The streak shooter caught fire and fed off of the defense’s over commitment to Tyler Hansbrough inside and the frenetic pace established by UNC point guard Tywon Lawson. Wayne Ellington is capable of scoring in bunches and is the perfect fit for UNC’s high-octane offense.
Wayne Ellington Must Work on All-Around Game
Still, the gunner is privy to maddening stretches in which he loses his shot – but continues to force the issue. Ellington does not carry the propensity to disappear from games; rather, he features the alarming scorer’s mentality to shoot himself and Carolina out of these duels.
These weaknesses were exposed at College Park on February 21, 2009. Ellington shot a miserable 4-11 from the field, 1-5 from 3, with 4 rebounds, and one assist. The UNC backcourt was torched by unranked Maryland’s Greivis Vasquez’ 35 point, 11 rebounds, and 10 assist triple-double career game. The bitter 88-85 overtime loss left UNC at the doorstep of claiming the number one ranking in the AP NCAA Basketball poll.
According to Draft Express scouting, Ellington must learn to affect the overall game with heady rebounding, defense, and ball movement when his shot is not falling.
These are weaknesses of Wayne Ellington’s game that must be addressed before he may be considered to be a factor in the NBA Draft. Certainly, increased tenacity will arrive with physical maturation. Ellington is a decent, not explosive athlete and a slight 200 pounds at 6’4.
Wayne Ellington is an NBA Caliber Guard, Critical to UNC NCAA Basketball Championship
The junior must hit the weight room to build muscle, enhance ball-handling coordination, and improve his basketball IQ on the floor. Currently, Wayne Ellington is built for a complementary, rotation role at the NBA Level. Should he elect to forgo the NBA Draft and return to UNC Basketball – he must commit to aggressively controlling the game in more ways than scoring.
Essentially, Wayne Ellington and his fellow UNC wing Danny Green must combine to get down and dirty to replace the injured lunch pail glue guy Marcus Ginyard. The sharpshooter cannot afford to sulk and degenerate into the defensive liability that is the bane of Carolina Nation when he is unable to knock down shots.
Wayne Ellington is critical to UNC Basketball’s 2009 NCAA Championship Run.
Wayne Ellington, UNC Guard, Sources:
UNC Basketball,tarheelblue.cstv.com
Wayne Ellington’s Profile, ESPN.com
NCAA Men’s Basketball Rankings, ESPN.com
Jim O’Connell, Pittsburgh Back on Top of AP Poll, Associated Press
