Laphonso Ellis, Jr. enters his first season as assistant men's basketball coach in 2026-27.
Ellis is in his sixth year as a coach after a 10-year playing career overseas. After graduating from Greenville University (Ill.), he spent time in Germany, Italy, the Dominican Republic, Colombia, Malaysia, and China. Ellis then started his own AAU program, Zoski Elite, which he coached from 2020 to 2024. His first stop on the high school circuit was as varsity coach at Carnahan High School in Saint Louis, Missouri, before stops at Montgomery County (Mo.) and Premier Academy of Houston before entering the college ranks. Coach Ellis served as an assistant coach, associate head coach, and interim head coach at Dallas College-Eastfield; during his tenure, the Harvester Bees were 39-22, highlighted by a 21-8 record and a South Central District semifinal appearance in 2022-23.Â
Coach Ellis comes from a basketball family, as his father, LaPhonso Ellis, played 11 years in the NBA with the Denver Nuggets, Atlanta Hawks, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Miami Heat. He was named to the NBA All-Rookie Team for the 1992-93 season with the Nuggets.
