Eli Ellis Focuses on Basketball After Social Media Cutback

Columbia, SC, August 5, 2025

News Summary

Freshman guard Eli Ellis is reducing his social media activity ahead of his first season with the South Carolina men’s basketball team. He aims to concentrate on improving his skills and showcasing the university while participating in summer practices. Despite his strong online presence with over 2 million followers, Ellis prioritizes his basketball career, preparing to face the new challenges of the SEC. With a strong background from the Overtime Elite program, he looks to make a significant impact on the Gamecocks this season.

Columbia, SC – Freshman guard Eli Ellis is scaling back his social media activity as he prepares for his first season with the South Carolina men’s basketball team. On Wednesday, Ellis announced that followers will see less content across his Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube platforms. He indicated that his main focus will be on basketball as he aims to create excitement on campus while showcasing the University of South Carolina.

Ellis, who participated in an introductory media session along with nine other newcomers after summer workouts, is committed to diligently working on his game. As the South Carolina Gamecocks wrap up their summer practices and gear up for the upcoming academic semester next month, Ellis is concentrating on improving his on-court skills, particularly his defense, which he admits was not emphasized in his prior basketball experience.

Notably, Ellis has an impressive background in basketball. He honed his skills over two years at the Overtime Elite program in Atlanta, where he garnered two league MVP titles. During his time there, he led his team with remarkable averages of 32.1 points, 6.7 assists, and 5.7 rebounds per game, showcasing his scoring and playmaking abilities. His most recent season statistics include shooting 34.1% from three-point range.

Ellis is not only known for his athletic talent but also for his substantial social media presence. He boasts over 2 million followers across various platforms—1.4 million on TikTok, 683,000 on Instagram, and over 51,000 on YouTube. This presence has led to lucrative Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals, including with brands like Under Armour and Fashion Nova. He has also participated in high-profile events like the influencer all-star game hosted by prominent YouTuber MrBeast and collaborated with Instagram during the NBA Finals, where he critiqued players’ outfits as they entered the arena.

Despite his social media success, Ellis is determined to prioritize his basketball career. Although he will still engage with fans online and a camera crew will document his journey in Columbia, he underscores that basketball is his primary focus. Recently, he shared positive content, such as a “Day in the Life at USC” video, which received encouraging responses from his audience.

Ellis stands at 6 feet tall and weighs 192 pounds, currently ranked as the No. 99 overall prospect and the No. 14 point guard in the national Class of 2025 by 247Sports. South Carolina’s head coach, Lamont Paris, has praised Ellis for his confidence and competitiveness, traits that are essential for succeeding in the Southeastern Conference (SEC), where Ellis acknowledges he will face significant pressure. Senior teammate Meechie Johnson describes Ellis as a fierce competitor who brings a strong level of confidence typical of high-performance athletes.

This upcoming season marks a significant transition for South Carolina basketball, with nearly an entirely new roster following a challenging previous season where they recorded a 2-16 SEC record. Ellis is viewed as one of the most promising recruits in the Coach Paris era, with hopes of revitalizing the team’s performance as they seek to turn their fortunes around.

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Additional Resources

• The State
• Wikipedia: South Carolina Gamecocks Men’s Basketball
• On3
• Google Search: Eli Ellis South Carolina
• Post and Courier
• Google Scholar: Eli Ellis basketball
• 247 Sports
• Encyclopedia Britannica: Basketball

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