Tickets
CINCINNATI -- University of Cincinnati junior forward Octavius Ellis (Memphis, Tenn./Trinity Valley College [Texas]) has been named to the Riley Wallace All-America Team and chosen as a finalist for the Riley Wallace Award given to the top transfer in Division I college basketball.
The recipient of the 2015 award will be announced at the CollegeInsider.com Awards Banquet on April 3 in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Ellis helped lead the Bearcats to their fifth consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance, averaging a team-high 9.9 points and 2.0 blocks while tying teammate Gary Clark (Clayton, N.C./ Clayton High School) for team-high honors in rebounds (7.2). Ellis was the only American Athletic Conference player to be listed among the league's top four leaders in field goal percentage (third at .557), blocks (2.0) and rebounding (fourth at 7.2).
A second team all-league selection by coaches in The American and an NABC second team All-District 25 honoree, Ellis led the Bearcats in rebounding in 18 games this season, grabbing 10 or more rebounds eight times. He pulled down at least six rebounds in 24 of UC's 34 games.
Ellis played well down the stretch, averaging a team-high 11.1 points on 59.7 percent (40 of 67) shooting from the field during February. He scored a career-high 20 points on 7-of-10 shooting from the field to go with eight rebounds against UCF (Feb. 25). He ended the season posting double figures in points in five of the last seven games and pulled down 10 or more rebounds in four the last six contests.
Ellis registered three double-doubles on the season with 14 points and a career-high 14 rebounds against East Carolina (Feb. 1), 14 points and a game-high 10 rebounds at Tulane (Feb. 28) and a team-high 19 points and a game-high 11 rebounds against Memphis (March 8).
During his coaching career at Hawaii, Wallace welcomed many transfers into the program, which helped him to become the winningest coach in Hawaii history. Wallace guided Hawaii to nine postseason appearances, including a school-record streak of four straight from 2001-04. The Warriors appeared in the NCAA Tournament three times under Wallace and have been invited to the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) on six occasions. Prior to his arrival, the program had just one NCAA appearance and two trips to the NIT.
2015 RILEY WALLACE ALL-AMERICA TEAM
DeVaughn Akoon-Purcell, 6-5, Jr., Illinois State
Dwayne Benjamin, 6-7, Jr., Oregon
Jaylen Bond, 6-8, Jr., Temple
Martin Breunig, 6-8, Jr., Montana
Aaron Bright, 5-11, Sr., Saint Mary's
Octavius Ellis, 6-10, Jr., Cincinnati
Bryn Forbes, 6-3, Jr., Michigan State
Trey Freeman, 6-2, Jr., Old Dominion
Juan'ya Green, 6-2, Jr., Hofstra
Danuel House 6-7, Jr., Texas A&M
Trevor Lacey, 6-3, Jr., NC State
Matt Lopez, 7-0, Sr., Rider
Sheldon McClellan, 6-5, Jr., Miami
Jameel McKay, 6-9, Jr., Iowa State
Stefan Moody, 5-10, Jr., Ole Miss
Mike Myers, 6-9 Jr., UMES
Deondre Parks, 6-1, Jr., South Dakota State
Gary Payton II, 6-3, Jr., Oregon State
Jordan Price, 6-5, So., La Salle
Rodney Pryor, 6-5, Jr., Robert Morris
Jeff Short, 6-4, Jr., Norfolk State
Evan Singletary, 6-1, Jr., Albany
Deville Smith, 6-1, Jr., UT Martin
TaShawn Thomas, 6-8, Sr., Oklahoma
Darien Walker, 6-3, Jr., Valparaiso
Kyle Wiltjer, 6-10, Jr., Gonzaga
NOTE: Due to a tie in the voting there are 26 players on the team.
MAKE YOUR DEPOSIT NOW FOR 2015-16 SEASON TICKETS
Don't miss any of the action at Fifth Third Arena next season as the Bearcats look to contend for the American Athletic Conference title and make their sixth consecutive appearance in the NCAA Tournament. Make your deposit now for 2015-16 Cincinnati basketball season tickets at GoBearcats.com/tickets.