Octavius Ellis Returns To The Cincinnati Bearcats Basketball Team

While the NFL Draft was raging, perhaps the most head turning news of the evening for Cincinnati Bearcats fans was that Octavius Ellis is returning to the basketball team. This per Bearcat Journal’s Chad Brendel.

Ellis was kicked off the team following the 2011-12 season after punching a bouncer at a local bar. He also did himself no favors getting involved in the infamous Cincinnati-Xavier brawl a few months earlier. After both incidents, Mick Cronin figured the leash had been extended enough and he let him go.

The 6’8″ power forward landed at Trinity Valley Community College in Texas. Ellis sparkled on the basketball court, averaging 13.1 points and 7.7 boards per game while shooting 67% from the field and 60% from the free throw line last season. Most importantly he kept himself out of trouble and proved to the world that he had matured enough to be given a second chance.

And a second chance is exactly what Mick Cronin gave to him.

Clearly the UC head coach has a soft spot for the kid. After all, Ellis was one of his recruits. It seems that the young man has shown Cronin everything he needs to be permitted back on the team. Hopefully he continues on the straight and narrow and provides the Bearcats much needed depth in the low post next season.