myles signs with Louisville

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SoCalHoops Recruiting News

Ellis Myles Signs LOI
With Louisville--(Apr. 13, 2000)

ellismyles.jpg (6570 bytes) Ellis Myles (6'-7" Sr. PF) has apparently not only given a verbal commitment to Louisville head coach Denny Crum, he's also reportedly signed a National Letter of Intent. How does it happen that a player who is being recruited by UConn, Iowa State and others signs with a program where he's never taken a visit? According to Dinos Trigonis, who coaches the Belmont Shore travel team on which Ellis has played for the last four years, Ellis was participating at an open gym workout at Compton City College with several other players; the Louisville coaches were in town to watch Compton City College player Ronnell Mingo (6'-7" So. PF) but instead of opting for Mingo, the coaches instead offered Myles. While there is speculation that Ellis still is not yet a qualifier, he told us this past weekend that indeed he has taken and received a high enough score on the SAT when combined with his GPA that he will be eligible to play as a freshman at Louisville (recall that Ellis was one of only a few Compton players who remained eligible two years ago while 6 other players on the Compton HS team--including Tito Maddox, Leroy Dawson and others--were all declared academically ineligible).

We checked over at the University of Louisville website and found that indeed, Ellis has signed an LOI and that it's been received by the coaching staff. Here's the Uuniversity of Louisville's official press release on the subject:

6-8 Forward Ellis Myles Signs with
U of L Basketball
April 13, 2000

LOUISVILLE, KY -- Ellis Myles, a 6-8, 240-pound forward from Centennial High School in Compton, Calif., has signed a national letter-of-intent to continue his basketball playing career at the University of Louisville.

Myles averaged 24 points, 14.2 rebounds and three blocked shots as a senior last season for Coach Rod Palmer as Centennial posted a 27-6 record, advancing to the semifinals of the California Division III state championship.

"Ellis is a real banger that loves contact," said University of Louisville Head Basketball Coach Denny Crum. "His aggressiveness and wide body make him really tough to handle inside. He has good hands and can do a lot of things well. It's no secret that we need inside help and he certainly fills a need in that area."

Myles was a first-team all-state and All-California Interscholastic Federation Southern Section selection. He posted high games of 34 points and 22 rebounds as a senior. He has received notable acclaim from national recruiting services, rated 37th by The Recruiting Beat, 45th by Full Court Magazine, 65th by Basketball Phenoms and 29th in the west by FastBreak Recruiting.

As a junior, Myles averaged 16.2 points, 10.1 rebounds and three blocked shots for Compton High School, where he played three seasons for Palmer. Compton posted a 24-7 record his junior year. Four of his teammates at Compton signed with Division I schools, including Jeff Trepagnier (Southern California), Tito Mattox (Fresno State), David Hamilton (Auburn) and Deandre Moore (Vanderbilt).

"Ellis is a great 6-8 inside player with excellent post moves," said Palmer, who lettered two seasons at UCLA (1985-87). "He uses his body really well and has a knack of getting his shot off against anyone inside. He has great hands, is a good passer, can handle the ball in the open court and can shoot the three."

Myles chose Louisville over Connecticut, Iowa State, Southern California, Alabama and Memphis. Myles is the third high school product to sign with the Cardinals this year. U of L had two prep stars sign in November including 6-7 Luke Whitehead of Oak Hill Academy in Mouth of Wilson, Va., and 6-7 Simeon Naydenov of the Bershire School in Miami, Fla.