Eli Ellis and Overtime Elite

[18IsTheMan]

I have no idea what this Overtime Elite thing is compared to regular high school basketball.

Is he playing top competition in that league? Looking at the top players to come out of Overtime Elite and I've never heard of any. They have put a number of players in the NBA, but I don't recognize any of the names as anyone who did particularly great in college.

Discussion online about Overtime Elite is mixed and many consider not to be a serious league. Some say it's a very high level of competition but, again, I can't find any of their former players who lit it up in college. Could be wrong.

I've watched clips from some of their games and they don't feel like regular basketball games...can't put my finger on it.

 

[Mr. Belvedere]

He's a dog and he's also 20 years old which is crazy. Much needed addition to our program. Maybe there's an outside shot CMB stays, but doubtful.

 

[Mr. Belvedere]

It's a paid high school league meaning the players are paid to play and continue their high school education. Thus his reclassification 2 times now. He simply maxed out his opportunities financially with the league. Top competition for sure.

 

[18IsTheMan]

It's a paid high school league meaning the players are paid to play and continue their high school education. Thus his reclassification 2 times now. He simply maxed out his opportunities financially with the league. Top competition for sure.

If top competition, I wonder why they haven't produced any big-time college players?

 

[18IsTheMan]

I guess everyone is as in the dark as I am.

 

[Piscis]

I guess everyone is as in the dark as I am.

If a player can be a pro in HS and still play in college, why can't an NBA or European NBA player with eligibility left come back to college?

 

[adcoop]

I have no idea what this Overtime Elite thing is compared to regular high school basketball.

Is he playing top competition in that league? Looking at the top players to come out of Overtime Elite and I've never heard of any. They have put a number of players in the NBA, but I don't recognize any of the names as anyone who did particularly great in college.

Discussion online about Overtime Elite is mixed and many consider not to be a serious league. Some say it's a very high level of competition but, again, I can't find any of their former players who lit it up in college. Could be wrong.

I've watched clips from some of their games and they don't feel like regular basketball games...can't put my finger on it.

The primary two guys that give Overtime Elite notoriety never played in college. The Thompson Twins, Amen and Ausar, just played an extra year in Overtime Elite and went straight to the NBA. Amen starts for the Houston Rockets and appears to be on the trajectory of being a star player. His brother is in the rotation for the Detroit Pistons. Not quite as skilled as his brother, but has the talent to be an NBA starter for the next 10-12 years.

If top competition, I wonder why they haven't produced any big-time college players?

It was created to be an alternative to college being a pipeline to the pros.

 

[adcoop]

If a player can be a pro in HS and still play in college, why can't an NBA or European NBA player with eligibility left come back to college?

Always wondered the same thing about Overtime Elite. How is it even legal for them to play in college? I guess with NIL things have changed in that regard. However, the guys I recognize that have entered that program have usually gone straight to the pros.

 

[Gradstudent]

Looks to me like they do produce college players, here is a 2023 article, I remember Dillingham from Kentucky played in OTE before going to NBA

Overtime Elite players sign with Kansas, Kentucky, Purdue, N.C. State & more​

​

Overtime Elite’s Atlanta-based players took part in a National Signing Day ceremony Wednesday at OTE Arena.

The NCAA Early Signing Period began Wednesday and runs through Nov. 15.

To kick off the ceremony in Atlanta, Jahki Howard committed to Auburn. In talking about what he brings to the team, Howard said, “ I will bring a lot of energy in a big guard role with a lot of defense and ability to make open shots.” He continued that “the playing style and the energy of Bruce Pearl” were the things that stood out the most to him about the program.

Following his commitment, each of the signing players had their moment with family and friends to celebrate the day.

Somto Cyrilfrom Overtime Elite’s newest team, RWE, signed with Kentucky after making a commitment to them last season.

The Cold Hearts had the most commits amongst the Atlanta-based OTE teams with four players signing their NLIs. Peyton Marshall and John Bol will go to the SEC as they signed with Missouri and Ole Miss, respectively. Trey Parker signed to play for the Wolfpack of NC State while Kanon Catchings, the No. 22 player in the class of 2024, signed with Purdue.

For the City Reapers, Jaeden Mustaf will stay local, signing with the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets.

Across the rest of the league, Ian Jackson of Jelly Fam and Our Saviour Lutheran and No. 10 in the class of 2024, is slated to sign his NLI on Saturday in New York. He’s currently committed to University of North Carolina. Rakease Passmore of the Blue Checks signed with Kansas University, and for Rolling Loud, Naasir Cunningham committed to Alabama.

 

[18IsTheMan]

Looks to me like they do produce college players, here is a 2023 article, I remember Dillingham from Kentucky played in OTE before going to NBA

Overtime Elite players sign with Kansas, Kentucky, Purdue, N.C. State & more​

​

Overtime Elite’s Atlanta-based players took part in a National Signing Day ceremony Wednesday at OTE Arena.

The NCAA Early Signing Period began Wednesday and runs through Nov. 15.

To kick off the ceremony in Atlanta, Jahki Howard committed to Auburn. In talking about what he brings to the team, Howard said, “ I will bring a lot of energy in a big guard role with a lot of defense and ability to make open shots.” He continued that “the playing style and the energy of Bruce Pearl” were the things that stood out the most to him about the program.

Following his commitment, each of the signing players had their moment with family and friends to celebrate the day.

Somto Cyrilfrom Overtime Elite’s newest team, RWE, signed with Kentucky after making a commitment to them last season.

The Cold Hearts had the most commits amongst the Atlanta-based OTE teams with four players signing their NLIs. Peyton Marshall and John Bol will go to the SEC as they signed with Missouri and Ole Miss, respectively. Trey Parker signed to play for the Wolfpack of NC State while Kanon Catchings, the No. 22 player in the class of 2024, signed with Purdue.

For the City Reapers, Jaeden Mustaf will stay local, signing with the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets.

Across the rest of the league, Ian Jackson of Jelly Fam and Our Saviour Lutheran and No. 10 in the class of 2024, is slated to sign his NLI on Saturday in New York. He’s currently committed to University of North Carolina. Rakease Passmore of the Blue Checks signed with Kansas University, and for Rolling Loud, Naasir Cunningham committed to Alabama.

Yeah, I saw they had produced some, but none that have done particularly great in college. At least not what you'd expect for a league that supposed to be all good players.

 

[Gradstudent]

Yeah, I saw they had produced some, but none that have done particularly great in college. At least not what you'd expect for a league that supposed to be all good players.

Well Dillingham was good for his one year at Kentucky , but outside of SEC basketball, I don't follow college basketball much and honestly outside of SC in the SEC, I dont follow that much, but if even I know a few players that did good, there is probably more.

 

[18IsTheMan]

Well, I see the league has only been around since 2021, so that might partially explain why they've only put out a couple good players.

 

[Mr. Belvedere]

If top competition, I wonder why they haven't produced any big-time college players?

The league is a only few years old... pretty competitive landscape out there.

 

[Mr. Belvedere]

Always wondered the same thing about Overtime Elite. How is it even legal for them to play in college? I guess with NIL things have changed in that regard. However, the guys I recognize that have entered that program have usually gone straight to the pros.

Because they get high school credit and graduate with diploma.

 

[18IsTheMan]

The league is an only few years old... pretty competitive landscape out there.

It’s true it’s a young league, but for supposedly being super concentrated talent, you might expect more production of good players to the college ranks.

 

[Tngamecock]

It’s true it’s a young league, but for supposedly being super concentrated talent, you might expect more production of good players to the college

stop fretting…..he can either play or he can’t. I’ve watched numerous videos, and the competition looks good. It’s much better competition than what Jordan Burch played against at private school.

 

[18IsTheMan]

stop fretting…..he can either play or he can’t. I’ve watched numerous videos, and the competition looks good. It’s much better competition than what Jordan Burch played against at private school.

Oh, I'm not even talking about Eli...just put his name in the title since that's the connection point. Was just trying to figure out what this league is. Just seems if they had the cream of the crop, there would be more high-level college talent that came from there.

 

[Gradstudent]

Oh, I'm not even talking about Eli...just put his name in the title since that's the connection point. Was just trying to figure out what this league is. Just seems if they had the cream of the crop, there would be more high-level college talent that came from there.

The more i research the more top prospects you see that are in this league, or players that came, but there does not seem to be a consensus list of the players each year who go NBA or get a scholarship, but that does not mean it is void of talent, just maybe they don't market to well.

But if you look at the ESPN Top 100 for the class of 2025

https://www.espn.com/college-sports/basketball/recruiting/playerrankings

You got # 10, # 17, # 50, # 75, # 83, # 89, # 98

That's 6 players in the top 100

https://www.espn.com/college-sports/basketball/recruiting/playerrankings/_/class/2026

24, 30, and 35, so that's another 3

https://www.espn.com/college-sports/basketball/recruiting/playerrankings/_/class/2027

# 7

 

[18IsTheMan]

The more i research the more top prospects you see that are in this league, or players that came, but there does not seem to be a consensus list of the players each year who go NBA or get a scholarship, but that does not mean it is void of talent, just maybe they don't market to well.

But if you look at the ESPN Top 100 for the class of 2025

https://www.espn.com/college-sports/basketball/recruiting/playerrankings

You got # 10, # 17, # 50, # 75, # 83, # 89, # 98

That's 6 players in the top 100

https://www.espn.com/college-sports/basketball/recruiting/playerrankings/_/class/2026

24, 30, and 35, so that's another 3

https://www.espn.com/college-sports/basketball/recruiting/playerrankings/_/class/2027

# 7

I was only looking at players who went onto be impact players in college. Haven't had many of those that I can see.

 

[Gradstudent]

I was only looking at players who went onto be impact players in college. Haven't had many of those that I can see.

Seems like some OTE Alums have done well at the College level, but those on the ESPN Lists are the players, Eli has been playing against, and you asked about the competition he is playing against, in your OP, so there is some info on that available by looking at top 100 lists and identifying the OTE players, that is the point I was trying to make.

 

[Piscis]

Because they get high school credit and graduate with diploma.

I think the question is; how do they play in college when they have been a professional athlete? NIL is supposedly not a situation where the player is paid to play the sport but is paid for use of their NIL. If "pro" players can play basketball in college, why can't a kid who signed with an MLB team out of HS and doesn't make it to the big leagues in a few years sign to play for a college team? What about football players who declare early for the draft, get drafted and get released after a couple seasons and still have a year or two of college eligibility? Why can't they go back and sign with a college?