Keon Ellis Agrees to Deal with Sacramento Kings

The former Alabama guard went undrafted in Thursday night's NBA Draft.

Tony Tsoukalas | Jun 24, 2022

Keon Ellis did not hear his name called during this year's NBA Draft, but he did end up with a new team Thursday night. According to a report from The Athletic's Shams Charania, the former Alabama guard has signed a two-way deal with the Sacramento Kings.

Alabama's Keon Ellis has agreed to a two-way deal with the Sacramento Kings, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 24, 2022

Ellis, a former JUCO transfer, stepped into a starting role during his second year at Alabama last season. The 6-foot-6, 175-pound wing was one of the SEC's best two-way players, leading the team in rebounds (6.1 per game) and steals (1.9 per game) and 3-point percentage (36.6). He was Alabama’s third-leading scorer, averaging 12.1 points over 30.9 minutes per game.

Ellis joined Alabama from SouthWestern State College prior to the 2020-21 season. He served as a key role player in the Crimson Tide’s SEC-title-winning season last year, shooting 50.4% percent from the floor and 38.9% from beyond the arc while averaging 5.5 points over 17.5 minutes per game.

Earlier in the night, Alabama guard J.D. Davison was selected in the second round bt the Boston Celtics with the No. 53. overall pick. Davison's selection marks the third straight year the Crimson Tide has had a player taken in the NBA Draft.

Davison is the fifth NBA Draft pick head coach Nate Oats has produced in his three seasons at Alabama, joining Joshua Primo (No. 12 overall, 2021), Herbert Jones (No. 35 overall, 2021) and Kira Lewis Jr. (No. 13 overall, 2020). Before Oats’s arrival, Alabama had produced just one draft pick — Collin Sexton (No. 6 overall, 2018) — since 2008.

Gallery: Keon Ellis

Alabama Crimson Tide guard Keon Ellis (14) drives to the basket during the first half against the Kentucky Wildcats at Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center. — Jordan Prather-USA TODAY Sports

Alabama Crimson Tide guard Keon Ellis (14) shoots as Mississippi Rebels forward Jaemyn Brakefield (4) defends during the first half at The Sandy and John Black Pavilion at Ole Miss. — Photo | Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports

Keon Ellis at Florida — Alabama Athletics

Keon Ellis vs Memphis — Alabama Athletics

Published Jun 24, 2022

TONY TSOUKALAS

Tony Tsoukalas has been covering Alabama since 2016, working for the Anniston Star and Rivals before joining BamaCentral. A native of The Woodlands, Texas, Tsoukalas attended the University of Alabama from 2008-12. He served as the sports editor of the student paper, The Crimson White, during his senior year. Before covering Alabama, Tsoukalas covered high school sports at The Meridian (Miss.) Star and the Victoria (Texas) Advocate. He also served as a copy editor for The Tuscaloosa News.