Report: Boogie Ellis to return to USC, use 5th year of eligibility

Ellis, USC's starting point guard and leading scorer last season, said in March that he would not be returning to school

Boogie Ellis will be back at USC as a fifth-year senior, per a report from CBS Sports' Jon Rothstein. Ellis, USC's starting point guard and leading scorer last season, said in March that he would not be returning to school. 

But a month later, he's changed his mind.

Ellis averaged 17.7 points per game and shot 38.6% from three-point range this past season. He was named a first team All-Pac-12 selection for his efforts. Ellis also claimed two Pac-12 Player of the Week awards. The Trojans reached the NCAA Tournament in both of the San Diego native's two years at USC. Prior to joining the Trojans program, Ellis played two seasons at Memphis. 

With Ellis returning, USC suddenly has a backlog at guard heading into next year. Ellis, Kobe Johnson, Tre White and Oziyah Sellers are all expected to be back, plus USC signed two guards in its 2023 recruiting class in five-star point guard Isaiah Collier and four-star combo guard Silas Demary. There's a chance USC adds one more guard from the high school ranks too. The Trojans are a finalist to land Bronny James, the son of LeBron James. His college decision is expected any day now. Ohio State and Oregon are the two other schools James is considering.

USC head coach Andy Enfield repeatedly referred to Ellis as "the most improved player in the Pac-12" last season. With the point guard's return, the Trojans will look to advance past the first round of the NCAA Tournament for the first time since making the Elite 8 in 2021 next season.