Rick Pitino smiled broadly and exhaled.
asserted
Pitino → smile → ?
A few minutes after walking out of a Queens courtroom Tuesday afternoon, the St. John’s coach received great news.
asserted
coach → walk → news
NCAA had ruled point guard Quinn Ellis eligible for the coming season.
asserted
Ellis → rule → season
“We felt confident,” Pitino said.
asserted
Pitino → feel → ?
“It’s great.
asserted
It → ’ → ?
It’s a relief for him and a relief for us.”
asserted
It → ’ → us
Pitino was in court, alongside associate head coach Steve Masiello, to support Keyshawn Hall in his suit against the NCAA.
asserted
Pitino → support → NCAA
Hall, an Auburn transfer, had his temporary restraining order upheld pending a decision on his preliminary injunction.
asserted
order → have → injunction
After that minor victory, Pitino and St. John’s scored a much bigger one.
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Pitino → score → one
The 23-year-old Ellis, a native of Sheffield, England, comes from the acclaimed EuroLeague.
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Ellis → come → EuroLeague
He was granted one year of eligibility.
asserted
He → grant → eligibility
The southpaw lead guard was courted by, among others, Duke, BYU, Louisville, Houston and Kentucky.
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guard → court → Duke
St. John’s landed him April 14 but was waiting on the NCAA for an eligibility ruling.
asserted
John → land → ruling
In May, the NCAA published updated eligibility guidance that added additional scrutiny for international players and reemphasized rules regarding compensation above “actual and necessary expenses” from professional teams overseas.
uncertain
that → publish → teams
Ellis gives the Johnnies an elite playmaker, something last year’s team lacked.
asserted
team → give → playmaker
Ellis, returning guard Ian Jackson and Baylor transfer Tounde Yessoufou have the makings of a terrific trio on the perimeter.
asserted
Ellis → return → perimeter
A European scout who works for NBA teams previously told The Post that Ellis could thrive in St. John’s up-tempo system.
uncertain
Ellis → work → system
He plays with pace, is unselfish and is difficult to stop in the open court.
asserted
He → play → court
“I think at the college level he can be a top two guy at a high major, and he can be effective every night,” the scout said.
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scout → think → major
“Shooting is really his only weakness, but he [did better last year].
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he → do → ?
He’s not shy at all and would be great under pressure at the college level.”
asserted
He → ’ → level
Last season, the 6-foot-4 Ellis averaged 7.1 points, 4.1 rebounds and 3.9 assists while playing for Olimpia Milano in Lega Basket Serie A.
asserted
Ellis → average → Milano
In his first season in the EuroLeague — a top-flight league that features former college stars and NBA players — he posted 8.2 points, 4.5 assists, 2.7 rebounds per game and shot 37.7 percent from beyond the arc.
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he → feature → arc
Ellis received multiple honors in 2025, including LBA Best Young Player, Italian Cup MVP and Italian Supercup MVP.
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Ellis → receive → Player
He’s just a great performer,” Pitino said.
asserted
Pitino → ’ → ?
“A lot of times when somebody says [someone] is a true point guard, that means he’s not a good athlete or he’s not a good scorer.
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he → say → times
That’s not the case with him.
asserted
That → ’ → him
He’s a legit 6-foot-4, he’s lightning fast, he’s a great athlete and a great basketball player.”
asserted
he → ’ → foot-4
Asked what fans will notice first, Pitino responded: “I just think what a great playmaker he is.
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he → ask → what
He makes plays for people.
asserted
He → make → people
He is somebody that can go down the lane and find somebody open you don’t readily see.
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you → go → somebody
He sees the court as well as anybody I’ve coached.”
asserted
I → see → anybody
Pitino believes Ellis is on the same level as the top point guards he’s had at St. John’s: Kadary Richmond and Daniss Jenkins.
asserted
he → believe → John
He’s different from them as a player, but his impact could be similar.
uncertain
impact → ’ → player
“All three of those guys were great point guards,” Pitino said.
asserted
Pitino → say → guys
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