Quickness on court

Burke’s Khadijah Ellison rising star

By Dan Ventura / In the Paint | Sunday, January 24, 2010 | http://www.bostonherald.com | High School

Photo by Stuart Cahill
There was a time when you had to force Khadijah Ellison to get on a basketball court.

Now, you can’t get her off the hardwood.

In three short years, the Burke junior standout guard has gone from hoop novice to bona fide Division 1 college recruit. She currently is ranked 54th in the class of 2011, which bares even more watching when one considers that No. 55 Ka’lia Johnson (Duke) and No. 58 Danielle Butts (North Carolina) already have given verbal commitments to ACC powers.

“I’ve had something like 16 or 17 girls get scholarships, but none have ever been ranked as high as this girl,” said longtime Burke girls basketball coach John Rice. “I’m not gonna say that Khadijah is better than a Starr Fuller or an Elaine McCants, but this girl (has) already been ranked higher by ESPN than anyone I’ve had before.”

Ellison never stepped on a court before the eighth grade and even that was a struggle. It was former teammate Niesha Kelly who helped make the game more enjoyable.

“I never liked it, never even watch the games on television,” said Ellison, who is averaging more than 25 points a game for the 8-3 Bulldogs. “It was playing with her that helped me start liking the game.”

Ellison spent her freshman year at New Mission along with Kelly, averaging more than 11 points. After spending the early part of last season at New Mission, Ellison transferred to Burke, where she sat out the rest of the season.

“It was no special reason,” Ellison said. “I like the girls, but it was time for me to move on.”

Ellison certainly made her presence felt on the AAU circuit while playing for the Albany City Rocks and the Showstoppers. Her athletic ability was second to none and the ballhandling and shooting skills caught the eye of several Div. 1 colleges.

“That’s the first thing you notice,” Rice said. “Her physical skills are through the roof. Then you add in the fact that she can handle the ball, shoot the 3, play either guard position and you see why colleges want her.”

Ellison had a chance to play against her former team for the first time last week. It was obvious that she was a little too excited for the matchup and, as a result, her shot was off. She finished with 21 points, 11 rebounds and five assists in a 65-53 loss.

“That’s the first time I’ve seen her miss shots like that,” Rice said. “I think playing against them and knowing that people were there to see her probably affected her game.”

Since she’s only been playing competitive basketball for three years, Ellison is a bit behind the competition as far as experience is concerned. Former Boston English star Donald Jeffes has been working with Ellison, stressing fundamentals as well as other aspects of the game.