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Grand Canyon University Athletics
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Ellis perseveres to finish strong at GCU
3/8/2023 6:35:00 PM | Men's Basketball, Paul Coro
Despite setbacks, son of NBA/ESPN figure goes from bench-role leader to key player
LAS VEGAS – Walter Ellis was at a basketball crossroads seven years ago in this city, where he grinds this week for every win to extend his collegiate career and return Grand Canyon to the Big Dance.
Despite growing up with hoop pedigree as former NBA star LaPhonso Ellis' youngest son, Ellis was a late-blooming high school basketball prospect after a childhood of playing hockey goalkeeper and football wide receiver.
Just as Walter's recruiting interest was surging to Michigan's level, the family was on a flight to a summer event when LaPhonso noticed Walter turn pale. It was the start of a stomach bug that dropped 20 pounds off his frame by the time they hit the next recruiting circuit stop in Las Vegas. That is when the Wolverines called to say they liked his potential but settled on an instant-impact player – Jordan Poole.
Life changes with the unexpected, just as Walter was forced to handle as a teenager and then again after transferring from Bucknell to GCU, when each preseason was altered by a medical issue in 2021 and hip surgery last year.
Now, Walter is the unexpected.
After nearly two seasons as a Lopes role player who was in and out of the rotation, Walter is ending his collegiate career as an impact fixture for GCU's late-season run. Averaging 32.3 minutes off the bench in the past four games, Walter is the "3-and-D" player that teams covet.
"It's really just a culmination of being ready for two years," Walter said. "I was staying locked in, and my teammates did a great job to keep me encouraged. Shots have been going in, and the guys have been finding me, so we're playing loose right now."
Nobody understands the value in what Walter brings to a team and the travails he has conquered personally more than his parents, LaPhonso and Jennifer. LaPhonso carries more insight than the average basketball father as Notre Dame's highest NBA draft pick ever (No. 5 in 1992) and an 11-year NBA veteran who was a top-10 scorer in 1996-97.
"I've been really proud of his maturity and how he's turned to Christ to help strengthen him and guide him through the process," said LaPhonso, an ESPN College GameDay analyst who recently appeared on the show from GCU Arena so that he could attend Walter's Senior Night.
"He's shown a level of maturity that I certainly didn't have at that age where he was able to be frustrated while leading by cheering his teammates, working hard on and off the court and being a leader that Bryce Drew and the coaching staff wanted by doing what he does naturally – get there early and stay late. He's a strong, clear communicator. I couldn't be more proud of him."
Those traits were never more apparent than when the family needed them most. When Walter was a high school sophomore, LaPhonso usually took the 10:10 a.m. flight out of South Bend, Indiana, to be at the ESPN studios for nighttime shows in Bristol, Connecticut. But LaPhonso needed to appear on an SportsCenter morning hit and was gone the morning when Jennifer passed out in Walter's room.
Walter pressed on her chest and called 911 while his mother went in and out of consciousness from what they later learned was her heart starting and stopping.
"He's been my hero for a long time," LaPhonso said of Walter. "Had he not been calm, cool and collected, my wife likely would have perished."
During his college years, Walter lost his high school best friend and three men who were like uncles in his lives after already having experienced the 2016 tragic death of Ingrid Williams, the wife of family friend and Phoenix Suns coach Monty Williams.
"Faith isn't truly faith until it has been tested," LaPhonso said.
The GCU coaching staff's and Williams' presence in Phoenix were factors for Walter coming to GCU, where he had to adjust to a smaller role for most of two seasons.
"I didn't really realize how bad I felt last year until I had my hip surgery and recovered this year," Walter said of his torn labral tear. "Even going back to high school, I've always been a 3-and-D guy. Last year, I just felt I was a step slower. Even watching myself, I looked a step slow. This year, I feel like I can move again fully. Over the long stretch of the season, I've been getting more and more comfortable with having a fresh hip."
Entering GCU's Thursday night WAC quarterfinal against Seattle U in Las Vegas, Walter has played at least 20 minutes in six consecutive games and averaged 32.3 in the past four. He has scored in double digits in four of the past 10 games after previously having two this season.
ESPN analyst Sean Farnham twice has lobbied during a game broadcast for Walter to be included in this year's College 3-Point Championship, held annually during Final Four week. It is an event that Walter calls "a dream of mine for five years."
Walter's case: with 46.2% shooting on 3-pointers for GCU, the 6-foot-5 guard holds the third-best 3-point percentage in the nation for players with more than 100 attempts over the past two seasons combined.
"When Walt was first on our campus to how he is right now, there's just so much growth that has happened in his life spiritually, emotionally and as a basketball player," GCU head coach Bryce Drew said. "His defense has improved significantly. He's really spreading the offense for us with his shooting, but what we love is he's bringing a ton of energy and leadership."
With maturity and wisdom beyond his years and rapid-fire speech, Walter has been the connector for a Lopes team coming together down the stretch. He is a coach, motivator, friend, comedian, hype man and entrepreneur (nobad.shop) for all.
And, lately, Walter also has emerged as an essential teammate during GCU's three-game winning streak. Each time he leaves the bus with his teammates to enter Orleans Arena, Walter knows it could be for his final game.
"That's how every game is in March," Walter said. "You never know what to feel like when you step between the lines because every single game everybody is going to have the same juice and same energy as you. Even when you've already played a team, when it comes to March, everything is different. It's really about controlling what you can. If we do that all week, we'll be all good."
Despite growing up with hoop pedigree as former NBA star LaPhonso Ellis' youngest son, Ellis was a late-blooming high school basketball prospect after a childhood of playing hockey goalkeeper and football wide receiver.
Just as Walter's recruiting interest was surging to Michigan's level, the family was on a flight to a summer event when LaPhonso noticed Walter turn pale. It was the start of a stomach bug that dropped 20 pounds off his frame by the time they hit the next recruiting circuit stop in Las Vegas. That is when the Wolverines called to say they liked his potential but settled on an instant-impact player – Jordan Poole.Life changes with the unexpected, just as Walter was forced to handle as a teenager and then again after transferring from Bucknell to GCU, when each preseason was altered by a medical issue in 2021 and hip surgery last year.
Now, Walter is the unexpected.
After nearly two seasons as a Lopes role player who was in and out of the rotation, Walter is ending his collegiate career as an impact fixture for GCU's late-season run. Averaging 32.3 minutes off the bench in the past four games, Walter is the "3-and-D" player that teams covet.
"It's really just a culmination of being ready for two years," Walter said. "I was staying locked in, and my teammates did a great job to keep me encouraged. Shots have been going in, and the guys have been finding me, so we're playing loose right now."
Nobody understands the value in what Walter brings to a team and the travails he has conquered personally more than his parents, LaPhonso and Jennifer. LaPhonso carries more insight than the average basketball father as Notre Dame's highest NBA draft pick ever (No. 5 in 1992) and an 11-year NBA veteran who was a top-10 scorer in 1996-97.
"I've been really proud of his maturity and how he's turned to Christ to help strengthen him and guide him through the process," said LaPhonso, an ESPN College GameDay analyst who recently appeared on the show from GCU Arena so that he could attend Walter's Senior Night."He's shown a level of maturity that I certainly didn't have at that age where he was able to be frustrated while leading by cheering his teammates, working hard on and off the court and being a leader that Bryce Drew and the coaching staff wanted by doing what he does naturally – get there early and stay late. He's a strong, clear communicator. I couldn't be more proud of him."
Those traits were never more apparent than when the family needed them most. When Walter was a high school sophomore, LaPhonso usually took the 10:10 a.m. flight out of South Bend, Indiana, to be at the ESPN studios for nighttime shows in Bristol, Connecticut. But LaPhonso needed to appear on an SportsCenter morning hit and was gone the morning when Jennifer passed out in Walter's room.
Walter pressed on her chest and called 911 while his mother went in and out of consciousness from what they later learned was her heart starting and stopping.
"He's been my hero for a long time," LaPhonso said of Walter. "Had he not been calm, cool and collected, my wife likely would have perished."
During his college years, Walter lost his high school best friend and three men who were like uncles in his lives after already having experienced the 2016 tragic death of Ingrid Williams, the wife of family friend and Phoenix Suns coach Monty Williams.
"Faith isn't truly faith until it has been tested," LaPhonso said.
The GCU coaching staff's and Williams' presence in Phoenix were factors for Walter coming to GCU, where he had to adjust to a smaller role for most of two seasons.
"I didn't really realize how bad I felt last year until I had my hip surgery and recovered this year," Walter said of his torn labral tear. "Even going back to high school, I've always been a 3-and-D guy. Last year, I just felt I was a step slower. Even watching myself, I looked a step slow. This year, I feel like I can move again fully. Over the long stretch of the season, I've been getting more and more comfortable with having a fresh hip."Entering GCU's Thursday night WAC quarterfinal against Seattle U in Las Vegas, Walter has played at least 20 minutes in six consecutive games and averaged 32.3 in the past four. He has scored in double digits in four of the past 10 games after previously having two this season.
ESPN analyst Sean Farnham twice has lobbied during a game broadcast for Walter to be included in this year's College 3-Point Championship, held annually during Final Four week. It is an event that Walter calls "a dream of mine for five years."
Walter's case: with 46.2% shooting on 3-pointers for GCU, the 6-foot-5 guard holds the third-best 3-point percentage in the nation for players with more than 100 attempts over the past two seasons combined.
"When Walt was first on our campus to how he is right now, there's just so much growth that has happened in his life spiritually, emotionally and as a basketball player," GCU head coach Bryce Drew said. "His defense has improved significantly. He's really spreading the offense for us with his shooting, but what we love is he's bringing a ton of energy and leadership."With maturity and wisdom beyond his years and rapid-fire speech, Walter has been the connector for a Lopes team coming together down the stretch. He is a coach, motivator, friend, comedian, hype man and entrepreneur (nobad.shop) for all.
And, lately, Walter also has emerged as an essential teammate during GCU's three-game winning streak. Each time he leaves the bus with his teammates to enter Orleans Arena, Walter knows it could be for his final game.
"That's how every game is in March," Walter said. "You never know what to feel like when you step between the lines because every single game everybody is going to have the same juice and same energy as you. Even when you've already played a team, when it comes to March, everything is different. It's really about controlling what you can. If we do that all week, we'll be all good."
Players Mentioned
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Dusty Stromer | Media Availability | 9.3.25
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