Malik Ellison, a talented shooting guard, has finally decided that he will remain at Pitt.

Malik Ellison is coming back. pic.twitter.com/VQjB7PpDa4

— PittCabe (@PittCabe) May 8, 2018

Once more, to recap. Ellison played his first two years at St. John’s, before deciding to transfer. Kevin Stallings successfully convinced him to choose Pitt. He had to sit last season per transfer rules, but did not lose any eligibility. Following Stallings firing, he was one of the overwhelming majority of Pitt players to request and receive their release.

If Ellison transferred again, though, he would still have to sit out another year; and lose a year of eligibility.

Malik Ellison is a talented player and the son of Pervis Ellison — the Louisville Cardinal great and the #1 pick of the 1989 NBA Draft.

Ellison has designs on playing basketball professionally as well, but losing another year of playing would be a big detriment to that future. The only reason I can fathom that he took this long to make the decision to stay was to wait-and-see if transfer rules would be altered.

There has been a lot of talk in the past year of changing certain aspects of transferring. One of the exceptions floated was to allow a player to have immediate eligibility to play elsewhere if he transfers following the firing or departure of the head coach. No such changes have been implemented at this time and it seems unlikely that they will in time for this upcoming season

As an aside, that seems to be what Marcus Carr is still holding out some hope to have occur now that he has transferred to Minnesota.

With Ellison recommitted to Pitt, the backcourt actually resembles a pretty good ACC-level group. Trey McGowens, Ellison, Jared Wilson-Frame, Xavier Johnson, Kham Davis and Shamiel Stevenson actually gives Pitt good talent and depth.

The frontcourt, though…

Well, depth is a major issue. For some reason Kene Chukwuka still hasn’t made a decision. The latest reports/rumors are that he is leaning towards coming back. Not sure what his options are. He will be a junior next year, as he spent one year at the JUCO level. He’s still raw and likely doesn’t have a lot of major conference offers.

Both sides need each other. Pitt needs whatever depth they can get for the frontcourt. Right now there is Terrell Brown, Samson George, Peace Illegomah and that is it.

Pitt will obviously be using guard-heavy line-ups this season, but they still need some people to play inside. Or at least provide size and fouls.