“Cody is certainly a welcome addition to the team, first and foremost because of his character,” Majerus said. “He is a committed student and someone who appreciates the opportunity that the Australian Institute of Sport has provided him. Cody gives us a dimension we currently do not have — an outside shooting big man who can knock down the 3-pointer, yet can post up with authority and rebound. Cody will be perfect in our NBA set pick and pop plays and will fit well into our motion offense. We expect him to become a go-to-guy, both on the block and outside for the three.”
“Similar to the Lisch family, the bloodline is certainly there,” Majerus said. “Cody’s father, Mike, was a stalwart and a star for the Australian National Team as well as the Perth Wildcats, the premier professional league in Australia. Cody is the son of a coach and plays like one - smart, committed and passionate.
“Cody, and anyone else who plays for the Emus, has been very well coached,” Majerus said. “Coach Marty Clarke does a superb job of preparing them for the rigors of international ball. I feel that Cody as well as Christian Salecich, who we signed last fall, may both one day play for the Australian National team, the Boomers.
“Cody’s passing skills, unselfishness and feel for the game belie his years, having been so well coached by Clarke, as well as by his father, Mike Ellis, who coached the Perth Wildcats in the Australian NBL.” Majerus said. “We are excited for Cody to come on board with us, and our players are certainly looking forward to playing alongside someone with his commitment and skill set.”
Ellis is ranked as the No. 1 power forward and the No. 3 player overall in the 2009 class in Australia, and recruiting service Scouts, Inc., rates him the No. 76 power forward nationally.
He averaged 14 ppg and eight rpg while hitting 42 percent from 3-point range for the Australian Institute of Sport, the elite academy in Canberra, Australia. A.I.S. has produced more than 20 Division I players, including teammate Christian Salecich who signed last fall with the Billikens. The duo led A.I.S. to the 2008 Southeast Australian Basketball League finals.
Ellis helped Australia earn a silver medal at the 2007 Oceania Tournament and helped his team win the bronze medal game at the 2008 Albert Schweitzer Tournament in Germany. He was selected to the 2009 Australia U-19 Nationals All-Tournament team, and he will be a member of the Junior National Australia team at the upcoming FIBA World U-19 Championships in New Zealand.
Ellis is the fifth member of the Billikens’ recruiting class this season.
Last fall, SLU signed 6-5 guard Jeff Reid (Topeka, Kan./Hayden), 6-8 forward Cory Remekun (Mesquite, Texas/Mesquite), 6-4 guard Christian Salecich (Gold Coast, Australia/ Lake Ginninderra/Institute of Sport) and 6-7 forward Jon Smith (Grove City, Ohio/Grove City).