South Carolina’s Eli Ellis Out for Clemson Rivalry Game with Ankle Injury
South Carolina will be without one of its key young contributors Tuesday night as the Gamecocks head into hostile territory to take on in-state rival Clemson. Freshman guard Eli Ellis is sidelined with a left ankle sprain, a blow to a USC backcourt that’s already been navigating its share of early-season injuries.
Ellis, who’s been a sparkplug off the bench, was ruled out ahead of tipoff after being spotted in a walking boot during pregame warmups at Littlejohn Coliseum. The Gamecocks confirmed his status as day-to-day via a post on the team’s X (formerly Twitter) account. Dressed in a black jumpsuit and seated on the bench, Ellis looked every bit the competitor itching to be out there - but for now, he’ll have to watch from the sidelines.
The injury appears to stem from a play during South Carolina’s Dec. 13 matchup against The Citadel. Ellis posted a clip of the moment on TikTok, showing his foot getting stepped on. He captioned it, “Glad God was watching over me,” suggesting it could’ve been worse - but it’s still enough to keep him out of a marquee rivalry game.
Through the early part of the season, Ellis has carved out a significant role for the Gamecocks. He’s averaging 10.2 points, 2.9 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game - solid numbers for a freshman adjusting to the pace and physicality of the college game.
Even more telling is his playing time: despite not starting, Ellis ranks third on the team in minutes at 28.2 per game. That speaks volumes about the trust the coaching staff has in him and the energy he brings when he’s on the floor.
A four-star recruit and the No. 5 player out of North Carolina (per 247Sports composite rankings), Ellis came in with expectations - and so far, he’s delivered. His absence tonight leaves a noticeable gap in South Carolina’s rotation, especially in a high-emotion game like this one.
Unfortunately for the Gamecocks, Ellis isn’t the only player they’ve had to manage carefully this season. Myles Stute recently returned after missing three games with a broken nose.
He’s now playing in a protective mask and will continue to do so moving forward. Freshman Hayden Assemian also missed time earlier in the year due to a concussion.
And even at full strength, USC is still without redshirt guards Cam Scott and Abu Yarmah.
Injuries are part of the grind, especially in the early months when teams are still trying to find rhythm and build chemistry. But losing Ellis - a confident scorer and high-IQ playmaker - ahead of a rivalry showdown is a tough break. South Carolina will now lean even more heavily on its veteran core and hope for a quick recovery for one of its most promising young players.