South Carolina basketball’s family ties continue to grow as Isaac Ellis, younger brother of incoming freshman Eli Ellis, has committed to the Gamecocks as the first member of their 2026 class. Eli, a four-star recruit, headlines South Carolina’s 2024 class, and the Ellis pipeline is gaining attention.
Isaac’s future teammates also include Hayden Assemian and Abu Yarmah, both fellow Moravian Prep standouts joining the program this season alongside Eli. The Ellis brothers’ bond is now a Gamecock foundation.
Ellis Brothers Unite: Isaac Ellis Becomes First Commit in South Carolina’s 2026 Class
Isaac Ellis, a 6-foot-1 point guard from Moravian Prep in Hickory, North Carolina, has announced his commitment to South Carolina, becoming the first pledge in the Gamecocks’ 2026 recruiting class. The rising senior, who also stars for Overtime Elite’s YNG Dreamerz in Atlanta, made his decision public in June 2025.
Ellis selected the Gamecocks over offers from Oklahoma State, Murray State, UMass, Indiana State, Radford, and High Point. A key reason behind his commitment was the unwavering interest shown by head coach Lamont Paris and his staff.
“I chose South Carolina because of the belief they had in me. They were the first high major to offer me and they have stayed in contact with me very consistently,” Ellis told On3.
Committed ❤️ @GamecockMBB pic.twitter.com/W9TyECZlUo
— isaac ellis (@isaacellis2026) June 5, 2025
This past season, Ellis was instrumental in leading YNG Dreamerz to the Overtime Elite (OTE) championship, averaging 14.6 points, 5.7 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 1.8 steals per game. His strong two-way presence earned him a nomination for OTE’s Defensive Player of the Year. Though not yet nationally ranked by 247Sports, On3 currently rates him as a three-star prospect with potential to climb.
The Ellis brothers share a deep on-and-off-the-court connection that has shaped their development.
“We grew up just beating each other up. I was the older brother, we just played one-on-one, and usually every one-on-one turned into a boxing match,” Eli said. “But now to get to a point where we made each other so much better that we’re now able to beat up on other people together and win… it’s been unbelievable just to be able to do it with your family.”
Isaac echoed the sentiment:
“Being in the SEC with my brother is a situation I would have never guessed would be possible, but we are here so it’s a blessing.”
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Before heading to the SEC, Ellis will spend one final year at Moravian Prep, where he plays under the direction of his father. That timeline will align his arrival in Columbia with his older brother, Eli Ellis—a four-star recruit ranked No. 95 nationally and the 13th-best point guard in the 2025 class, per 247Sports.
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