Quinn Ellis Cleared: NCAA Approves St. John’s Point Guard for 2026-27

St. John’s has landed a backcourt piece with professional pedigree. Multiple reports say the NCAA ruled Quinn Ellis eligible St. John’s for the 2026-27 season, giving head coach Rick Pitino a 23-year-old point guard who spent seven years competing in Italy’s top professional ranks.

From Sheffield to Serie A

Ellis, a 6-foot-4 guard from Sheffield, United Kingdom, built his career entirely overseas before this ruling. He won two Italian Cups, one with Aquila Trento and another with Olimpia Milano, then helped Olimpia Milano capture the 2026 Lega Serie A title on April 2, 2026, at Adidas Arena in Paris, France.

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His EuroLeague production offers a clearer of what St. John’s is getting. Ellis averaged 8.2 points, 4.5 assists and 2.9 rebounds per game while shooting 49.1% from the field, 37.7% from three-point range and 81.9% from the free throw line.

One Season, Age-Based Model

Under the NCAA’s new age-based eligibility model, Ellis has one season of college eligibility remaining. That single year is enough to reshape St. John’s expectations.

Ellis projects as one of college basketball’s top point guards. He is a bigger guard who won’t get pushed around on the perimeter, and his experience running an offense should create cleaner looks for scorers like Ian Jackson, Tounde Yessoufou and Keyshawn Hall. The addition raises St. John’s tournament ceiling.

Four Hurdles Remain

Ellis’s clearance resolves only one of St. John’s four major eligibility hurdles. Babacar Sane, Keyshawn Hall and Reed Bailey still lack eligibility decisions.

All three hold temporary restraining orders that allow them to play in the preseason opener. Sane has a second hearing scheduled for Monday, November 9, which would make him eligible for three preseason exhibitions and the first two regular-season games.

Hall’s situation is less defined. A New York court ruled his temporary restraining order remains in place, and he can play until the court schedules another hearing. No timetable exists for that next hearing.

What's Next

St. John’s preseason opener against Drexel is Wednesday at 6 p.m. on ESPN+. Regular-season games against Monmouth and Iona follow.

Ellis’s exact role in the offense remains to be seen, and the final roster composition is still unsettled. But the NCAA’s decision gives Pitino a proven professional conductor for a team with high aspirations.