Following a four-year profession at Marquette, change was to ensure that Greg Elliott. Coming off of a senior season the place he averaged seven factors per sport, Elliott weighed his choices for a brand new location to play in his remaining 12 months of eligibility.

A 6-foot-3 guard from Detroit, Michigan, Elliott grew up with a basketball continually in his arms. His mother and father, Greg Jr. and Victoria performed a big position in his basketball upbringing. Showing on the Simply Buckets Podcast with Jamarius Burton and Pittsburgh Sports activities Now’s George Michalowki earlier this season, Elliott detailed his household, basketball background, and the influential one that satisfied him to play for Pitt.

“We grew up enjoying sports activities,” Elliott stated. “I began enjoying in third grade. From there it simply took off. Most individuals don’t know, my mother wasn’t going to let me check out within the third grade as a result of I had like a C-. I used to be late to check out however I ended up making the group and it began rolling from there.”

He has three older brothers DeLonte, Delorian, and Jeremy together with a youthful sister Gabby. 

“My older brothers didn’t play basketball, [growing up] they had been instructing me life stuff,” Elliott stated. “My dad was the one which obtained me into basketball. It was simply one thing to move time at first so I wouldn’t get in bother doing no matter it was to do outdoors of basketball. I began to play basketball to remove time.”

Pittsburgh Panthers guard Greg Elliott (3) December 30, 2022 David Hague/PSN

Gabby and Greg shaped a powerful relationship threw basketball. Gabby is a junior guard at Michigan State and attended Clemson for 2 years earlier than transferring nearer to residence. 

“We each began in a church league. She began off the primary 12 months as a cheerleader,” Elliott stated. “She was like ‘I’m not getting sufficient consideration.’”

Greg defined how there have been no timeouts within the church league and the cheerleaders solely carried out throughout halftime. Gabby turned her focus to basketball and by no means regarded again. Greg stated Gabby taught him a lot in regards to the sport with out her even realizing it, serving to him mould his all-around basketball skills when enjoying towards her 1-on-1.

“I couldn’t submit up, I couldn’t get the ball first, if I’m up a specific amount I can’t go proper anymore,” Elliott stated. “It positively made me a greater participant. After I sit again and take a look at it now I say ‘man, my little sister really is the explanation my sport is the place it’s right now.”

Pittsburgh Panthers guard Greg Elliott (3) November 11, 2022 David Hague/PSN

Elliott averaged 28 factors, 9 rebounds, and 4 assists per sport at East English Village Excessive Faculty beneath head coach Juan Rickman. He ended his profession with the second-most factors at school historical past (1,376). Issues modified for Elliott when he began to dunk his junior 12 months and faculty packages took discover. He defined having to inform legendary Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo he wouldn’t grow to be a Spartan and that Windfall was too removed from residence, opting to play for Marquette together with his longtime good friend and present Miami Warmth ahead Jamal Cain. 

Elliott averaged 4.5 factors and a pair of.3 rebounds through the 2017-18 season as a Golden Eagle, being awarded as Marquette’s Most Improved Participant. He redshirted the next season on account of hand surgical procedure and appeared in 24 video games the next marketing campaign, beginning one sport. Throughout 2020-21, Elliott shot 45.5% from three and made 5 begins whereas hovering round six and 7 factors per sport in his remaining two years at Marquette. He then determined it was time to discover extra choices after solely beginning 11 profession collegiate video games.

“It began as a result of I had a profitable 12 months at Marquette my final 12 months taking pictures the basketball,” Elliott stated. “After I did hit the portal, I didn’t anticipate it to explode prefer it did, to be sincere. I used to be anticipating to go to a mid-major or one thing to point out off my sport a bit extra.” 

Elliott talked to Rickman relating to the following step in his basketball journey. Roughly 30-40 minutes later, curiosity in Elliott exploded as his coach’s telephone was flooded with messages. 

Present Pitt Assistant AD of Scouting Jake Presutti was at Marquette for seven seasons together with as an assistant coach in 2019. Presuitti tried to lour Elliott to Oakland and grow to be a Panther for the 2022-23 season.

“He texted me and requested what I used to be on the lookout for in my subsequent spot,” Elliott stated. “I instructed him and he stated ‘I feel I’ve the proper scenario for you. It’s humorous although, I’m going to be sincere, I didn’t reply. I noticed it, however I didn’t reply.”

The shift got here when Presutti referred to as coach Rickman, who has a serious affect on Elliott’s life and basketball profession. 

“If me, I can make a decision alone but when my highschool coach says one thing, I’m going to pay attention a bit more durable,” Elliott stated.

Pittsburgh Panthers guard Greg Elliott (3) November 7, 2022 David Hague/PSN

Now a graduate pupil on the College of Pittsburgh set to be acknowledged on senior day Saturday towards Syracuse, Elliott has began all 28 video games for Pitt. He’s averaging 10.9 factors and 4.1 rebounds in just below half-hour of motion whereas taking pictures 45% from the ground, 42% from three-point land, and 86% on the foul line. 

Elliott is certainly one of 4 starters averaging double figures on an older, skilled group with Jamarius Burton, Nelly Cummings, and Nike Sibande additionally of their remaining years of eligibility. The Panthers have a golden alternative to win the ACC, controlling their very own future due partly to the success and sustainability of Elliott in a breakout remaining season.