Big East Basketball: Ranking of 25 best players from last decade (2013-23)

By Joey Loose | Jul 4, 2023

Dec 13, 2016; Villanova, PA, USA; Villanova Wildcats guard Josh Hart (3) gets congratulations from head coach Jay Wright and guard Jalen Brunson (1) after leaving the game late in the second half against the Temple Owls at The Pavilion. Villanova defeated Temple, 78-57. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports /

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Big East Basketball Marquette Golden Eagles forward Henry Ellenson Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports /

20. Henry Ellenson

Marquette landed a 5-star recruit in Steve Wojciechowski’s very first recruiting class, landing Ellenson back in 2015. A 6’10 power forward from Rice Lake, Wisconsin, this Top 10 recruit would have a major impact playing in his home state. It wasn’t the best year for Marquette, but Ellenson put up quite the numbers in that freshman season, his only collegiate campaign.

Marquette won 20 games, which was actually quite the improvement, and got 17.0 points and 9.7 rebounds a game from Ellenson. He had 21 points and 16 rebounds in his collegiate debut, albeit a loss to Belmont, and would have plenty of impactful performances for the Golden Eagles. One of the nation’s best frontcourt players, Ellenson grabbed a career-high 18 rebounds in a win over St. John’s and scored 32 points a week later against Butler, but saw his season end in the conference tournament.

Ellenson was named Big East Rookie of the Year and earned First Team All-Big East honors as well. He was the league’s top rebounder and one of its most prolific scorers. He was just a freshman, but played like an upperclassman with impressive numbers for the Golden Eagles. Ellenson was off to the NBA, and would become a 1st round pick, but his contributions at Marquette surely aren’t forgotten, even if he didn’t get his shot in the NCAA Tournament.

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