NCAA Basketball: Top 10 players to wear jersey No. 5 in 2023-24 season
By Joey Loose
![Mar 28, 2024; Los Angeles, CA, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels forward Armando Bacot (5) controls the ball against Alabama Crimson Tide forward Mohamed Wague (11) in the first half in the semifinals of the West Regional of the 2024 NCAA Tournament at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports Mar 28, 2024; Los Angeles, CA, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels forward Armando Bacot (5) controls the ball against Alabama Crimson Tide forward Mohamed Wague (11) in the first half in the semifinals of the West Regional of the 2024 NCAA Tournament at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_5351,h_3009,x_0,y_0/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/184/01hyy59xk68s2rd4hmx1.jpg)
5. Boogie Ellis (USC)
This was year five for Ellis, a former Top 40 prospect who originally committed to Memphis and played a pair of seasons for Penny Hardaway. He would transfer to USC in 2021 and put up much more impressive numbers out west for the Trojans. We’re looking at the individual here, and Ellis put up great numbers this past season, though USC as a whole had a disastrous season.
His overall figures were basically on par with last season, with Ellis averaging 16.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per game. He also shot a career-best 41% from the 3 and was the leading scorer for the Trojans. A season high heightened expectations ended with a record under .500, but Ellis still earned Second Team All-Pac-12 honors and was one of the most efficient 3-point shooters in the nation.
Ellis had 24 points on opening night against Kansas State, scored 22 in a win over Seton Hall, and had several 28-point efforts in nonconference, including against Gonzaga. His play was inspiring throughout the season, it’s just that he and the other Trojans weren’t consistent. Ellis scored 30 in a tough loss to Colorado and would have 25 in the Pac-12 Tournament against Washington, but it wasn’t exactly the final collegiate season he was expecting.