UC's Ellis named NABC 2nd team all-district

University of Cincinnati junior forward Octavius Ellis has been named Second Team All-District 25 by the National Association of Basketball Coaches, the organization announced on Friday.

Ellis led the Bearcats in scoring (9.9 points per game) and blocks (2.0) and tied Gary Clark for team-high honors in rebounds (7.2). Named second team all-conference by coaches in the American Athletic Conference at the end of the regular season, Ellis was the only conference player to be listed among the league's top four leaders in field goal percentage (third at .557), blocks (2.0) and rebounding (fourth at 7.2).

The 6-foot-10 forward led the Bearcats in rebounding in 18 games this season, grabbing 10 or more boards eight times. He pulled down at least six rebounds in 24 of UC's 34 games.

Ellis played a big role down the stretch in helping the Bearcats reach the NCAA Tournament for a fifth consecutive year. He posted double figures in points in five of the last seven games and pulled down 10 or rebounds in four the last six contests.

NABC All-District 25 First Team:

Nic Moore, SMU

Ryan Boatright, Connecticut

Austin Nichols, Memphis

James Woodard, Tulsa

Will Cummings, Temple

NABC All-District 25 Second Team:

Shaquille Harrison, Tulsa

Markus Kennedy, SMU

OCTAVIUS ELLIS, CINCINNATI

Louis Dabney, Tulane

Yanick Moreira, SMU

NABC District 25 Coach of the Year:

Fran Dunphy, Temple