Greg Elliott Blossoms at Pitt in Final Year of Eligibility

Following a four-year career at Marquette, change was in order for Greg Elliott. Coming off of a senior season where he averaged seven points per game, Elliott weighed his options for a new location to play in his final year of eligibility.

A 6-foot-3 guard from Detroit, Michigan, Elliott grew up with a basketball constantly in his hands. His parents, Greg Jr. and Victoria played a large role in his basketball upbringing. Appearing on the Just Buckets Podcast with Jamarius Burton and Pittsburgh Sports Now’s George Michalowki earlier this season, Elliott detailed his family, basketball background, and the influential person who convinced him to play for Pitt.

“We grew up playing sports,” Elliott said. “I started playing in third grade. From there it just took off. Most people don’t know, my mom wasn’t going to let me try out in the third grade because I had like a C-. I was late to try out but I ended up making the team and it started rolling from there.”

He has three older brothers DeLonte, Delorian, and Jeremy along with a younger sister Gabby. 

“My older brothers didn’t play basketball, [growing up] they were teaching me life stuff,” Elliott said. “My dad was the one that got me into basketball. It was just something to pass time at first so I wouldn’t get in trouble doing whatever it was to do outside of basketball. I started to play basketball to take away time.”

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

Gabby and Greg formed a strong relationship threw basketball. Gabby is a junior guard at Michigan State and attended Clemson for two years before transferring closer to home. 

“We both started in a church league. She started off the first year as a cheerleader,” Elliott said. “She was like ‘I’m not getting enough attention.’”

Greg explained how there were no timeouts in the church league and the cheerleaders only performed during halftime. Gabby turned her focus to basketball and never looked back. Greg said Gabby taught him so much about the game without her even knowing it, helping him mold his all-around basketball abilities when playing against her 1-on-1.

“I couldn’t post up, I couldn’t get the ball first, if I’m up a certain amount I can’t go right anymore,” Elliott said. “It definitely made me a better player. When I sit back and look at it now I say ‘man, my little sister actually is the reason my game is where it is today.”

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

Elliott averaged 28 points, nine rebounds, and four assists per game at East English Village High School under head coach Juan Rickman. He ended his career with the second-most points in school history (1,376). Things changed for Elliott when he started to dunk his junior year and college programs took notice. He explained having to tell legendary Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo he wouldn’t become a Spartan and that Providence was too far from home, opting to play for Marquette with his longtime friend and current Miami Heat forward Jamal Cain. 

Elliott averaged 4.5 points and 2.3 rebounds during the 2017-18 season as a Golden Eagle, being awarded as Marquette’s Most Improved Player. He redshirted the following season due to hand surgery and appeared in 24 games the following campaign, starting one game. During 2020-21, Elliott shot 45.5% from three and made five starts while hovering around six and seven points per game in his final two years at Marquette. He then decided it was time to explore additional options after only starting 11 career collegiate games.

“It all started because I had a successful year at Marquette my last year shooting the basketball,” Elliott said. “When I did hit the portal, I didn’t expect it to blow up like it did, to be honest. I was expecting to go to a mid-major or something to show off my game a little more.” 

Elliott talked to Rickman regarding the next step in his basketball journey. Roughly 30-40 minutes later, interest in Elliott exploded as his coach’s phone was flooded with messages. 

Current Pitt Assistant AD of Scouting Jake Presutti was at Marquette for seven seasons including as an assistant coach in 2019. Presuitti attempted to lour Elliott to Oakland and become a Panther for the 2022-23 season.

“He texted me and asked what I was looking for in my next spot,” Elliott said. “I told him and he said ‘I think I have the perfect situation for you. It’s funny though, I’m going to be honest, I didn’t respond. I saw it, but I didn’t respond.”

The shift came when Presutti called coach Rickman, who has a major impact on Elliott’s life and basketball career. 

“If you know me, I can come to a decision on my own but if my high school coach says something, I’m going to listen a little harder,” Elliott said.

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

Now a graduate student at the University of Pittsburgh set to be recognized on senior day Saturday against Syracuse, Elliott has started all 28 games for Pitt. He is averaging 10.9 points and 4.1 rebounds in just under 30 minutes of action while shooting 45% from the floor, 42% from three-point land, and 86% at the foul line. 

Elliott is one of four starters averaging double figures on an older, experienced team with Jamarius Burton, Nelly Cummings, and Nike Sibande also in their final years of eligibility. The Panthers have a golden opportunity to win the ACC, controlling their own destiny due in part to the success and sustainability of Elliott in a breakout final season.