How work ethic propelled SaMiyah Ellis to become next Wichita Heights basketball star
When SaMiyah Ellis was first learning the game of basketball, her father taught her an important lesson about hard work.
It’s a lesson that has helped her develop into one of the best high school basketball players at Wichita Heights and earn a Division I scholarship on the Texas Rio Grande Valley women’s basketball team.
“I just tried to teach her that if you put in hard work over time, you will get the results,” said Chris Ellis, her father. “It’s kind of like money in the bank. Whatever you deposit is what you can withdraw. Depending on how much work you put in, that’s how good of a result you can draw out.”
No one can question the work ethic of Ellis, who is closing in on 2,000 career points for her high school career.
After looking up to former program greats like Taylor Jameson, Laniah Randle and Zyanna Walker, Ellis is now the one helping lead the way for a Falcons team that clinched a share of yet another City League championship on Tuesday with a 53-48 win over Kapaun Mt. Carmel. Heights, ranked No. 4 in Class 6A, improved to 16-3 overall and 13-2 in league play.
“It was always taught to me at a very young age that you’ve got to put in work outside of team practices,” Ellis said. “And then looking up to those girls who all played for Heights, it inspired me to keep going and know that anybody can do it if you put in the work necessary. But for me, a lot of it came from within. I’ve just always wanted to work hard to be successful and give my all in whatever I’m doing.”
That’s exactly what she has done this season in her senior year at Heights, as Ellis is a tenacious scorer who also doubles as the tip of the spear for the team’s full-court defense.
While Ellis is known for her scoring ability, Heights coach Kip Pulliam said the 5-foot-9 guard can do a little bit of everything on the court.
“She just brings us great energy,” Pulliam said. “She can put points on the board in a hurry, which is really nice. And she does a great job at the top of our presses and usually guards the other team’s point guard, so she sets the tone for us defensively. And then on offense, she can score from all three levels and that makes her a big threat.”
With her quickness and finishing ability, Ellis can break down defenders and rack up paints in the point. And if the defense slacks off to try to prevent the drive, she has shown the ability to knock down jumpers.
According to her father, Ellis was such a tenacious scorer at an early age that the YMCA league had to ask her to leave because she was so dominant.
“She’s always had that ‘Mamba mentality,’” Chris Ellis said. “But as good as she can score, she’s still very unselfish. I always tried to teach her to play the game the right way. The game will dictate what you need to do, whether that’s to score or to set up your teammates. I’ve always been proud of her because as good as she can score it, she can get her teammates involved too.”
That play-making has been put to use this season with Ellis surrounded by so much talent at Heights, as the team also features skilled players such as Kennadi Jackson, Kamyra Barber, Heaven Gilbert, Zari Walker, Destiny Maze, Aniah Harris, Terri Brown and Halle Clemons.
After winning state titles in her first two years of high school — she attended Sunrise Christian as a freshman and Wichita Independent as a sophomore — Ellis is determined to add another title to her collection in her final year at Heights.
“I feel like I’ve grown so much as a player and as a person coming to Heights and going from 2A to 6A,” Ellis said. “A lot of sacrifices have been made, but everyone around me has pushed me and supported me and believed in me to keep me going. It’s definitely a little bittersweet right now as the time winds down, but I’m just trying to soak it all up these last few games and play hard for my team and leave it all out there.”
This story was originally published February 26, 2025 at 5:03 AM.
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