LEWISTON — As Jon Furbush watched a young Brian Ellis, the spectacular,  eye-opening plays weren’t all that got his attention. The little things — his take-charge attitude, his defensive intensity and his rebounding ability — confirmed he was just right for Bates College.

“I recruited him when I was an assistant coach here,” said Furbush, who is now in his third season at the Bobcats head coach. “I knew when I saw him play.”

“He was at these events, and he wasn’t getting the ball much, but everything he did without the ball were all the little things that coaches see,” Furbush added. “I thought if he got the ball more on offense, he would be noticed more, but he didn’t get the attention until he went into his high school season.”

By that point, Bates had the inside track, and Ellis was already interested in the kind of education he could get there.

The decision has paid off for both program and player. Ellis was an All-State and All-NESCAC player last year and returns to lead what could be a successful Bobcat team this season.

“Last year, he really took off,” Furbush said. “Of all the guys I’ve worked with on a daily basis, he puts in the most effort on and off the court. His offseason workouts are very regimented and organized, and he wants it really bad.”

Ellis led Bates last year in scoring (15 ppg), rebounding (6.9 rpg) and posted a .511 field goal percentage while ranking second on the team in steals. He was among the top 10 in the NESCAC in scoring and rebounding and in the top 20 in field goal percentage, free throw percentage and steals.

“When he does get the ball, he’s so efficient,” said Furbush. “He can score. He’s a great passer. He’s got a good handle. He can step outside and hit the 3, but if you have a smaller guy on him in the post, he’s going to kill him.”

Enrolling at Bates and playing at the Division III level was a giant leap for Ellis. He’d never seen a Division III game before, and stepping onto the court that first weekend as a freshman was a bit startling.

He soon adjusted to the climate, and won the NESCAC Rookie of the Year Award.

“I was lucky,” Ellis said. “I came in and the power forward spot was open. I was lucky enough to get that. I just kind of flowed in the offense. The offense just kind of came to me.”

He had a strong sophomore season despite battling an illness much of the year. He led the team in field goal percentage (.493) and was second in points (10.9) and fourth in rebounds (3.8).

“He was sick all sophomore year,” said Furbush. “So I didn’t really know what he was going to blossom into.”

With such a strong year last year, Ellis said he begins this the season feeling stronger than ever. Three years of learning the game and building his own confidence has him ready to top last year’s success.

“I feel like I’m always learning basketball,” he said. “I feel like something clicked at the end of last year. Now this summer, I felt more comfortable out there. I feel like I know where other guys are going to be.”

Furbush said the offense will go through Ellis this season, but since he has a more seasoned group around him, it will allow Ellis to give-and-take with his teammates more than past seasons. Ellis could boost his assist numbers because he’s such a good passer and opponents will devote so much time defending him.

“I’m just more confident, and I’m more confident in the guys around me,”  Ellis said. “That’s huge. They’ll make me better, and I’ll make them better. If we just play as a team, we’ll be fine.”

As he’s matured and understood his role on the team, Ellis has emerged as the team leader. He had to adjust to that role as a junior captain last year, but feels comfortable in that spot now.

“I expect big things from him not only from a statistical standpoint but also a leadership standpoint,” Furbush said.

That’s fine by Ellis. He’s expecting big things from himself and from his team this year. The team has posted winning records the past two seasons and lost in the NESCAC tourney. Winning the conference title has been a goal during his college career and the potential for that and more exists this season.

“I think playing in the NCAA tournament will be really fun,” he said. “I think we could make some noise in that.”

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