Ely Tom '18 Recruiting Profile

My Name is Ely Tom, I'm a 6'3" PG from Australia via South Sudan. I've come to the US 3 years ago to take the first step in following my dream of becoming an eventual professional basketball player with a 4 year business degree. I knew that funds were not available from my mother so I found myself to get a high school scholarship to play basketball and allow me to compete in a league where I could get the most exposure which was at Price HS in Los Angeles, CA.

I see basketball as a vehicle to get me the highest education possible, I treat the classroom like I do the basketball court, which is my battle ground to achieve the highest level possible to give me the best chance to live out my goals. I have a 3.8 GPA and averaged 16ppg in my senior year, my dedication and commitment as a student athlete is my back bone when showing coaches I have the seriousness and drive to make the biggest impact for them.  My best traits are my ability to play above the rim, keep the defence honest with a deadly outside game and lock up the other team's best player, defence is what pumps me up!

If I were to graduate and be lucky enough to use basketball as a career for me I would like to set up a foundation to help my people back in South Sudan by building schools in the small villages where kids do not have access to a quality education, by doing this I believe it is the first step in fixing my war torn country to hopefully make a change for the future to come.