Reason Quinn Ellis Was Cleared for St. John’s Basketball Revealed

The St. John’s Red Storm are counting on some good news in court when it comes to their men’s basketball team.

Several players are seeking clearance to participate on the hardwood during the 2026-27 season. Some cases, such as the one with Babacar Sane, is going to go into the season, with his hearing set for Nov. 9.

No such worries exist any longer with point guard Quinn Ellis. The day before the team took the court for the first time against the Drexel Dragons in their first exhibition game of the year, the Red Storm received excellent news.

Ellis, an international point guard from Great Britain, was ruled eligible to play for St. John’s, along with Keyshawn Hall. That meant their entire roster was available for the time being, giving a glimpse of what they could look like at full strength, and Ellis received clearance for one reason: money.

Why was Quinn Ellis cleared to play with St. John's?

St John's PG 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿Quinn Ellis played a near perfect game in their hectic 4-OT exhibition win over Rutgers yesterday

The Senior guard who played last season in the Euroleague for Olimpia Milano, totaled in 13 points, 8 rebounds, 9 assists, 6 stocks with just one turnover, in 56… pic.twitter.com/kzIPgrUO5A
— Arman Jovic (@PDTScouting) October 19, 2026

He was able to essentially prove he wasn’t paid like a high-end professional. Instead, his income was just to cover the cost of living.

“This was a huge decision... (Quinn) was able to submit documentation that essentially established he wasn’t paid above actual and necessary expenses. And that’s the key threshold for these European players,” attorney and former Division 1 player and coach Mitch Gilfilian told The Field of 68 (H/T Adam Zagoria of NJ.Com).

There are reports that Ellis was paid less than $200,000 while playing for Olimpia Milano in Italy to cover his necessary expenses. He is going to be making a lot more than that with the Red Storm, with reports indicating he is being paid north of $4 million in NIL compensation.

"This was a huge decision... (Quinn) was able to submit documentation that essentially established he wasn't paid above actual and necessary expenses. And that's the KEY threshold for these European players"@mitchgilfillan on what the Quinn Ellis ruling means for similar… pic.twitter.com/Z7pRjBXgQi
— The Field of 68 (@TheFieldOf68) October 14, 2026

That is a massive increase in earnings for the 23-year-old point guard who is a former EuroLeague MVP. Having him eligible is a massive boost for St. John’s because he looks like he could be one of the best point guards in the country.

It is still very early, with only two preseason games being played, but Ellis has certainly looked the part thus far. He was excellent against both Drexel and the Rutgers Scarlet Knights, performing like someone who can elevate the team’s performance on both ends of the court.

Listed at 6-foot-5, he is capable of making an impact in every facet of the game. He can see over opponents when initiating the offense and making passes. On defense, he uses his length to terrorize teams in the passing lanes and make an impact on the boards.

Having a true floor general of this caliber can help overcome a lot of shortcomings the Red Storm may have early on as they build chemistry with so many new faces on the roster.

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