Quinn Ellis, Great Britain Basketball Feeling Confident As The February FIBA EuroBasket Qualifying Window Approaches
Midway through the second quarter at Copper Box Arena, Greece, directed by head coach Vassilis Spanoulis, holds a commanding 17-point lead. The visitors dominate the noise as they push for an unbeaten Group F finish, while Great Britain eyes a decisive February 2025 clash against the Netherlands in Den Haag.
Yet, Great Britain refuses to fold. By the fourth quarter, momentum shifts, and they edge ahead 53-51. Greece has possession—Toliopoulos waits beyond the arc, but Quinn Ellis reads the play perfectly. Intercepting Mantzoukas’ pass, he glides past Toliopoulos and throws down a stunning reverse jam, extending the home side’s lead.
The Sheffield-born point guard finishes with 15 points, 6 rebounds, 8 assists, and 3 steals, leading the team with a 22 efficiency rating. Like Greece at the Copper Box, many didn’t see Quinn Ellis coming: but the young British star is having a true breakout season in Italy’s LBA.
Fresh off an MVP-winning performance in the Frecciarossa Final Eight 2025 with Aquila Trento, Courtside 1891 caught up with the rising star ahead of Great Britain’s crucial clash with the Netherlands in Den Haag.
“How confident is the team feeling about your ability to advance following your win against Greece in November?”
QE “I would say the team is feeling really confident going into the February window, we've got two games coming up, which we feel we can win and knowing that two for sure, but one also can make us qualify, is something that we're really confident about and looking forward to the game on Friday and obviously Monday, playing to win both and have the best seeding possible, for the EuroBasket.”
“As a 21 year old bursting onto the European scene, how important is it for you to play in EuroBasket 2025?”
QE: “For me, having the opportunity to play at the FIBA EuroBasket this summer would be amazing. [it would] Be my first major competition. And the EuroBasket is the most prestigious international competition for European basketball.
You know, there's a bunch of NBA stars and EuroLeague stars. So it'd just be great to have the chance to perform on that big stage and play against the guys, the stars of Europe.”
“Which players would you be looking forward to measuring yourself against if you qualify for the EuroBasket in the summer?”
QE: “You know, at EuroBasket, I would love the opportunity to go up against the great point guards in my position. Guys like Dennis Schroder, Lorenzo Brown, Micic, Doncic. You know, these talented point guards, the star point guards who run the show for the nation, and obviously the NBA superstars like Jokic, Giannis. It would be great to go up against these guys at EuroBasket.”
“What advice would you give to young basketball players in Great Britain to help them start their career?”
QE “The advice I would give is just to be consistent, try to find a routine doing the same things, but things that are beneficial to your game and the things you want to achieve.
Also I would say you can never be perfect, you can always have highs and lows, but you just have to accept it and understand no one can never be perfect and never be too high, never be too low. Find a balance and stay mentally strong because you know, basketball is tough.”
“How different is the role that you play for your club team compared to the role that you play in the national team?”
QE “Teams, coaches, they have different styles of play but at the end of the day it’s still the same.
Great Britain have many weapons, we can score in many different ways against the basket, low post, hitting from outside. I just bring my game, the things I’m best at doing – you know – getting teammates involved, pushing the pace (I like to play at fast tempo) and Great Britain loves to play at fast tempo, so it feels perfect for my game. That’s what I look to bring with the national team.”
Ellis’ rapid rise continues to be a major boost for Great Britain, both now and for the country’s basketball movement. His impact at club level in Italy’s LBA has translated seamlessly to the national team, where his playmaking, defensive instincts, and ability to push the pace have become key assets for Marc Steutel’s team.
With a crucial matchup against the Netherlands looming, Great Britain Basketball’s confidence is growing. Ellis and his teammates know what’s at stake, and their recent win over Greece has only reinforced their belief.
If the young guard’s breakout season is anything to go by, February could be another defining chapter—not just for Ellis, but for the future of British basketball, as this iteration of Great Britain basketball look to get back to the FIBA EuroBasket for the first time since 2017.
Don't miss the action as Great Britain fights for a spot at the FIBA EuroBasket 2025! Watch the FIBA Continental Cups Qualifiers live and on-demand from February 20-25 on Courtside 1891.
