Vanessa Ellis Vanessa Ellis 5'11" | SF Noble And Greenough | 2026 State New E plays for the MCW Starz 2026 S40 team. Vanessa’s frame and skill combination make her dangerous in multiple roles: she can bring up the ball, push in transition, but also post up smaller defenders. Her AAU ball handling and finishing through contact stand out, showing she’s not afraid to mix it up inside. Defensively, her size lets her guard both perimeter players and forwards, and her instincts help her in help-defense and on switches. At the high school level, she projects to be a two-way focal point: someone who can initiate offense, rebound, and make winning plays. She brings a maturity and physicality that helps her navigate traffic, plus a strong competitive mindset. Even though she is young, she will already be on many college scouts radars in the upcoming season.

Vanessa Ellis Vanessa Ellis 5'11" | SF Noble And Greenough | 2026 State New E (2026) | 5’11 SF | Nobles

Ellis just committed to Bentley earlier this month and that’s a fantastic fit for her. Vanessa is a great teammate, communicator on the floor, connective passer and finishes plays well. On top of that she’ll willingly plug any apparent hole to help her team pull through.

Vanessa Ellis Vanessa Ellis 5'11" | SF Noble And Greenough | 2026 State New E (2026) | 5’11 SF | Nobles & Greenough

The Noble’s wing is having a fantastic first half of the season. She’s looked comfy from beyond the 3-point arch and quite dynamic in her first step off the dribble. Ellis’ game is based on fundamentals, so when all else fails, she relies on the essential ingredients that that make her impactful. Vanessa plays both sides of the floor well and looks extremely polished this season specifically. She seems to constantly be in the right defensive position which makes her the consummate help-side defender. Nobles has an incredibly talented squad and with this excellent play from Ellis, they are looking to make another run. Expect the ’26 wing to get some considerable college looks very shortly.

Vanessa Ellis Vanessa Ellis 5'11" | SF Noble And Greenough | 2026 State New E (2026) | 5’11 SF | Nobles & Greenough

The Nobles wing has an all-round game that allows her to excel on the perimeter with her confident shooting stroke and dynamic takes. Ellis has come into the season looking much improved with a refreshing take on her game. The fluid movements with and without the ball in her hands really standout. A striking attribute of hers is the conditioning. Vanessa is flying out wide and darting down the court to extend the floor, as well as sustaining the energy make impactful shots within offensive sets in high leverage moments. Ellis is already proficient in getting shots from the free-throw line extended area, along with the short corners. With her now extended range and potent movements off the bounce, she can be a true force. The strength she plays with comes through as a positive on the defensive side of the ball too. She embraces contact that’s initiated on the drive. Vanessa loves to make plays on the ball to get her team out on the break briskly. She’s the #7 ranked small forward.

Vanessa Ellis Vanessa Ellis 5'11" | SF Noble And Greenough | 2026 State New E (2026) | 5’11 SF/PF | Nobles

Ellis is coming into the season as a champion that already has experience performing at a high level on the biggest of stages. The junior walks into the new year as a seasoned contributor whose efforts were well respected in route to Nobles getting a ring. Ellis is a gamechanger and her presence can be felt no matter where she is on the floor. Offensively, Vanessa operates well from the high post, free-throw line extended and in the short corners. The strong frame helps her embrace the contact she’s looking to go through. She also has a very nimble footwork that allow her maneuver skillfully with the bigger players that may come out to guard her. Vanessa’s defense is a force to be reckoned with. The plays she’s able to make on the ball are conducive to her team’s ability to get out in the open floor. Ellis is one of Noble’s key factors this year. Expect her to have a show out year.