The challenge for James Ennis when choosing to come play basketball at Long Beach State, was fitting into a starting lineup — which already had four seniors who had been playing together for the last three seasons.
The growing and learning processes are now over for the lanky junior, who has inserted himself as the ‘X-factor’ on both ends of the court.
Ennis was brought to the 49ers as a guy who could replace departing senior Greg Plater in the starting lineup.
Now that the versatile wing player has had time to adjust to the Division I level, he is flourishing in his role as the fifth starter.
On the season, Ennis is averaging 10.3 points on 50 percent from the field, 3.7 rebounds and 2.6 assists per contest.
While his numbers may not seem overbearing, the intangibles he brings to the floor on a nightly basis are what make him so important to the success of the ‘Niners.
The 6-foot-7, 200-pound Ennis does not have a specific position. I, among others, classify him as a wing player because of his ability to play both the guard and forward positions.
His vast wingspan makes him a nightmare defensively for opposing teams. Not only is he one of the ‘Niners best on-ball defenders, but he also heads the 1-2-2 press that LBSU head coach Dan Monson likes to institute to give opponents a different look.
Offensively, Ennis creates mismatches all over the floor. While the other team’s best defenders are busy trying to lock up seniors’ Casper Ware and Larry Anderson — Ennis has become the forgotten man.
After LBSU’s 14-point victory over Cal State Fullerton on Saturday night, Anderson said that the team wants Ennis to be more aggressive.
“We [the team] tell him [Ennis] all the time that he needs to be more aggressive,” Anderson said. “They [opponents] key in on the seniors and they don’t really pay attention to him.”
Anderson added: “I’ve been telling him since he’s been here to be more aggressive. I think he’s starting to realize he can take over games, just like we [the seniors] can.”
At the time, Anderson didn’t know that Ennis had just taken over his first game.
The junior scored 13 of his team-high 19 points in the final seven minutes to lead the 49ers to their ninth straight victory — keeping The Beach perfect in Big West play.
The Titans didn’t know it either.
While they were busy keying on stopping Ware (11 points on 4 of 10 shooting), Ennis was single-handedly willing the ‘Niners to victory after CSUF had pulled within two points with 8:40 left to play.
Ennis has had some of his best games against the top competition that the ‘Niners have faced this season.
He scored 19 points on 6 of 10 shooting in LBSU’s upset (now not-so-upset) victory over No. 9-ranked Pittsburgh in November. He also dished out six assists and grabbed five steals in that contest.
Ennis dropped 16 points on 5 of 7 shooting against now No. 8-ranked Kansas, while grabbing six steals. In a semi-homecoming game against UC Santa Barbara a few weeks ago, he had 14 points on 6 of 8 shooting, including three steals.
It’s obvious that Ware and the other three seniors are the go-to options when it comes to the 49ers offensive attack, but if The Beach is to make some noise in the Big West Conference and NCAA tournaments, Ennis is the key.
His ability to provide momentum-changing dunks, anchor a defensive scheme, score off the dribble and spread the floor from 3-point range, makes Ennis one of the most dangerous pieces of the ‘Niners attack.
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