Impact Of A Scholarship: Aja Ellison

University of Maryland graduate Aja Ellison always knew she wanted to work in broadcasting. She put herself in a position to live her dream by graduating from the Philip Merrill College of Journalism and starring as a forward for the women’s basketball team. However, she says none of it would’ve been possible without the Terrapin Club.  

Ellison grew up in a basketball family but never began playing until she was 16 years old. She started playing Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) basketball and quickly became a highly touted prospect in New Jersey. Ellison’s mother previously ran track at Maryland, and the opportunity of sharing the same alma mater became enticing when the Terps began recruiting her daughter.

Ellison knew she wanted to be a Terp on her first visit to the university.

“It honestly reminded me even when I took my visit, just the culture of my AAU team that I first started basketball with. So it just made me realize this is going to be fun for me,” Ellison said. 

“As soon as I stepped foot on campus, I knew that was a place I wanted to be because from every aspect of what you could possibly want in a school Maryland was perfect.”

Ellison accepted a scholarship at the university and studied journalism. She also played under head coach Brenda Frese from 2014-18. She joined a Terps team as a freshman that finished the year 34-3 with a perfect 18-0 in conference play. It was also Maryland’s first season competing in the Big Ten, and it became one of three teams at the time to finish the regular season undefeated in the conference. 

The Terps snatched the Big Ten title and made a Final Four appearance the same season. Ellison became a back-to-back conference champion the next season but missed the 2016-17 season due to injury before returning the season after. 

Ellison vividly remembers the family atmosphere that Frese created even with all the success she was a part of from 2014-18. 

“The camaraderie, just the family that we've had within the program, and that goes from the sisterhood that I have with my teammates, Coach B and the staff that I've had throughout my years,” Ellison said. “The fans, the managers, the scout team, even our donors, we call them The Rebounders.”

Ellison graduated from Maryland and received her master's degree in sports management from Texas A&M. She had experiences with various internships and smaller job opportunities and says that Maryland’s journalism program prepared her for those experiences.

Ellison’s dedication ultimately led her to her job now, where she is working with ESPN as an analyst covering primarily SEC and ACC women’s basketball. 

“All those times I've had to go into D.C. and interview random people and then come back to class, put together and edit a piece that had to be handed in by the end of class,” Ellison said regarding Maryland’s journalism program. “All that stuff really pays off. I've noticed when I've had some internships prior to working at ESPN I was ahead of the game and for me to do it as an athlete they were surprised.”

The former athlete and Merrill College graduate is in her third season covering women’s basketball and has had the chance to cover a few Big Ten teams with NBC and other networks. Ellison says Frese opened the opportunity with NBC by reaching out to a producer and vouching for her to cover games for the Terps.

Ellison made her return to XFINITY Center on Jan. 17 and was an analyst for Maryland's game against Ohio State that aired on Peacock. It was the first time she covered the Terps in College Park.

Ellison says she almost cried when she approached the campus because it brought back so many memories. The emotions continued when she entered the arena. Ellison saw people on the coaching staff who were student managers or teammates when she was a player, reinforcing the family values she associated Frese with during her playing days. She mentioned Brionna Jones, who Ellison played alongside and is now on the staff as the director of player personnel. 

Even the people who supported Ellison from the start and made her experience as a Terp possible were in attendance. 

“When you talk about the donors and those Rebounders that donate and support our team, it’s really the same people that were there when I was there,” Ellison said. “And even before that, back in the Marissa Coleman, Crystal Langhorne, Kristi Toliver times. It's the same people that came up to me and hugged me.”

Ellison hopes to do more work on camera where she would be working in a studio as a show host and isn’t limiting herself to just sports. 

The former Terp continues to support the program and shows appreciation to all the members of the Terrapin Club for showing unconditional love to her. 

“There's a face behind every single scholarship on the team and we ended up meeting people that donate, but you sort of take it for granted initially,” Ellison said. “I'm just so blessed that if it wasn't for that scholarship opportunity, I definitely wouldn't be where I am today.”