Elijah Malone

Photo by: Tony Harman

Photo by: Tyler Davis

Position:
Center
Height:
6-10
Weight:
268
Class:
Graduate Student
Hometown:
LaGrange, Ind.
High School:
Prairie Heights
Prev School:
Grace College (Ind.)
Major:
Non-Degree Unclassified Undergrad

2024-25 (Graduate): Topped the Buffaloes in shooting at 59.2 percent while averaging 7.9 points per outing. Ranked third on the team in blocks (21), fourth in scoring and fifth in rebounding at 3.2 per game. Led the Buffaloes in the College Basketball Crown against Villanova (4/1), securing his first CU double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds while dishing out four assists. Ended his season on a high note, making 35 of his last 53 from the field (.660) over the final nine games of the season. Led Colorado in the Big 12 Championship second-round win over West Virginia (3/12), scoring 14 points on 7 of 10 from the field. The 14 points and seven field goals were his most against a Big 12 opponent. Reached the 2,000-point mark for his collegiate career in the win over Harvard (11/17). Had 10 games scoring in double-digits and led the Buffaloes in scoring in four games. Recorded a team single-game high of 27 points against Northern Colorado (11/8), including team season bests with 10 free throws made on 12 attempts. Made the 100th 3-point field goal of his career during the win over the Bears.

2020-24 (Grace College): A two-time NAIA All-American and three-time All-Crossroads League pick, he averaged 14.1 points, 7.3 rebounds and 2.2 blocks over 139 career games at Grace. He is the Lancers’ career leader in blocks (308) and field goal percentage (.653) and ranks ninth in both points (1,953) and rebounds (1,017). Named the recipient of the 2024 Bevo Francis Award, given to the nation’s best small college player, encompassing NCAA II, III, NAIA and junior colleges. He averaged 17.3 points, 8.3 rebounds and 2.5 blocks as a senior, guiding Grace to a 34-2 record and the NAIA Fab Four (national semifinals). The 2024 NAIA Player of the Year, he shot 63 percent from the floor, 37 percent from 3-point range and 81 percent from the line. Named the Crossroads League Player of the Year and earned a spot on the NAIA All-Tournament Team. As a junior, he averaged 14.9 points and 7.7 rebounds while shooting 62 percent from the field. Shot 69.7 percent from the field as a sophomore, setting a Grace single-season school record.

High School: A 2020 graduate of Prairie Heights High School, he averaged 15.7 points, on 72 percent shooting, 8.2 rebounds and 2.3 blocks as a senior helping the Panthers to an 18-6 record and No. 9 ranking in Indiana's Class 2A final poll. Named a small school all-state honoree.

Academics: Earned his bachelor's degree in Marketing from Grace College and is a Non-Degree Unclassified Undergrad at Colorado.

Personal: Born March 20, 2002, in Indiana. He is the son of Stacy Smith. The second of four siblings with older brother Malachi, younger brother Isaiah and sister Jerica. Isaiah plays basketball at St. Francis (Ind.).