Monta Ellis occupies a permanent place in Mississippi basketball history. Long before his name was called on an NBA draft night and before his scoring bursts lit up professional box scores, he was a Jackson kid redefining what was possible inside a high school gym. Ellis emerged at the end of the NBA’s prep to pro era, rising from Lanier High School to eventually a twelve year professional career built on speed, fearlessness, and production.
Born October 26, 1985, Ellis grew up in Jackson, raised primarily by his mother, Rosa Ellis, a former high school and junior college basketball player. Basketball was not recreation as much as routine. It provided structure, discipline, and direction. His older brother Antwain, a standout forward at Lanier, pushed him into constant competition with older players, forcing Ellis to rely on quickness, balance, and creativity rather than size. By the time he reached high school, Ellis was already playing against college level guards in summer runs across central Mississippi.
When Ellis arrived at Lanier High School in 2001, his impact was immediate. As a freshman he averaged more than 20 points per game and helped lead the Bulldogs to a Class 4A state championship. Over the next two seasons, his role expanded from scorer to complete offensive engine. As a sophomore and junior, Ellis averaged more than 27 and then nearly 30 points per game, carrying Lanier to back-to-back state runner up finishes while drawing national recruiting attention.
His senior season remains one of the most dominant individual campaigns in Mississippi high school basketball history.
Known statewide as the Mississippi Missile, Ellis averaged 38.4 points per game while also rebounding, assisting, and defending at elite levels. He scored 72 points in a single game, tied for one of the highest totals ever recorded in the state, and put up 46 points against Oak Hill Academy, a national powerhouse loaded with future NBA talent. Lanier finished 35-2 and reclaimed the Class 4A state championship. Ellis ended his career with 4,167 points, the second highest total in Mississippi big school history, and was named EA Sports National Player of the Year.
Ellis originally committed to Mississippi State, but chose to enter the 2005 NBA Draft directly out of high school. Despite his resume, questions about his position and frame caused him to slide to the second round, where the Golden State Warriors selected him 40th overall.
That draft night disappointment became a defining motivator.
After a quiet rookie season, Ellis broke out under head coach Don Nelson during the 2006-07 season. In Nelson’s up tempo system, Ellis thrived in transition and space, earning NBA Most Improved Player honors and helping fuel the We Believe Warriors’ historic playoff upset of top seeded Dallas. From 2007 through 2011, he became one of the Western Conference’s most consistent scorers, averaging more than 20 points per game three times and peaking at 25.5 points per game.
Although he never earned an All-Star selection, his production placed him among the league’s most reliable offensive guards. His time in Golden State ended after injuries and a well-documented moped incident strained his relationship with the organization, leading to a trade to Milwaukee in 2012. He remained productive stops in Milwaukee and Dallas, including a late career playoff scoring surge with the Mavericks, before finishing his NBA career in Indiana.
Across 833 NBA games, Ellis scored 14,858 points and averaged 17.8 points per game. More important, his career validated that elite talent from Jackson could translate to the highest level of the sport. After retiring, Ellis returned his focus to youth basketball and community involvement. His son, Monta Ellis Jr., has already emerged as a highly regarded prospect, extending the family’s basketball legacy.
For Mississippi basketball, Monta Ellis is more than a former NBA scorer. He is a benchmark. His Lanier High School years remain the standard for individual dominance, and his path from Georgetown to the league continues to shape how the state views its own basketball potential.
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