JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) - Monta Ellis is a former NBA player, a Jackson native, and one of the best basketball players to come through the Magnolia State. On Friday, he received a hero’s welcome in his hometown.
Jackson Mayor John Horhn presented Ellis with a key to the city, along with a proclamation declaring October 9th “Monta Ellis Day” in the capital city.
Dozens of people turned out to support Ellis, including his wife, children, family members, friends, and members of the Alcorn State University men’s basketball program, where Ellis now serves as general manager.
A Jackson legend’s rise
Ellis was a high school standout at Lanier High School, where he helped lead the Bulldogs to four consecutive state title games. Lanier captured two state championships during that run — the first in 2002, and again in 2005.
As a senior in 2005, Ellis was named a McDonald’s All-American and Parade Magazine’s National Player of the Year.
After his stellar high school career, the Golden State Warriors drafted Ellis straight out of high school. He went on to play 12 years in the NBA, suiting up for the Warriors, Milwaukee Bucks, Dallas Mavericks and Indiana Pacers.
Lanier High School retired his jersey number in 2021.
“This is what it built me to be”
Ellis said he’s grateful to receive this kind of appreciation from his hometown.
“To receive the key to the city of Jackson is such an honor because I finally get acknowledged by the city that I helped build,” said Ellis. “I tell everybody all the time, when you see me, this is Jackson, Mississippi. This is what it built me to be, the person who I am today.”
Honoring his grandparents
As he thanked everyone for coming out to support him, Ellis said there are two people who helped mold him into the man he is today — his grandparents.
“They’re not here today to see me receive this, but 90% of what you see is them,” Ellis said. “It was some lonely nights and it was tough, but I was always able to fight and lean with them.”
Ellis paused to give a heartfelt reflection on the impact his grandparents had on his life.
“My grandmother, I miss you so dearly,” said Ellis. “I love you. Thank you for teaching me everything that I needed to make it in this world. My grandfather, man, not many words, but when you spoke, they were loud. I love everything that you instilled in me, everything that you built into me. I just want to let y’all know I did it.”
Giving back to the Capital City
Ellis is considered a Mississippi and Jackson legend, and he prides himself on giving back. He says he wants to breathe new life into the capital city — and he’s asking the community to do its part.
“I ask everybody here in the community, in order for me to make change and help make change, I need you guys to police yourselves to make a better change in our community, because that’s the only way we’re going to see change,” said Ellis. “I was a kid that came out of here. I already know how we’re behind the eight ball. We had our odds, but we have to make a difference — it starts within the community. In order for us to bring stuff in here and to make lives better, we have to make our community better. I ask you guys to police yourselves to make this a better city.”
Mayor: Ellis is “developing a path for a lot of us to follow”
Mayor Horhn said it was important to recognize Ellis in this way, calling him a positive role model for many people in the capital city.
“I believe that Jackson should celebrate its greatness where we find it, and we certainly have found it in Monta Ellis,” said Mayor Horhn. “I also believe that we’ve got to show encouragement to our young people, especially when they’re setting a fine example of what a young man or what a young woman should be, and I don’t know of a better example than Monta Ellis.”
Horhn said he and Ellis have been in communication for several weeks, and the two are partnering to work with and encourage young people in Jackson.
“He had the opportunity to live anywhere in the world that he would choose, and he chose to come back home,” said Mayor Horhn. “We want to get that message to as many young men and women who have left home and who say, well, the grass is greener on the other side, and I’m not going to reinvest in Jackson, I’m not going to come back to Jackson. Those of us who do can make such a great impact on our community. Monta’s doing it. He’s showing the way. He’s developing a path for a lot of us to follow. I really think that we ought to celebrate that and that he should be commended.”
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