Monta Ellis life and biography

Monta Ellis is an American professional basketball player who plays the point guard and shooting guard positions for the Golden State Warriors of the NBA. Ellis entered the 2005 NBA Draft after graduating from Lanier High School in Jackson, Mississippi, and the Warriors drafted him in the second round.

NBA CAREER :

Was selected by Golden State in the second round of the 2005 NBA Draft (40th overall) … Was named NBA’s Most Improved Player in 2006-07 … Is the first American high school player drafted by Golden State … Was one of 10 high school players selected in the 2005 NBA Draft … Enters 2010-11 owning career averages of 18.1 points, 3.8 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.59 steals in 34.2 minutes (296 regular-season games in five seasons with Golden State).

2009-10 :
Appeared in 64 games (all starts), averaging career-high figures in scoring (25.5), assists (5.3), steals (2.23) and minutes played (41.4) … Among NBA leaders, ranked 6th in the NBA in scoring (25.5), 2nd in steals (2.23) and 1st in minutes per game (41.4) … Became the first Golden State player to average at least 25.0 points since Chris Mullin in 1992-93 and the first to average 25.5 points and 5.0 assists since Mullin in 1988-89 … Only three other NBA players averaged at least 25.0 points and 5.0 assists in 2009-10 (LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Dwyane Wade) … Became one of only seven NBA players in the last 10 years to average at least 25.0 points, 5.0 assists and 4.0 rebounds, joining Allen Iverson, Dwyane Wade, Gilbert Arenas, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James and Tracy McGrady … Scored 30-plus points on 24 occasions ... Only five NBA players (Durant, James, Anthony, Bryant and Wade) reached the 30-plus points plateau more frequently … Scored 40-plus points three times, including twice during a three-game stretch 11/25 – 11/30 (42 at San Antonio and 45 vs. Indiana) … Scored a career-high 46 points (17-23 FGs) at Dallas (2/3) … Handed out a career-high-tying 13 assists vs. New Orleans (3/17), one of five double-figure assist outings .

2008-09 :
Appeared in 25 games (all starts), averaging 19.0 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.56 steals in 35.7 minutes...Missed the first 43 games of the year due to left ankle injury sustained on August 21, 2008, and subsequent surgery...Over his final 11 games, averaged 25.5 points, 5.0 rebounds and 4.6 assists while shooting 48.0% (115-238 FG) from the field...Posted a then-career-high 42 points (16-35 FG, 10-12 FT) along with nine rebounds and nine assists in overtime victory vs. Sacramento (4/1) in final appearance of 2008-09 season...Scored 20-plus points 11 times...40-plus points once...Registered one double-double (29 points & 11 rebounds on 3/13 vs. Dallas)...Two-plus steals eight times (five steals twice)...Missed 57 games overall due to injury.

HIGH SCHOOL :
Was an early entry candidate for the 2005 NBA Draft out of Lanier High School in Jackson, MS...In four seasons at Lanier, averaged 28.7 points per game and racked up 4,167 total points -- second all-time in Mississippi history and tops among big-school players (5A and 4A)...Named to 2005 McDonald’s All-America Team...Named National Co-Player of the Year by PARADE Magazine as a senior...Was a four-time All-State selection, becoming the first player in state history to earn the honor four times...Became the Jackson Public Schools’ all-time leading scorer, surpassing Othella Harrington...While at Lanier, his teams compiled a record of 129-16, appearing in four consecutive state championship finals and capturing two state titles (2002 & 2005)...Was named Mr. Basketball in the state of Mississippi following senior season in which he averaged 38.4 points, 7.9 rebounds, 6.9 assists and 4.5 steals per game and led his team to a 35-2 record and the Class 4A state championship...Tallied career-high 72 points in a 117-56 victory over Greenwood...Scored 42 points against Oak Hill Academy, which at the time was ranked No. 1 in the nation by USA Today, marking the most points ever scored against the perennial powerhouse...On the postseason All-Star circuit following senior year, tallied eight points and two assists in the McDonald’s High School All-America game.

PERSONAL:

Is the son of Rosa Ellis ... Became Married this past summer and is the father of one son, Monta Jr., who was born in the Summer of 2009 ... Launched the “ME8 Foundation” to assists families and children in Jackson, MS and the Bay Area during the summer of 2010 ... Has been an active partipant in the Warriors’ community outreach efforts during his first five seasons in the NBA ... In 2008-09, joined teammate Andris Biedrins to help unveil a newly refurbished basketball court at the Leonard J. Meltzer Boys & Girls Club in Oakland as part of Toyota Project Rebound ... In recent years, has adopted a local family and hosted a holiday party at which he surprised the family with Christmas gifts as part of the team’s Season of Giving ... Other community outreach efforts include participation in a Habitat for Humanity Home Build and the Nicolas Colby Fund Basketball Clinic, the Warriors Thanksgiving Food Serving event, as well as many season ticket holder and corporate partner events, including a special autograph signing session at a local Verizon Wireless store ... For the past three seasons, has purchased and donated tickets to every home game to various children’s groups...Has served as a coach for the NBA Entertainment League Celebrity Charity Game and made several appearances at Warriors Basketball Camp sessions ... In the summer of 2008, joined forces with with fellow NBA player Maurice Williams to host the Mississippi Celebrity Basketball Game at Jackson State University.

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