Former NBA Star Monta Ellis Named Alcorn State MCBB GM Ahead of 2026-27 Season

Monta Ellis, who had a 12-year NBA career, is going back to college to work at Alcorn State.

Alcorn State athletic director D'Wayne Robinson told ESPN's Jeff Borzello Ellis is joining the program as general manager of the men's basketball team.

Ellis has the distinction of being part of the final NBA draft that allowed high school seniors to declare. He was the No. 40 overall pick in 2005 by the Golden State Warriors.

After playing primarily off the bench as a rookie, Ellis was a starter for most of the 2006-07 season and was named Most Improved Player. He is one of only four players to win the award as a 21-year-old.

Ellis is best known for his seven-season stint with the Warriors, including being part of the "We Believe" team in 2006-07 that defeated the No. 1 seed and 67-win Dallas Mavericks in the first round of the playoffs.

That was also the first time the Warriors had made the postseason since 1994. He also spent time with the Milwaukee Bucks, Mavericks and Indiana Pacers.

This will mark Ellis' first stint in a prominent front-office-type role at any level. He is joining an Alcorn State program coming off a 9-23 record during the 2025-26 season.

The Braves have had three consecutive losing seasons. Jake Morton is entering his second year as head coach after spending 26 years as an assistant with nine different programs, including stints at Miami and Florida State.