Full Breakdown
Monta Ellis Appointed General Manager of Alcorn State Men's Basketball
8/9/2026, 12:13:58 PM
Core Appointment
Alcorn State University announced that former NBA guard Monta Ellis will serve as the men’s basketball general manager. A source familiar with the hiring told On3 that Ellis, a Jackson, Mississippi native, will join head coach Jake Morton in overseeing the Braves program in the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC).
Background on Ellis and Alcorn State
Ellis entered the NBA directly from Lanier High School in Jackson, being selected No. 40 overall by the Golden State Warriors in the 2005 draft. He spent seven seasons with the Warriors before finishing a 12-year career that also included stints with the Milwaukee Bucks, Dallas Mavericks and Indiana Pacers. Although Ellis never played college basketball, his professional résumé includes more than 15,000 career points.
Alcorn State, located in Claiborne County, Mississippi, competes as an HBCU in the SWAC. The Braves concluded the most recent season near the bottom of the conference, posting a 9-23 overall record and finishing second-to-last in league play.
Recent Performance Data
During his NBA tenure, Ellis averaged 19.4 points, 4.2 assists, 3.7 rebounds and 1.7 steals per game, according to the source. His scoring total exceeds 15,000 points, reflecting a high-volume offensive profile that the university hopes to translate into recruiting and program development.
Prospects for Program Turnaround
Ellis and Morton are tasked with revitalizing a struggling program. The hiring signals Alcorn State’s intent to leverage Ellis’s professional experience and name recognition to attract talent and improve on-court performance. While no official statements from the university were provided, the source indicated that the administration views the appointment as a strategic move to elevate the Braves within the SWAC and enhance the school’s broader athletic profile.
