MISSISSIPPI REPORT
by Lavel Johnson, Mississippi Editor for the HOOP SCOOP
Published on October 26, 2004

Editor's Note:  Johnson's list of the top 93 seniors, 51 juniors, 20 sophomores, 12 freshmen, and four 8th graders can be found by clicking below on Johnson Ranks Em:  The Top Players in Mississippi.

ELLIS REPRESENTS THE PRESENT & GRANT REPRESENTS THE FUTURE WHEN TALKING ABOUT GREAT ONES FROM MISSISSIPPI

by Clark Francis, Editor & Publisher of the HOOP SCOOP, & Lavel Johnson, Mississippi Editor for the HOOP SCOOP

                    After producing great players, like 6'9 Al Jefferson from Prentiss (H.S.) MS, 6'10 Travis Outlaw from Starkville (H.S.) MS, 6'10 Jackie Butler from McComb (H.S.) MS, 6'9 Darius Rice from Jackson (Lanier) MS, and 6'11 Jonathan Bender from Picayune (H.S.) MS, in recent years, it should come as no surprise that once again the state of Mississippi has one of the top five-ranked seniors nationally in 6'4 Monta Ellis from Jackson (Lanier) MS.  And Ellis gets that ranking the old-fashioned way.  He earned it!  Remember, this is the guy took home HOOP SCOOP Player-of-the-Summer honors after finishing as the #1-ranked player by the HOOP SCOOP at the Reebok ABDC Camp, where he was the second leading scorer in the camp with 16.7 ppg, and the #3-ranked player by the HOOP SCOOP at the Reebok Big Time Tournament, where he was the second leading scorer in the tournament with 29.2 ppg.  Ellis can play either guard spot, but he'll probably project as a 2-guard at the college level, thanks to his size, athleticism, and prolific scoring ability.  But that's assuming that Ellis doesn't follow in the footsteps of Jefferson, Outlaw, Butler, and Bender, all of whom by-passed college and entered their names into the NBA Draft.  Ironically, three of those four players (Bender in 1999 and Outlaw and Butler in 2003) also committed to the Bulldogs.  However, when it's all said and done, Ellis might turn out to be better than all of them, because he's got just as much talent and athleticism, a much better work ethic, and is a capable of putting up incredible numbers.  In other words, if Ellis gives himself the time that he needs to continue to develop at Mississippi State, where he could emerge into the best player to ever play for head coach Rick Stansbury, the sky's the limit.  Yes, Ellis could be that good! 
                    The state also has two other players - 6'6 Courtney Fells from Shannon (H.S.) MS, who verbally committed to N.C. State last spring, and 6'9 Cyrus McGowan from Meridian (H.S.) MS, who recently verbally committed to Arkansas - in the senior class who not only have committed to big time schools, but also have tremendous upsides and are just oozing with potential.  And, if you still include 6'3 Jarvis Hill, then the state's senior class features four legitimate high Division I players.  If you will recall, Hill, who originally is from Starkville (H.S.) MS, enrolled at Birmingham (Central Park Chrisitan) AL and verbally committed to Tennessee, but more recently appears to have transferred to Durham (Mt. Zion Christian) NC.  It also appears that Hill has reneged on the Volunteers and may be close to making a verbal commitment to Auburn.  The senior class in the state also has a lot more depth than we originally thought as at least 10 other players - 6'2 Jeremy Wise from Jackson (Murrah) MS, 6'7 Jeremy Caldwell from Jackson (Murrah) MS, 5'10 Kenny Dawkins from Holly Springs (H.S.) MS, 6'3 Darren Avery from Corinth (H.S.) MS, 6'4 Roderick Hansford from Jackson Callaway) MS, 5'11 DeCarlos Riley from Biloxi (H.S.) MS, 6'7 Jarvis Williams from Jackson (Provine) MS, 6'6 Roderick Ollie from Indianola (Gentry) MS, 6'8 Donaries Hair from Picayune (H.S.) MS, and 6'1 Derrick Smith from Senatobia (H.S.) MS - appear to be good enough to play at the mid-major level.  And the only who has already verbally committed is Avery, who recently picked Middle Tennessee State
                    The junior and sophomore class also are beginning to take shape, as 6'8 Jr Andre Stephens from Heidleberg (H.S.) MS, 6'7 Jr JeJuan Brown from Biloxi (H.S.) MS, 6'7 Jr David Booker from Moss Point (H.S.) MS, 6'0 Jr Solomon Bozeman from Oxford (H.S.) MS, 6'2 Jr Al Graham from Jackson (Lanier) MS, 6'6 Soph Chris Gamble from New Albany (H.S.) MS, 6'8 Soph Malcolm Kirkland from Madison (Central) MS, and 6'6 Soph Lavoris Weathers from Greenwood (H.S.) MS all are on track to get recruited at the big time level.  Stephens and Booker are both more prototypical four-men who do most of the dirty work inside; Brown has more athleticism, versatility, and a good inside/outside game, which may equate to the wing forward spot at the next level; and Bozeman and Graham are a pair of scoring point guards.  Gamble is the best of the best sophomores right now, because he's already a killer inside.  However, Kirkland has the most potential, because he's a long tall inside player with developing skills, and Weathers has the best offensive repertoire.  But the next great player to come out of the state promises to be 6'6 8th Grader Renardo Grant from Jackson (Peeples Middle School) MS and already Jonathan Bender comparisons are in order.  We're talking about somebody with a great inside/outside game, although Bender always was a better outside shooter and Grant is a lot tougher right now than Bender will probably ever be.