NBA Draft: Monta Ellis Quiet in Loss

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">It was hardly the sort of breakout performance many anticipated from a guard some consider the nation's best in the Class of 2005. Ellis, a Mississippi State signee, averaged better than 38 points per game during his spectacular senior season at Lanier that earned him Mr. Basketball honors in his home state.

"My team played well in the second half," Ellis said. "We played hard and got back in the game, which is all you can ask for."

Ellis acknowledged, however, he was miffed about the West's substitution patterns.

Ellis played the first 8 minutes of the first half, then didn't return until 14:34 remained in the second half. He went back to the bench at the 8:21 mark, then returned to the floor for the final 3:57 to help the West ? which trailed by as many as 25 points late in the first half ? pull even at 106-106 will 1:22 left.

"It's tough to sit 20 out minutes, then come right back in and be expected to hit the shots (immediately)," said Ellis, whose 17 minutes on the official box score was tied for sixth-most on the West's 12-player roster. "The other team was subbing guys in and out regularly."

"We were going with units," said West coach Al Rhodes of Logansport, Ind. "We had to get certain guys their minutes at the start of the second half. ... It's not an easy situation."

Ellis, the 13th senior from Mississippi and sixth from Jackson to play in the McDonald's boys game, finished 3-for-10 from the floor, making his only 3-pointer from the top of the key early in the first half. He added 4 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals while seeing most of his action at the off-guard position to the disappointment of Lanier coach Thomas Billups, who was among some two dozen people who made the trip from Jackson to support Ellis.</div> Source