Former NBA player Monta Ellis donates $60K to the Boom

Jantomi Hall
Staff Writer/MC201

The Sonic Boom of the South is not only Jackson State University’s award-winning marching band, it is also a legacy to many. The band recently received a generous donation of $60 thousand from former NBA player and Jackson native, Monta Ellis.

Before becoming a basketball star, Ellis attended Lanier High School alongside Jackson State’s Director of Bands, Rodrick Little.

While Ellis has never forgotten his Mississippi roots, he also reflects on the impact that the Sonic Boom has on the City of Jackson.

“Anybody from Jackson can tell you what the Sonic Boom means to our city,” said Ellis. “Growing up, kids either wanna be a J-5 drum major  or J-sette.”

Ellis added, “I believe in what Dr. Little is doing with the band and I want to do whatever I can to keep making it stronger and give more students a chance to be a part of that legacy and earn an education.”

Taimont Johnson, a junior journalism and media studies major from Atlanta, Ga., who currently plays the baritone for the band expressed how grateful he is for the donation.

“I definitely feel blessed and grateful for the generous donation from Monta Ellis. I feel like the Boom works really hard to produce great music and field shows for the fans every week and we sometimes feel as though it goes unnoticed,” said Johnson.

Johnson also describes how people have been supporting the band a lot more.

“We have a lot of people who say they might support us but they really don’t. The last couple of months the Boom has been getting more support and I love it,” Johnson added.

Anthony Harris, a senior music education major from Shreveport, La. and current Sonic Boom member, describes how much of an honor it was to receive the donation.

“It’s always an honor to have our hard work and the mission of our band program noticed and appreciated,” Harris said. “We are a simple family working together to achieve a common goal of entertaining our fans all while doing what we love.”

Harris added, “The $60 thousand was a huge blessing and is definitely appreciated by all members of the band.”

Anica Marcelino, a junior graphic design major from Temple Hills, Md. and Boom clarinet player, explained how deserving the band is to receive Ellis’s huge donation.

“I can definitely say not only are we very much grateful and excited, but this is also a long, well-deserved blessing for the Boom,” stated Marcelino.

Marcelino also described how before Ellis’s donation, many band members participated in the Boom just for the love of music and the program.

“Most people outside also do not know that a good number of our members are marching for free and out of loyalty/love for the program,” said Marcelino. “Everybody wants to hear and see the Boom but only a few like Monta Ellis would actually take that extra generous step to make sure that it all goes well.”