Mississippi State signee Monta Ellis will declare for the NBA draft instead of going to college, Ellis told ESPN.com on Monday afternoon.

The Lainier (Miss.) High scoring guard is rated as the second best player in the high school class of 2005, according to scouthoops.com. He said he is in the process of interviewing agents and will make a final decision in the coming days.

"This has always been a dream of mine," Ellis said. "This is the best move for me to put my name in the draft."

Ellis becomes the fourth high school player to officially declare for the draft, joining Oklahoma State signee Gerald Green (Gulf Shores Academy in Houston, Texas), unsigned Andray Blatche of South Kent Prep School (Conn.) and Memphis signee Shawne Williams (Laurinburg Prep, N.J.).