5 Malik Monk

Malik Monk was born Malik Ahmad Monk on February 4, 1998, in Jonesboro, Arkansas to Jackie Monk and Michael Scales.  He has one brother, Marcus who was an NFL wide receiver of the Chicago Bears and played for the University of Arkansas.  Marcus also played college basketball at Arkansas.  A cousin, Rashad Madden played basketball for Arkansas, and his uncle, Chuck Monk, played running back for Arkansas State.

Monk grew up in Lepanto, Arkansas. He attended East Poinsett County High School for his freshman year before transferring to Bentonville High School, where he became one of the top high school players in the country.  Monk was the 2016 Arkansas Gatorade Player of the Year in addition to earning the state’s Mr. Basketball award and was considered the top shooting guard in the class and a consensus five-star prospect.  Monk averaged 28.6 points, 7.5 rebounds and 4.4 assists as a senior.  His highlights included a single-game school scoring record with 53 points.  He made the All-USA Boys Basketball Second Team and was tabbed to the Naismith All-America Second Team.  He was also a McDonald’s All-American and Jordan Brand Classic game participant.  Monk shared MVP honors with fellow UK signee De’Aaron Fox at the Jordan Brand Classic after posting 22 points, five rebounds, three assists and three steals.  He won the McDonald’s 3-point shooting contest and finished second in the dunk contest.

Monk chose Kentucky over Arkansas, Kansas, and Oregon.

Playing under head coach John Calipari, Monk was a star freshman at Kentucky, leading the team in scoring and dazzling fans with his highlight-reel plays.

• Set a UK freshman program record with 754 points scored, passing the 720 scored by Jamal Murray.  The 754 points are the fourth most in single season by any Wildcat regardless of class.
• Connected on 104 made 3-pointers, the third most in a single season by any UK player and just the fourth in program history to hit more than 100 in a single year
• Drained 251 made field goals, the most by a freshman in program history
• Logged four 30-point scoring games, more than any other freshman in school history
• Owns four of the top seven single-game scoring performances in the John Calipari era
• Charted more 20-point scoring games (38) and more double-figure scoring games (36) in a single year than any other Calipari-coached player
• Led the SEC in scoring during the regular season at 21.2 points per game
• A four-time SEC weekly award winner (SEC Freshman of the Week on Nov. 21, Jan. 2 and Jan. 16; SEC Player of the Week on Dec. 19), including earning USBWA Wayman Tisdale Freshman of the Week and Oscar Robertson Player of the Week following his 47-point outburst vs. the Tar Heels
• Averaged 19.8 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game while shooting 39.7% from three-point range.
• Scored 47 points against North Carolina on December 17, 2016, one of the greatest performances in Kentucky history.
• Named SEC Player of the Year (2017) and won SEC Freshman of the Year honors.
• Helped lead Kentucky to the 2017 Elite Eight, where they lost in a close game to North Carolina.

Monk was selected 11th overall by the Charlotte Hornets in the 2017 NBA Draft. He has since developed into a dynamic scorer and playmaker, known for his instant offense off the bench.