MalikMonk

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2016-17

Freshman: Produced one of the most prolific seasons in program history … An NCAA Consensus Second Team All-America selection after earning second-team nods by the Associated Press, U.S. Basketball Writers Association, Sporting News and the National Association of Basketball Coaches … Jerry West Award winner, awarded to the nation’s top shooting guard by Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame … Southeastern Conference AP Player of the Year … AP Newcomer of the Year … SEC Freshman of the Year, as awarded by the league’s coaches … An All-SEC performer by both the AP and the coaches … Sporting News Freshman All-America member … USA Today and NBC Sports All-America Second Team selection … Wooden Award All-American … USBWA District IV Player of the Year … Set a UK freshman program record with 754 points scored, passing the 720 scored by Jamal Murray a season ago … The 754 points are the fourth most in single season by any Wildcat regardless of class … Averaged 19.8 points, 2.5 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game … 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 … Only freshman in school history to score 34 or more points in games at home, on the road and at a neutral site … Appeared in all 38 games and made 37 starts … Led the team in scoring in 21 games and had 18 games with three or more made 3-pointers … Six times this season he scored more than 20 points in a single half, including a Calipari-era record 30 against Florida at home … Set a Kentucky freshman record with 47 points scored against No. 7/6 North Carolina in Las Vegas … Included in that scoring output was a game-winning 3-pointer … He also hit a game-tying shot to force overtime in a 37-point effort against Georgia at home … 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 … Had two 3-pointers with less than 30 seconds to play against No. 6/8 North Carolina in the Elite Eight before UNC sunk a buzzer-beater to win the game … Poured in 21 points, including four 3-pointers in a win over No. 8/6 UCLA in the Sweet 16 … Had 20 points in the SEC Tournament semifinals vs. Alabama along with four rebounds and a pair of assists … Scored 27 points in a come-from-behind win at home against Vanderbilt … Had 33 in the home victory over Florida, with 30 points coming in the second half … Had 16 points, five assists and three steals on the road at Georgia … Just missed out on a double-double with 20 points and a career-high eight rebounds at home against Tennessee … Scored 23 points and knocked down four 3-pointers against LSU … Exploded for 37 points against Georgia at home, including hitting the game-tying shot to send the game to overtime … Had 24 points and six assists in the win over Auburn … Produced a 34-point effort with six boards and three steals at Ole Miss … It marked the most points scored on the road by a UK freshman in program history … Scored 20 or more points seven times over a nine-game stretch, including four-consecutive 20-point performances vs. UT Martin, Arizona State, No. 11/9 UCLA and Valparaiso … Breakout performance came with 23 points scored and seven 3-pointers in Madison Square Garden against No. 13/13 Michigan State.
 

HIGH SCHOOL

Made the All-USA Boys Basketball Second Team … Tabbed to the Naismith All-America Second Team … McDonald’s All-American Game Morgan Wooten Player of the Year finalist … Also a McDonald’s All-American and Jordan Brand Classic game participant … 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 … Won the McDonald’s 3-point shooting contest and finished second in the dunk contest … The 2016 Arkansas Gatorade Player of the Year in addition to earning the state’s Mr. Basketball award … An all-state player … Considered the top shooting guard in the class and a consensus five-star prospect … Ranked No. 9 overall by Rivals and ESPN … 247Sports rated him as the No. 10 player overall and Scout tabbed him at No. 13 … Ranked No. 9 overall in the Recruiting Services Consensus Index … Averaged 28.6 points, 7.5 rebounds and 4.4 assists as a senior … Season highlights include a single-game school scoring record with 53 points … Named to the 2015-16 USA Basketball Men’s Junior National Team in September … Led Bentonville to the state championship game … Suited up for the Arkansas Wings on the AAU circuit. 
 

PERSONAL

Born Feb. 4, 1998, in Jonesboro, Arkansas … He is the son of Jackie Monk and Michael Scales … Has one brother, Marcus … Marcus 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 … Lists his mom and brother as the most influential people in his life … Chose his jersey number because “on the fifth day of the Creation, God made the animals” and he loves learning about animals … Activities he enjoys outside of basketball include fishing and riding on four wheelers … Chose Kentucky over Arkansas, Kansas and Oregon.