Let's talk Malik Monk

[wcc31]

Looks like we're sitting pretty for Fox and the frontcourt is in good, possibly great shape (if we add Bolden), how does everyone feel about Monk? I think we get the kid out of Arkansas. What's the general feel out there nationally? Are Hogs fans very confident or only somewhat? Is he waiting until Spring?

I am giddy about the possibility of a Fox/Monk backcourt. Besides Giles, they are probably my two favorite players in the class.

 

[MWes11]

Monk has kept it pretty close to the vest in regards to his recruitment. In the end, he will want to do what is best for his future and he will be a Cat.

 

[TNCatfanforever]

Arkansas is a state that loves its basketball to a high degree....not as much as the Bluegrass state. Th ere will be a lot of pressure from the state and the Walton's for him to stay home. I can understand if he does...but Mike Anderson's style nor being in the state of Arkansas will show case his talents like UK. He has been my number one want for 2 years after seeing his highlights...

 

[UKhoopCat]

As others have mentioned, I think Monk waits until Spring to pick the Cats to ease the scrutiny (venom) he will receive from the home state Razorback fans as he plays out his senior season.

 

[thecatsareback#8]

Hopefully he waits it out until after this seasons end and Cal can show him what will happen if he picks Arkansas over Kentucky via Malik Newman/Mississippi St.

 

[jrpross]

Hopefully he waits it out until after this seasons end and Cal can show him what will happen if he picks Arkansas over Kentucky via Malik Newman/Mississippi St.

Uh-huh. That will be a perfect example for Cal to use when he can point to Newman's double teams he sees all the time, along with them probably not making the NCAA tournament.

 

[davekersey]

Landing Fox will help UK land Monk. They've already talked about playing together and can see how it would work out just fine. Also, UK hosts a bunch of top flight players in a week, and some of them are recruiting for us, and that a national championship type juggernaut is being built. That ain't happening in Fayetteville, and Anderson's future there is suspect. I think we land Monk, just a matter of when.

 

[GonzoCat90]

I think unless Ulis and Briscoe are back, there's virtually no way Monk chooses the dumpster fire Arkansas is sure to be over the biggest stage in the sport.

There's usually a reason when you hear a school mentioned as a strong contender for a kid for several years and it isn't the home state school.

 

[bucsrule8872]

I feel pretty good about Fox and Bolden. I think Monk is the biggest question mark.

Fox and Monk would give us an incredible backcourt. I hope Fox commits soon so he can start working on recruiting Monk.

Hopefully, we land Fox and Bolden in the next few weeks and Cal can put all of his recruiting energy into Monk.

Fox, Monk, Gabriel, Killeya-Jones, and Bolden would be another great class and would likely be the top class, IMHO (though the experts might rank them lower).

 

[qwesley]

He is a great fit when you realize that, as talented and deep of a roster as we will have, it is mostly defensively-oriented. Really need scoring and there is a hole at 2G. He could easily avg 17-18 per game if he came.

 

[westerncat]

I really believe Monk will be a Cat. As other posters have said UK will be the best for him at developing his game for the NBA. Fox and Monk will be at UK.

 

[bucsrule8872]

I have a hard time picturing Monk as a Hog. It's a mess in Fayetteville. What do they really have to offer? I hope he makes the smart move and heads to Lexington.

 

[KMKAT]

Landing Fox will help UK land Monk. They've already talked about playing together and can see how it would work out just fine. Also, UK hosts a bunch of top flight players in a week, and some of them are recruiting for us, and that a national championship type juggernaut is being built. That ain't happening in Fayetteville, and Anderson's future there is suspect. I think we land Monk, just a matter of when.

Totally agree dk; Anderson is fighting to keep his job. He may not be there to coach Monk.

If its down to Arky and Cal, I REALLY like our chances.

 

[.S&C.]

I could see it going both ways. For some reason he has a Arkansas "look" to him. I could see his name on the jersey.

Although, I always thought Randle's game said Jayhawks, so I guess my recruitment knowledge is lacking some perspective.

In all seriousness, I think he'll end @ UK and I've wanted him at some points in the last 3 years more than any other recruit.

 

[clevenger32]

I live in Arkansas and I can tell you I have a hard time seeing him going anywhere but Arkansas. Archie Goodwin paid dearly for leaving.....you will remember the closeline flagrant foul that was not called but got a standing ovation from the Arkansas faithful in the opening minutes of his only trip to Fayetteville. Goodwin was from Little Rock. Monk is from right there in the State of Northwest Arkansas. He will have hell to pay if he leaves the state, and needs to not come back if he does. If he is good enough to play for Cal, and he is a one-and-done and does not care what the locales have to say, maybe he will go to UK. I would not bet on him leaving Northwest Arkansas

 

[ScrapIrony]

If Monk goes to Kentucky, that lineup will be stacked. Nice shooting, athleticism, and high basketball IQs across the board.

I don't think he goes to UK unless all three point guards go pro.

 

[bucsrule8872]

If Monk goes to Kentucky, that lineup will be stacked. Nice shooting, athleticism, and high basketball IQs across the board.

I don't think he goes to UK unless all three point guards go pro.

They will, unless something unexpected happens.

 

[Blue Decade]

They will, unless something unexpected happens.

I disagree. Murray and Briscoe will enter the next NBA draft. Although I understand what the prevailing sentiment on this board is, I think Ulis will be back for at least 1 more season. I realize what Calipari has been saying about Ulis, but I think it is motivated by his desire to sign Fox and Monk. I predict Fox and Monk will both sign with Kentucky, and Ulis will return. The class is Wynyard, Killeya-Jones, Gabriel, Fox, Monk, plus 1 more player from among Adebayo, Bolden, Giles, Allen.

 

[Cat Ballou]

I live in Arkansas and I can tell you I have a hard time seeing him going anywhere but Arkansas. Archie Goodwin paid dearly for leaving.....you will remember the closeline flagrant foul that was not called but got a standing ovation from the Arkansas faithful in the opening minutes of his only trip to Fayetteville. Goodwin was from Little Rock. Monk is from right there in the State of Northwest Arkansas. He will have hell to pay if he leaves the state, and needs to not come back if he does. If he is good enough to play for Cal, and he is a one-and-done and does not care what the locales have to say, maybe he will go to UK. I would not bet on him leaving Northwest Arkansas

Next year, we only play Arkansas at Lexington, so Monk wouldn't have to experience what Goodwin did.

 

[Cornered Weasel]

If Monk goes to Kentucky, that lineup will be stacked. Nice shooting, athleticism, and high basketball IQs across the board.

I don't think he goes to UK unless all three point guards go pro.

Monk is not a point guard.

 

[Wildcat-in-STL]

So Monk is going to be afraid of a cheap shot in a game? Not buying it. Obviously he doesn't want the harassment for choosing UK all season so thats why he's talking about deciding after his high school season. But if he was leaning Arkansas, why wait until the spring?

 

[Ripcord65]

I think UKhoopCat has it nailed. Monk just waits it out until Spring. He gets through his senior season without raising the ire of the home folks. If Monk hasn't signed with the Hogs before his season is over, then the handwriting will be on the wall for everybody to see -- including the Hogs' fans.

 

[Untouchables22]

Also it's likely he wants to evaluate how Arkansas stands as a program now that Portis and Qualls went to the NBA. They have had back to back good years but it's totally fair to wait and see if Arkansas actually has the precipitous drop off that everyone is predicting before making such an important decision.

 

[Cat Ballou]

Yeah - if it's Arkansas, why not sign in the Fall and get it over with?

As far as the Newman analogies, I think he would have ended up at UK no doubt if the coaching change hadn't occurred. I doubt that Arkansas is going to fire Anderson though, even if this year is a dumpster fire.

 

[z71sab]

Coaching Change had nothing to do with newman going to miss st. Adiddas did though

 

[z71sab]

Arkansas people will have no effect on where monk goes to school. He's a smart kid

 

[.S&C.]

If Monk goes to Kentucky, that lineup will be stacked. Nice shooting, athleticism, and high basketball IQs across the board.

I don't think he goes to UK unless all three point guards go pro.

We've been through this before. It doesn't matter who starts, and it doesn't matter how many ball handlers cal has. Monk would not be scared off by a returnee ball handler. There's zero chance all three return anyway.

 

[Drcatfan]

If I am Monk, there is no downside to waiting to Spring. He can see what both teams look like including what players stay/go. When he gets around to making his decision I suspect UK will look much more appealing.

Priority #1 for him will be showcasing his skills for a year and securing himself as s lottery draft pick. Competing for championship would be a nice bonus. I think UK fits that bill nicely. Arkansas would not compete for championship and add significant risk to his draft stock.

 

[Son_Of_Saul]

I think Monk ultimately doesn't really give a damn as to what Arkansas fans think.

He will do what's best for him. Arkansas fans need to start understanding that.

 

[bucsrule8872]

The longer it plays out, the better chance we have of landing him.

 

[Son_Of_Saul]

He will have hell to pay if he leaves the state, and needs to not come back if he does.

The only thing Monk will be paying if he leaves Arkansas will be the income tax on his multi-million dollar deal he inks after one season at Kentucky.

What's the most you Razorback fans will do to him? Write mean things on twitter? If that's "hell to pay", hell doesn't sound very foreboding.

 

[TheCatDaddy]

Looks very athletic with a nice shooting stroke and quick release.

 

[Aike]

My feeling right now is that getting Monk would be a steal on our part. A lot of posters here act like Monk is a heavy UK lean. Hope they are right.

 

[.S&C.]

My feeling right now is that getting Monk would be a steal on our part. A lot of posters here act like Monk is a heavy UK lean. Hope they are right.

I don't think there's anyone on this board who has a clue where he's gonna go. UK just doesn't have the quality of "insiders" that it used to. Nowadays I just ignore everything I hear unless it's in the open and substantial. Monk will never fall into that category IMO.

 

[Aike]

I don't think there's anyone on this board who has a clue where he's gonna go. UK just doesn't have the quality of "insiders" that it used to. Nowadays I just ignore everything I hear unless it's in the open and substantial. Monk will never fall into that category IMO.

The kid who plays ball with Wenyen is saying Arkansas right now. The best spin I can put on that is that Monk is playing it close to the vest.

I'm as big a UK homer as anybody, but there's no way I can spin what little we do know into Monk leaning toward us.

Yes, it makes sense for him to come here. Just like it made sense for Newman, Brown, Shabazz, Wiggins, Oubre, etc.

I just can't dismiss the most credible source we've had around here in a while. Not that I think the source "knows" in this case. But he is definitely closer to the situation than nearly all of us.

 

[Hoskins91]

Monk is not a point guard.

No, but if one or two of those guys come back, along with Matthews, Mulder, and possibly Fox, that's already a really crowded backcourt.

 

[Stonewall12]

Arkansas's Damien Harris.

 

[screwduke]

Coaching Change had nothing to do with newman going to miss st. Adiddas did though

 

[Son_Of_Saul]

I think every kid is different.

If Monk values winning at every level, he'll likely be at UK. If not, there's a chance he slips off to Fayetteville.

Arkansas is going to be really, really bad if/when Monk if there. He won't improve his brand. But if he's okay with that (he's likely a top 15 pick regardless) and doesn't mind being a virtual indentured servant to the scores of second class Razorback fans, I think there's a real scenario where he picks Arkansas.

All that said, I think it becomes clear that if he waits, Kentucky is the leader. Wiggins, Muhammed, Brown and others waited but chose to play within fairly reasonable frameworks, as all three chose schools that already had guys like Rabb, Kyle Anderson, or Embiid waiting. Newman was one of the real exceptions, but I'm not sure Newman is the type of kid who would prefer scoring 10 in a win over scoring 35 in a loss.

Monk would basically be conceding his basketball soul for a year if he chose Arkansas.

 

[Blue Decade]

I live in Arkansas and I can tell you I have a hard time seeing him going anywhere but Arkansas. Archie Goodwin paid dearly for leaving.....you will remember the closeline flagrant foul that was not called but got a standing ovation from the Arkansas faithful in the opening minutes of his only trip to Fayetteville. Goodwin was from Little Rock. Monk is from right there in the State of Northwest Arkansas. He will have hell to pay if he leaves the state, and needs to not come back if he does. If he is good enough to play for Cal, and he is a one-and-done and does not care what the locales have to say, maybe he will go to UK. I would not bet on him leaving Northwest Arkansas

I agree that people in Arkansas have a hard time understanding why Monk will eventually sign with Kentucky. The part about the homers getting tough on him is no different than what happens in other sports minded states when a home grown product disappoints the good old boys. But it happens anyway. The hell to pay, as you say, is just part of life. Monk isn't a chicken, he is a competitor. Trey Lyles shunned Indiana to sign with Calipari, and he got exactly what he wanted. Devin Booker shunned Mississippi State and Missouri to sign with Calipari, and got exactly what he wanted. Booker and Goodwin would not have been OAD anywhere else. Malik Monk has been Calipari's top recruiting target since Calipari started recruiting this class. Monk's interest in Kentucky is obvious. When Calipari says this will be his best class, you don't have to be Einstein to know who he is talking about. I think it's just a question of when.