Monk is better than all those players. He would only have to worry about minutes if Murray came back and I just don't see that happening.
Let's talk Malik Monk
- Thread starter wcc31
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So, not as many leaks inside the athletic department as there used to be? You are right about that. But a lot of those old leaks were wrong about recruiting. Like, when Eric Shelton went to Florida State, Robert Reynolds to Ohio State, Justin Miller to Clemson, Chris Lofton to Tennessee. LOL! Those old leakers were wrong as often as they were right. I agree that no 1 will know for sure about Monk until he announces it himself. But if Monk was going to Arkansas, I think he would have committed by now. If Monk wants to play for Arkansas, he won't wait beyond the early signing date in November to announce for Arkansas. Calipari continues to recruit Rawle Alkins and Kobi Simmons, just in case something goes wrong at the last minute with Monk. But the mutual interest between Calipari and Monk has been obvious for a long time, and the silence from Monk's side is significant. Just about all 1 hears out of Arkansas is his brother Marcus explaining on radio shows why Malik should be understood and forgiven when he makes the decision that is best for him. Now, that means Kentucky. I believe Calipari will sign Monk and Fox.
Malik Monk is a combo guard with elite scoring skills. Basically Archie Goodwin with a reliable jump shot and a better basketball IQ. Archie was good enough to get drafted as a OAD. With a better offensive game, Monk is a future lottery pick. At the college level, Monk's opportunity to play the point gets limited by the presence of Fox and Ulis. For Calipari, Monk is primarily a wing. But as an NBA player, Monk might have to transition to the point depending on who drafts him. Monk knows it, 1 of the biggest reasons why he is interested in playing for Calipari.
I'm not optimistic about Monk at all. He could potentially save Anderson's job after next year, and it doesn't seem like we fair too well in these situations.
He wouldn't come here if we have one or both of Briscoe and Ulis back. Even if he is better, he wouldn't come to a crowded situation like that. That's assuming we get Fox.
The only reasonable way we don't land Monk is if we don't need him because our lottery pick guards came back?
I could live with that, but it's really hard to imagine that kid not being a Cat. He's too perfect a fit and has been too high a priority. By the way, with others begging for a UK spot, for Cal not to have taken anyone at Monk's position says a lot.
I could live with that, but it's really hard to imagine that kid not being a Cat. He's too perfect a fit and has been too high a priority. By the way, with others begging for a UK spot, for Cal not to have taken anyone at Monk's position says a lot.
What situations would that be? What would possibly obligate Monk to save Anderson's job? LOL! Monk's only obligation is to make the best decision for himself and his future. Which, by the way, is exactly what his brother Marcus has been saying in radio interviews. That's Kentucky.
It's funny as a UK fan I never get mad when an in-state kid decides to go out of state.
In football especially, when I know it might be a better business decision, like with Alexander going to Bama. Even when the basketball program was down under Tubby and BCG I never remember anyone hating on guys like Hopson for choosing to play for Pearl instead of us.
People act like the fans will burn his house down or vandalize his car or even attack him if goes elsewhere. If that is the case, then he needs to get himself and his family out of there ASAP. Sounds like a bad place to be.
I honestly think people are exaggerating. He might have to deal with an occasional shove in the hall at school or getting cussed at a game, but I don't think it would be that bad. Of course, he should wait until Spring anyway and then split and not go back except to visit family. His career will take him away from there anyway.
In football especially, when I know it might be a better business decision, like with Alexander going to Bama. Even when the basketball program was down under Tubby and BCG I never remember anyone hating on guys like Hopson for choosing to play for Pearl instead of us.
People act like the fans will burn his house down or vandalize his car or even attack him if goes elsewhere. If that is the case, then he needs to get himself and his family out of there ASAP. Sounds like a bad place to be.
I honestly think people are exaggerating. He might have to deal with an occasional shove in the hall at school or getting cussed at a game, but I don't think it would be that bad. Of course, he should wait until Spring anyway and then split and not go back except to visit family. His career will take him away from there anyway.
I'm not saying he should feel obligated to. My point in saying that is that Anderson will recruit him harder than he has any player and there will be a lot of pressure on him to stay home like there was for Bridges to go to Mich st.
Also, the KU guy with the Gabriel info said Monk would probably go to Arkansas. That's really the main reason I'm thinking the pressure to stay home is playing a bigger factor than we want to think in his decision.
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The KU fan that knows Gabriel also said his Monk info is just what he had been hearing and that unlike his Gabriel info (which came straight from Wenyen) his Monk info wasn't 100% set in stone.
Right. But if he's coming to UK, doesn't seem like he's sharing that with future teammates. That's why I said that best case, he's playing it close to the vest.
Obviously we would all love to have him, and can name a million reasons he should come here. But anyone acting like he is a UK lean is just guessing, imo. Hope they are right.
I could see that as well. I just don't think Matthews or Mulder will be a deterrent.
Well said. I could not agree more. Monk will probably choose Kentucky, because Kentucky is by far the best option for his basketball career.
Bridges had said playing with Monk could be a package deal. Many people felt like that meant bridges was UK bound since Mich St was not in Monks final schools. Could Monk perhaps say he was leaning Arkansas or Kansas, leading Bridges to stick with Mich St and another player he wanted to play with (Winston)? Seemed to want to play with Monk before he heard it was Winston that drew him to Spartans.
You're contradicting yourself here. You're saying that Monk sees himself as a point guard in the NBA, but Calipari sees him as a wing and has Fox and Ulis to run point. Therefore, in order to get to play point guard in college, he (Monk) knows that he has to go to a college (Kentucky) which will play him at the wing.
Everything you state points to Monk playing somewhere other than Kentucky, assuming you land Fox, which I am on record as stating is not a given. And the reason I state that is because I do not believe that Ulis or Briscoe will go in the draft after this season.
He's not contradicting himself. Monk will be primarily a scorer but as much as the "position less players" phrase gets overused, it is truly how Cal plays. He plays the best players regardless of position. He's going to have 3 pg's starting this year for instance. (All 3 of which are VERY likely not to be here next year). So if Monk were to play at Kentucky, if he has the handles and smarts to play on ball, he will do so, whether Fox is on the court or not. This is also the reason I think Fox will be here; he's not worried about another point guard stealing his thunder because he'll still be on the court doing his thing.
If you're right about Ulis and/or Briscoe (HIGHLY doubtful on Briscoe) staying around, that's the nice thing about Monk probably waiting till spring to decide. I'd be just as happy with one of those guys as I would bringing on Monk.
Exactly.
Give me Fox/Monk or Fox/Briscoe or Ulis/Fox. Can not go wrong with any of those combos, IMHO. Highly unlikely that both Ulis and Briscoe come back, so I think it's pretty safe for Fox to commit whenever he wants.
Monk's twitter photo. Believe this is from Late Night?
"Man, what the Hell am I doing here?"
Ironic considering the fact that your own username may be the most contradictory thing I've ever come across in my time on this board.
If you don't understand what I said, that doesn't mean I contradicted myself. LOL! Monk will sign with Kentucky because playing for Calipari is by far the best option for his future basketball career. At Kentucky, Monk will be a wing player, and he will be OAD. He will be an NBA lottery pick. Depending on which NBA team drafts him, it's possible that he might need to transition to the point as a professional player. He has the athletic skills to do that, and Calipari will develop his skills better than any other college coach would. All you have to do is look at Calipari's record for developing NBA guards. At every school that has offered Monk a scholarship, he would be a wing. But at Kentucky, his on-ball and dribble-penetration skills will be developed more skillfully than would be the case at any other school. You got it now? Or should I try to explain it a 3rd time?
I know what you wanted to say, but what your wrote contradicted itself. Also, Monk is an NBA lotto pick regardless of where he plays. Also, every coach has hits and misses on potential players who coming out of high school find themselves on mock drafts. Even Calipari and I think he is one of the best in the business.
Only thing is Arkansas is going to offer him the moon (basically tell him he can play whatever position he wants) in order to get him. Anderson will tell him what he wants to hear. If he is dead set on playing the point full time, Anderson will promise that to him to get him. Anderson is desperate for Monk. He can't afford to let him get away.
Cal won't make any promises, other than he will push him to be the best player he can be regardless of position.
So it's either go to UK, be another talented piece of the puzzle, compete for a title, then go pro or go to Arkansas, be the man, struggle to win many games, then go pro. Probably makes a few million more dollars by playing for Cal and improving his stock, though that is debatable.
Cal won't make any promises, other than he will push him to be the best player he can be regardless of position.
So it's either go to UK, be another talented piece of the puzzle, compete for a title, then go pro or go to Arkansas, be the man, struggle to win many games, then go pro. Probably makes a few million more dollars by playing for Cal and improving his stock, though that is debatable.
Exactly like Miss State told Newman...it's pretty effective for 17- or 18-year olds to hear what they want to hear.
Ha! I'm not. I think Kansas has a realistic shot at Fox and Bolden. I do not think Kansas has a realistic shot at Monk (although we were the second choice for his brother, years ago) or Giles. I can see Kentucky landing Monk, but more realistically Fox. Giles is going to Duke. Bolden is a KU/Bama race in my opinion. Which is worth the same as 99% of people who follow recruiting.
According to Wenyen Gabriel's buddy the race for Bolden is Kentucky/Duke. He was right about Gabriel....
Didn't he personally know Gabriel and play on Gabriel's high school team? The likelihood he has direct knowledge of any other player being recruited is pretty remote. I guess Gabriel could be hinting to him conversations he has had with these kids, but then again, that wouldn't be very reliable either.
Conversations between Bolden and Gabriel would probably be more reliable than your opinion. Probably.
If they actually had that conversation and Bolden had finalized his choice and decided to tell someone who could potentially leak his decision before he wanted it leaked, then sure.
I also qualified my comment in my original post which you are criticizing here.
I think Bolden really likes KU, but he is a Nike kid and ultimately going to pick a Nike School. I think KU is fourth behind Duke, UK, and Bama.
I think getting Fox is going to be critical though. He seems to be a nice kid and the kind of player other guys would want to play with - he's the kind of PG who is going to make everyone else on his team look better.
I think getting Fox is going to be critical though. He seems to be a nice kid and the kind of player other guys would want to play with - he's the kind of PG who is going to make everyone else on his team look better.
Not criticizing you. I'm agreeing that you know nothing. And a friend of a friend might have a little better feel for it.
The kid said that according to Wenyen, Bolden told him that he wants Kentucky and His mom wants Duke. He said it'll likely come down to those two.
I would take even another step. I don't believe that Kansas has that good of a shot with Fox. And depending who leaves early, Kentucky might be the leader in the clubhouse for Fox. I don't see Bolden going anywhere where he is the 3rd or 4th BIG. Both Kentucky and Duke will have at least 3 BIGs already on the roster before Bolden decides. I agree with KnowsAll on Bolden being more of Kansas/Bama battle. I might put Bama ahead right now.
They'd have other bigs on the roster but that doesn't mean he would be 3rd or 4th on the depth chart. He'd be the starter ahead of the Humphries with SKJ and Wynyrd at the 4.
I understand Coach speak, but Coach Calipari has been the highest on Humphries early in the basketball camp. I have seen SKJ and he is impressive. I don't know that much about Wynyrd.
And, with regards to Duke, I don't why any BIG would go there with the style of play that Coach K normally plays. I think that Jetter and Giles will play ahead of Bolden there.
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