Malik Monk is an American professional basketball player who was selected in the first round, 11th overall pick by the Charlotte Hornets in the 2017 NBA Draft. A 5-star high school recruit, Monk had an amazing single season of college football at Kentucky where he set a freshman scoring record of 47 points in a single game. Encouraged by his impressive stats, he forwent his last 3 years of college eligibility to enter the NBA draft.
Though his rookie season was marred by an ankle injury, the shooting guard remains a great potential in the nation’s top-tier basketball league.
Malik Monk Bio (Where Is He From?)
On the 4th of February 1998, a future basketball star that would be named Malik Monk was born. Born in Jonesboro, Arkansas, Malik was raised by his mom and older brother in the Small Town of Lepanto, Arkansas.
Located about 150 miles east of Little Rock, Lepanto has a population size of around 2,000 people. Malik grew up in an area in Lepanto known as The Woods and he couldn’t be prouder of his hometown as he literally wears his pedigree on his sleeves.
He has “Lepanto 870” tattooed across his forearm. 870 is the area code of the small town. He also has “THE WOODZ” tattooed across his chest.
Malik Monk began playing basketball at East Poinsett County High School in Lepanto where he began making marks from his freshman year. He would come to lead his varsity team to a (25-8) overall record as well as book them a spot in the Class 2A state championship game.
Malik spent only one year at East Poinsett as he transferred to Bentonville High School from where he graduated in 2016. Among his high school honors are the 2015 Nike Global Challenge Tournament MVP, 2016 Jordan Brand Classic Co-MVP, and Mr. Basketball of Arkansas 2016.
The four main recruiting services in the nation – ESPN, Rivals, Scout, and 247 Sports rated him at 5-stars. As a result, many top programs in the nation came calling for his services including his hometown’s University of Arkansas. However, Monk ignored his hometown, choosing instead to attend the University of Kentucky.
Monk easily became a star player of the Kentucky Wildcats, improving his play each game. One of the top highlights of his college career was his performance in a game against the University of North Carolina where he set a school freshman record of 47 points. He was named by Associated Press as the 2017 SEC Player of the Year and was also the recipient of the 2017 Jerry West Award.
Malik Monk would forgo the last three years of his college eligibility to enter the NBA. The Charlotte Hornet selected him with the 11th overall pick and signed him to his first professional deal on July 2nd, 2017. Monk’s rookie season was truncated by an ankle injury that saw him miss the Summer League. He was later sent to play one game for the Hornets’ NBA G League affiliate, the Greensboro Swarm.
Family
Malik Monk hails from an athletic family. His mother, Jacaynlene Monk, played basketball when she was in her prime and only stopped when she had her first son, Malik’s older brother, Marcus. His father, Michael Scales works as a carpenter in Arkansas. Malik’s parents were not together when he was born. Regardless of his parent’s separation, his father played a role in his upbringing as the coach of his youth league.
Malik had relocated from Lepanto to Bentonville so the family could take advantage of the latter’s economic boom. Before relocating, Monk’s mother earned a salary of $14, 649, working for a local school district as a teacher’s aide. Monk’s brother Marcus played football and basketball in high school before choosing to focus on football in college.
He played as a wide receiver for the University of Arkansas. He was selected in the 7th round of the 2008 NFL Draft but didn’t make it to the NFL as he was unable to get past the practice squads for the teams he tried for including; the Bears, Giants, and Panthers. He played briefly in Germany before quitting football in 2009. Marcus would later earn an MBA from the University of Arkansas.
Other athletes in Malik’s family include an uncle Chuck Monk who played as a running back for the Arkansas State in the early 90s. Malik, during his years at East Poinsett County High, played basketball alongside his cousin Rashad Madden who graduated in 2015. Unfortunately, he was undrafted in the NBA.
Height, Weight
According to his credible profile on the NBA official website, Malik Monk stands at a height of 6 feet 3 inches. His weight measures up at 91 kg while his wingspan stretches to 6’3.5 with a standing reach pegged at 8’3.
