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. Drafted as a high school 5-star, Monk had an incredible college football season at Kentucky, where he set a rookie record scoring 47 points in a single game. Encouraged by his impressive stats, he gave up his final three years of college eligibility to enter the NBA draft.
Although his rookie season was marred by an ankle injury, shooting guard remains an important potential in the nation’s premier basketball league.
Malik Monk Bio (Where is he from?)
On February 4, 1998, a future basketball star who would be called Malik Monk was born. Born in Jonesboro, Arkansas, Malik was raised by his mother and older brother in the small town of Lepanto, Arkansas.
Located approximately 150 miles east of Little Rock, Lepanto has a population of approximately 2,000 people. Malik grew up in an area of 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 on his forearm. 870 is the area code for the small town. He also has “THE WOODZ” tattooed on his chest.
Malik Monk started playing basketball at East High School in Poinsett County, Lepanto, where he started scoring his new years. He would come and lead his varsity team to an overall record (25-8) and book them a spot in the Class 2A championship game.
Malik only spent a year at East Poinsett transferring to Bentonville High School, where he graduated in 2016. Among his high school honors was the 2015 Nike Global Challenge Tournament Most Valuable Player, co-MVP Jordan Brand Classic 2016 and Mr. Basketball of Arkansas 2016.
All four major recruiting services in the country -ESPN, Rivals, Scout and 247 Sports gave him a 5 star rating. As a result, many major programs across the country have come to use his services, including the University of Arkansas, his hometown. However, Monk ignored his hometown, opting instead to attend the University of Kentucky.
Monk easily became a star player for the Kentucky Wildcats, improving his game with every game. One of the highlights of his college career was his performance in a game against the University of North Carolina, where he set a freshman record with 47 points. The Associated Press named him the 2017 SEC Player of the Year and was also the recipient of the 2017 Jerry West Award.
Malik Monk would give up 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 for his first professional trade on July 2, 2017. Monk’s rookie season was cut short by an ankle injury which saw him miss the Summer League. He was then sent to play a game for the Greensboro Swarm, the Hornets’ NBA G League affiliate.
Family
Malik Monk comes from an athletic family. His mother, Jacaynlene Monk, played basketball in middle age and didn’t quit until 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 parents split, his father was instrumental in his upbringing as his youth league coach.
Malik had moved from Lepanto to Bentonville so that the family could take advantage of the latter’s economic boom. Before moving, 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 for the 7th round of the 2008 NFL Draft, but was unable to make it to the NFL, as he was unable to qualify for the teams he bowed out for; bears, giants and panthers. He briefly played 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 running back for 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. Sadly, he didn’t make it to the NBA.
Size weight
According to his credible profile on the official NBA site, Malik Monk stands at a height of 6 feet 3 inches. It weighs 91kg while its wingspan extends to 6’3.5 with the standing span set at 8’3.