ALL-ARKANSAS PREPS BOYS PLAYER OF THE YEAR Malik Monk, Bentonville

Star of the show

Monk draws attention, helps propel Tigers to prominence

Bentonville’s Malik Monk averaged 26.9 points per game this season, including 50 against Chino Hills, Calif., and 45 against St. Louis Chaminade.
Bentonville’s Malik Monk averaged 26.9 points per game this season, including 50 against Chino Hills, Calif., and 45 against St. Louis Chaminade.

Malik Monk didn’t waste any time putting his stamp on the 2014-2015 high school basketball season in Arkansas.

The Bentonville junior guard scored a then-school record 45 points on 12-of-24 shooting while making 18 of 18 free throws in the Tigers’ 86-77 victory over national power St. Louis Chaminade on Nov. 30 with Arkansas Coach Mike Anderson and Iowa State Coach Fred Hoiberg in attendance at a sold-out Tiger Arena.

“We kept attacking,” Monk said. “We knocked down our shots. That’s how we came out at the end.”

It was the start of what proved to be a stellar season for Monk, who has been named by the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette as the 2015 All-Arkansas Preps boys basketball player of the year.

Monk, who is rated the No. 5 junior in the country by Rivals.com, averaged 26.9 points, 6.7 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game this season. He averaged 22.6 points as a sophomore in his first year at Bentonville after transferring from East Poinsett County in Lepanto.

“He was one of the three best players in the state last year,” Bentonville Coach Jason McMahan said. “His remarkable improvement is what really separated him. He improved as a teammate, as a leader. It was really impressive.”

The Tigers finished 21-7 and made their first appearance in the Class 7A state championship game, where they lost to North Little Rock in front of a sellout crowd of 6,500-plus at Hot Springs earlier this month.

Monk said he was proud of his team’s accomplishments, but said he won’t forget the Tigers’ final game.

“We didn’t finish it the way we wanted to,” he said.

Monk broke his own school record less than two months after his 45-point performance when he scored 50 points on 17-of-28 shooting against Chino Hills, Calif., at the Bass Pro Tournament of Champion in Springfield, Mo. The capacity crowd of 10,500 at JHQ Arena gave Monk a standing ovation after the game, which the Tigers lost.

“He did it against a box-andone,” McMahan said. “They boxedand-oned him the whole time.

“To score 50 in front of 10,500 was a unique thing.”

McMahan said Bass Pro Tournament of Champions director Mark Fisher told him Monk’s performance was comparable to John Wall’s performance when he starred for Raleigh (N.C.) Word of God Christian Academy in 2009. Wall played college basketball at Kentucky and is now with the Washington Wizards.

“The 50-point game was nice,” Monk said. “Even though we lost, the crowd was treated to good basketball.”

Monk said there are areas he can improve upon, specifically his effort on both ends of the court.

“I know I can do more out there,” Monk said.

McMahan said the 2014-2015 season is the most fun he’s had as a coach, and much of the credit for that goes to Monk.

“He’s such a special player and a person,” McMahan said. “I enjoy seeing their passion. You see that with Malik. I compare it to my 5- and 6-year-old boys on their birthdays.

“You get to see that 30 times a year.”

Representatives from several Division I schools came to watch Monk play during the season, including ones from Arkansas, Kentucky, Florida, Iowa State and Oregon. McMahan said most of the college coaches he’s talked to told him Monk is the best guard in the country.

“He can defend. He can rebound,” McMahan said. “They think he can play with the ball in his hands as a pick-and-roll player. He can play off the ball and shoot three-point shots.”

Malik Monk glance

SCHOOL Bentonville POSITION Guard HEIGHT 6-4 CLASS Junior COLLEGE CHOICE Undecided STATISTICS 26.9 points, 6.7 rebounds, 2.6 assists BIRTHDAY Feb. 6, 1998 FAMILY Parents: Michael Spears and Jackie Monk. Brother: Marcus. Half-brothers: Aaron and Byron. Half-sister: Micah.

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