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Kentucky sharp-shooter Malik Monk has been selected as one of ten members of the Wooden All-American team, the Los Angeles Athletic Club announced on Monday. Monk is the 6th Kentucky player under John Calipari to be selected for this honor. Previous members include Tyler Ulis (2016), Willie Cauley-Stein (2015), Anthony Davis (2012), DeMarcus Cousins (2010), and John Wall (2010).
NEWS || Another award for Malik Monk, who has been named a Wooden All-American. #BBN https://t.co/JAC51MMgtr pic.twitter.com/ByLcQ4opC9
— CoachCal.com (@CoachCalDotCom) March 28, 2017
Monk averaged 19.8 points per game for the Wildcats this season, making 104 3-pointers on the season (2nd all-time at Kentucky) and setting a single-season freshman scoring record with 754 points. That is good for 4th all-time at Kentucky, regardless of class, behind Dan Issel (948), Jodie Meeks (854), and Jamal Mashburn (767). He also set a freshman record with four 30-point games.
Monk is joined on the Wooden All-American team by Dillon Brooks (Oregon), Josh Jackson (Kansas), Justin Jackson (North Carolina), Luke Kennard (Duke), Lonzo Ball (UCLA), Josh Hart (Villanova), Frank Mason III (Kansas), Caleb Swanigan (Purdue), and Nigel Williams-Goss (Gonzaga). Ball, Hart, Mason III, Swanigan, and Williams-Goss are the five finalists for the prestigious Wooden Award.
The Wooden Award finalists:
— ESPN College BBall (@ESPNCBB) March 27, 2017
Josh Hart
Nigel Williams-Goss
Frank Mason
Lonzo Ball
Caleb Swanigan pic.twitter.com/NfQQq1qezB
Monk’s list of awards is quite impressive. In addition to being a Wooden Award Finalist, he is also a finalist for the Jerry West Award.
His SEC awards include:
Player of the Year (AP)
Newcomer of the Year (AP)
Freshman of the Year (Coaches)
First Team All-SEC (AP/Coaches)
Freshman Team All-SEC (Coaches)
He has earned All-American honors on the following lists:
National Association of Basketball Coaches (2nd team)
United States Basketball Writers Association (2nd team)
Sporting News (2nd team)
Sporting News (Freshman)
USA Today (2nd team)
NBC Sports (2nd team)
After helping lead the Wildcats to an exciting Elite 8 run, Monk is currently listed 5th or 6th on most NBA Draft boards.
It seems likely that he will be declaring for the draft soon. But just think about what this list may look like if he came back for another run.
Keep dreaming, Big Blue Nation.