Sunday’s recruiting column focused on sophomore shooting guard Malik Monk’s talent and adjustment to a new school and city.
Monk, 6-4, 173 pounds, of Bentonville is considered one of the elite prospects in his class and is rated the No. 1 shooting guard and the nation’s No. 8 prospect by ESPN. He and his mother moved from Lepanto, a town of about 1,800 to a metropolitan area of about 473,000.
His brother and former Razorback Marcus Monk said the move has been a good learning experience.
“As far as him with school, it’s just totally different from living in a town with 1,800 to a school that has 4,200,” Marcus Monk said. “We’ve been putting things in order and he’s learning things right now he’s going to have to learn in college and in the future. So it’s good for him to start learning at an early age.”
With a larger school, comes a more diverse curriculum. Marcus recalled one of the more entertaining moments since his brother’s move to Bentonville.
“He was in medical terminology where in Lepanto or another high school, I don’t know if they have it or if it’s mandatory,” Marcus said. “I don’t know but he sent me a picture and he was in the mask and the full fledge scrubs and everything. It was just funny from where he was and now he’s in scrubs and mask and taking medical terminology.”
“So I know it was overwhelming to him as a well but he handles a lot of things with ease. So it’s good, he’s adjusting.”
Marcus Monk is one of the more productive receivers in Arkansas history. Among his accomplishments, is being Arkansas’ all-time leader in career touchdown receptions with 27. He was drafted in the seventh round by the Chicago Bears in the 2008 NFL Draft.
He’s focused on his brother is getting use to the school work and new surroundings while taking a backseat on the basketball part.
“As far as basketball, I’ve been trying to stay as far away from him as a I can,” Marcus said. “ Because I have him in the summer and I know he gets tired of hearing my voice.”
He praised Tiger Coach Jason McMahan and his coaching staff.
“If I come, it may be support or just coming to play a little pickup game with him and the team,” he said. “But I try and stay away from it as much as I can now so he doesn’t have to hear my voice all the time.”
Malik has scholarship offers from Arkansas, Baylor, Memphis, Florida, Connecticut, Kansas, Indiana and will continue to add more during the recruiting process.
“I don’t have a preference to where he wants to go,” Marcus said. “My mom, I don’t know what she wants. It’s up to him, it’s a 100 percent up to him.”